Manufacturing Engineer – Level 6 Apprenticeship
AWE · On-Site
Why this role matters
Turn ideas, designs and materials into safe, repeatable manufacturing processes. You’ll learn how products and parts are made safely, accurately and consistently, working with design, operations, quality, safety and project teams.
£24,500 salary, increasing to £26,000 in Year 2 | 4-year apprenticeship plus 6-month End Point Assessment | 9-day working fortnight
Security clearance
Applicants must be British Nationals and aged 18 or over by 31 August 2027. You must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the required security clearance.
Working pattern
Onsite apprenticeship based at AWE Aldermaston and/or Burghfield, with every other Friday off.
Key dates
Applications close: 20 December 2026 | Assessment centres: 4 and 9 February 2027 | Start date: 1 September 2027
What happens after you apply
1. Online application – Submit one apprenticeship application before the role closes.
2. Online testing – If eligible, you’ll complete numerical, verbal, logical and cognitive reasoning assessments. Practice materials will be available.
3. Assessment centre – Successful candidates will be invited to an in-person assessment centre, currently scheduled for 4 and 9 February 2027.
4. Offer, medical and clearance – If successful, you’ll move into the offer, medical and security-clearance stages ahead of joining on 1 September 2027.
Applications close on 20 December 2026, but we review applications as they come in — so we strongly encourage you to apply early.
Perks & benefits
Skills required
Practical problem-solving: You enjoy finding out why something does or does not work.
Attention to detail: You understand that safety, quality and accurate records matter.
Curiosity about making things: You are interested in how designs, materials, machines, processes and data come together.
Teamwork: You can communicate clearly and work with people across different engineering teams.
Qualifications required
5 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above including Maths, English and a science, technology or engineering-related subject. You’ll also need A level grade C or above in a Maths-based subject and a science, technology, engineering or additional Maths-related subject, or 90+ credits in an Engineering BTEC Level 3. Applicants must be British Nationals and aged 18 or over by 31 August 2027.
Training you'll get
This is an onsite apprenticeship. Being onsite means you can learn directly from experienced manufacturing, engineering and quality specialists, see real processes in action and build practical confidence.
Future prospects
When you successfully complete your apprenticeship, you could move into one of AWE’s engineering teams as a Manufacturing Engineer, with future opportunities in areas such as new product introduction, manufacturing system design, tooling, production support or continuous improvement.
The essentials
Hours, commitment and the dates that matter.
Training provider
Delivers the training for this role and manages your application.
