Quality Engineering Apprentice

Ready to be part of something big? As a Quality Engineering Apprentice at GKN Aerospace Bristol, you’ll help build the future of aviation, and you don’t need industry experience to get started. Every day, you’ll play a role in delivering world‑class products that keep aircraft flying safely, sustainably, and reliably.

This is your chance to explore every corner of our operations. Through a wide mix of placements across our Bristol sites, you’ll learn how we manufacture and assemble precision aircraft structures and components; and how our quality team keeps everything performing at its best.

You’ll develop core quality and engineering skills, including how to:

• Understand and apply aviation regulations, standards, and policies
• Collect, interpret, and analyse data to improve production processes
• Work with multi-functional teams to solve real engineering challenges
• Explore fabrication, welding, machining, assembly, composites, testing, and special processes
• Identify, manage, and deliver quality improvement projects
• Plan and carry out system, process, and product audits
• Analyse risks and support teams in managing them
• Spot performance gaps and help develop plans to close them
• Assist design engineering, manufacturing engineering, and operations teams with quality questions and investigations

As your confidence grows, you’ll move into more advanced responsibilities, such as:

• Leading and contributing to continuous improvement projects
• Creating project plans and presenting them for review
• Coaching and supporting others in using quality tools
• Mapping and analysing processes and value streams
• Studying process capability and performance
• Using data to build predictive models
• Working with suppliers to improve their processes and reduce quality issues
• Supporting both steady state and new product introduction teams
• Collaborating with leadership to shape strategy and share improvements across the business

By the end of your apprenticeship, you could progress into roles such as Product Assurance Engineer or Supply Chain Quality Engineer, with potential to grow into future leadership positions.