Mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship

Help ensure the future strength and safety of the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet. Over this 4-year programme, you’ll join our Submarine Support Engineering team in Bristol where you’ll play a meaningful role in engineering projects that matter, all while gaining a fully funded degree.

From the moment you join us, you’ll become part of a team delivering vital engineering support to the UK’s defence sector. As an apprentice within Submarine Support Engineering (SSE), you will complete a structured programme of placement rotations where you’ll explore a variety of engineering teams and projects. You’ll work alongside experienced engineers across mechanical, structural and electrical disciplines, supporting a range of cutting‑edge submarine projects that support both in‑service platforms and those still in development.

Your typical week could include performing structural assessments, conducting analytical calculations, using engineering analysis tools, and supporting the design and assessment of systems and components to meet demanding operational and safety requirements.

Your apprenticeship will give you the opportunity to build a broad range of engineering skills, understanding design intent and experiencing lifecycle support activities across multiple disciplines. You will also gain exposure to safety cases, certification activities, capability upgrades and configuration changes that are critical to the safe and effective operation of the UK’s submarine fleet.

You will also begin using industry‑standard tools and software relevant to your chosen pathway, such as Ansys, FloMASTER, MathCAD and AutoCAD. You will be supported every step of the way by experienced mentors who will help you grow your technical capability, confidence, and professional judgement.

During your apprenticeship, you will be required to complete placements outside of Bristol to ensure you fully meet the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours requirements of your apprenticeship standard, and to gain broad, practical experience across engineering disciplines.

Your education/training

As part of your apprenticeship, you will study for a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing through the University of the West of England (UWE), accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

In year one, you’ll attend UWE’s Weston campus two days per week. From year two onward, you’ll study one day a week at the Frenchay campus. Your academic learning will cover topics such as thermofluids, structural mechanics, manufacturing technology and simulation, giving you the essential knowledge to complement your work‑based learning.

Future prospects

By the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll be ready to step into a role within the Submarine Support Engineering (SSE) Team as a degree‑qualified Engineer.

You’ll also have the opportunity to build on your progress toward professional registration as an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer, a recognised benchmark of engineering competence, which can support your journey into more advanced roles, such as Senior Engineer.

As a global organisation, Babcock provides countless opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career. To support your growth, we’ve introduced the Babcock Role Framework, which outlines roles, career pathways, and development opportunities. With every job mapped to these frameworks, you’ll have a transparent view of the steps needed to reach Senior Engineer and beyond.

• Tariff points: 112
• GCSE: GCSE:
  Grade C/4 or above in English and Mathematics, or equivalent (we accept Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Maths).
• A-level subjects:
  Grade C or above in Mathematics plus a pass in one of the following subjects:
  Biology,…