Level Engineering Apprenticeship

Programme

Title:

Higher Level Engineering Apprenticeship
Level: 4

Salary:

Year 1: £23,289

Year 2: £29,685

Year 3: £34,955

Year 4: £36,839

Location: Devonport, Plymouth
Final date to receive applications: 12th March 2026

Programme start date: September 2026

Role : 67811

The Higher Level Engineering Apprenticeship at Babcock is your opportunity to embark on a rewarding career in engineering. Our engineering apprentices are at the forefront of maintaining the Royal Navy's fleet and play an integral role in creating a safe and secure world.

Join our exciting 3.5-year Higher Level Engineering Apprenticeship programme, where you'll specialise in one of three distinct engineering disciplines:
Mechanical, Electrical, or Naval Architecture.

Whichever discipline you choose to specialise in you’ll tend to have a multi-disciplinary understanding. You’ll be responsible for creating or updating technical documentation, reports, or specifications that include information on quality, reliability, production schedules, costing, and more. This could include setting out how a product must be designed, manufactured, tested, modified, maintained, stored, transported, commissioned, or decommissioned – all within a predominantly office-based role.

You’ll find out more about each of the disciplines below.

As part of the interview, you will be asked to select your first and second preferred engineering discipline choice and explain your reasons for choosing it. This helps us understand your interests, motivations, and how your strengths align with the role.

Naval Architecture

You will be trained to use your skill and knowledge to analyse and design various aspects of floating vessels and structures, from nuclear submarines to floating work platforms. You will work closely with engineering design teams to make sure that designs are safe, seaworthy and cost-effective. You’ll prepare design plans using computer software and check and test specifications using computer simulations and 3D models.

Electrical

You may draw up project plans and circuit diagrams using computer-assisted engineering and design software, estimate costs and project timings, coordinate the work of technicians and our industrial staff and be involved in test installations and systems, as well as analysing test data.

Mechanical

You’ll understand engineering principles such as mechanics, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics, enabling you to design and analyse many types of mechanical systems. You’ll be proficient in computer-aided design (CAD) software and may create detailed models and simulations for product development, and you’ll experience plenty of hands‑on experience and problem‑solving exercises to hone your creative thinking.

No matter which specialism you pursue, you'll be gathering, analysing and interpreting information and data to make impactful decisions and solve real‑world problems.

Along the way, you’ll gain skills that will set you up for the future which may include:

• Data analysis and interpretation – Extracting, analysing, and interpreting engineering and manufacturing data to draw accurate conclusions and make informed decisions.
• Project Management - Utilising project management tools for effective decision-making and risk assessment.
• Problem‑solving - Applying problem‑solving techniques such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA) and more, to identify root causes and enhance quality.
• Lean tools and techniques - Utilising lean tools and techniques such as Six Sigma and 8 Wastes to drive efficiency and minimise waste.
• Computer‑based software system/packages – Utilising Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics, and Databases.
• Documentation control - Ensuring compliance with quality standards through proper documentation and processes.
• Financial planning – Undertaking financial planning, recording, and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control and cost forecasting.
• Communication and stakeholder management - Communicating findings through various media, including presentations and reports.

Throughout the apprenticeship, you'll have the chance to work at…