Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship - Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions - Templecombe

Thales; Templecombe; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Health plan

Hybrid working

Learning & development

Job summary

Thales is offering a Software Engineering Apprentice programme in the UK. You will develop technical knowledge and practical skills to become a competent engineer while delivering software solutions on real projects.

The programme blends university study with on-the-job experience over 3.5 years, leading to a Level 6 degree and a BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions. Eligibility includes A Levels/GCSEs and UK work rights with security checks.

Qualifications

• Three A Levels grade B or above or equivalent
• Five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above including English and Maths
• Right to work in the UK with BPSS/SC clearance requirements

Responsibilities

• Supporting system requirement and design activities
• Developing software solutions to fulfil business needs
• Contributing to project reviews
• Assisting with engineering investigations and problem solving
• Communicating technical recommendations to stakeholders
• Working with experienced engineers on live projects

Education

Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship (Exeter University)

Job description

Turn your curiosity into a career.

If you're passionate about engineering, eager to learn, and looking for a degree apprenticeship that combines academic study with exciting on-the-job experience, we'd love to hear from you.

Benefits of the programme:

• Earn a salary while studying for your degree
• Gain hands-on experience in a real engineering environment
• Receive job-specific training and development
• Achieve a recognised engineering qualification
• Secure a permanent role from the start of your apprenticeship
• Have your university tuition fees fully paid

About the Role

As a Software Engineering Apprentice, you will develop the technical knowledge, practical skills and professional behaviours needed to become a confident and capable engineer.

Working as part of our Software Engineering team, you will support the delivery of software solutions, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Supporting system requirement and design activities
• Developing software solutions to fulfil an actual business need
• Contributing to project reviews
• Assisting with engineering investigations and problem solving
• Communicating technical recommendations to stakeholders
• Working with experienced engineers on live projects

What You Will Learn

Throughout the apprenticeship, you will gain experience and knowledge in:

• Professional engineering behaviours and industry best practice
• Working securely, ethically and responsibly with complex data in compliance with regulatory standards
• The Software Engineering lifecycle and key engineering processes
• Software Engineering tools and methods
• Requirement management, design techniques, and software code implementation
• Testing, integration, verification, validation and qualification (IVVQ) activities
• Structured and methodical approaches to problem solving and investigation

Degree Apprenticeship Programme

You will study towards a Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship with Exeter University, following the Software Engineer pathway.

This 3.5-year programme will introduce apprentices to a broad range of digital disciplines over the first two years of the programme, including data, computer security, software development, networks, programming and AI. In Year three you will move into your specialist pathway of Software Engineering, focussing on the principles, methods, and models that underpin professional software engineering practice. You will also undertake a work based Synoptic Project, before completing your End Point Assessment. On completion of the apprenticeship, you will achieve a BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions, as well as the Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship.

The programme is delivered through a blended learning approach, combining:

• On campus teaching (around 22 days across the whole programme)
• Distance learning (1 day per week during term time)
• Online workshops/classes
• Guided self-study

Throughout the 3.5-year programme, you will combine university study with practical workplace experience, developing both academic knowledge and professional engineering skills.

Entry Requirements

To apply, you will need:

A Levels

• Three A Levels Grade B or above or,
• BTEC Extended Diploma (DDM) or,
• T Level (Merit) or,
• Level 4 Digital Apprenticeship, as defined by Skills England

GCSEs

• Minimum of five GCSEs at Grade 4/C or above
• Must include: English Language
• Must include: Mathematics

Please note that applicants who already hold a relevant degree will not be eligible for this programme. Software Engineering and Computer Science are both relevant degrees.

Benefits

• Competitive salary of £24,000 per annum
• Performance-related pay uplifts
• Holiday entitlement of 201 hours a year (plus a company day and bank holidays)
• Contributory Company Pension
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Hybrid/flexible working options
• Employee assistance programme
• Learning and development support
• Employee discounts and wellbeing initiatives
• Life Cover
• 80 Hours Volunteering per year (first two years)

Closing date: Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 17 February 2027, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note, we will be in contact by the end of February 2027 with details of next steps.

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, all our roles are subject to security restrictions.

Because of the work we do at Thales, all roles are subject to security requirements.

To be considered for this position, you must have the permanent right to work in the UK and be able to successfully complete and maintain UK Government security checks, including Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) screening and Security Clearance (SC), which is a government background check, before starting employment.

To be eligible for SC clearance, you will typically need to have lived in the UK continuously for the last five years. As part of the vetting process, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, right to work in the UK, any time spent overseas during the last five years, and your employment and/or education history.

In addition, this role supports a UK Eyes Only programme and is therefore subject to government‑mandated nationality restrictions. To satisfy the security clearance requirements for access to highly sensitive information, applicants must have been British citizens from birth and must not hold any other nationality. This requirement is determined by the UK Government and is a condition of programme access rather than an employment preference.

About the Company

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity, and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.