Panels Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship; Level 2

Start date:

September 2027

Location:

Stevenage

Duration: 3 years

Closing date for applications: 30th January 2027

Salary: A competitive starting salary of £18,000

37 hours per week // Up to 2 Flexi Days per month // 25 days holiday plus bank holidays // Pension // Plus many more flexible benefits!

Airbus is Europe’s number one Defence and Space enterprise, so what better way to start your Craft Apprenticeship than with an industry leader.

Being a Panels Manufacturing Technician Craft Apprentice at Airbus means you will get to develop Mechanical skills within our programme. You will be immersed in a stimulating Manufacturing environment.

As a Panels Manufacturing Technician Craft Apprentice, you'll gain hands‑on experience in a highly specialized and stimulating manufacturing environment. You'll develop essential mechanical skills while working on large, complex Satellite Panels that are then built into a Satellite Structure. This is your chance to contribute to missions that will explore our solar system, protect our planet, and provide vital communication services.

This role is for someone who wants to turn their passion for practical skills into a career that is literally out of this world! You will be immersed in a supportive team of experts who will mentor you as you build components that will endure the harsh realities of space.

Year 1:
You will study towards a Level 2 Engineering Operative ST0537 on the materials and processing pathway, gaining both academic knowledge and practical experience.

Year 2:
During the Apprenticeship you will have a unique opportunity to experience different Production Areas of the business which will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how a Satellite is manufactured at Airbus Defence & Space. This includes working in small teams or on a one‑to‑one basis to manufacture Spacecraft Panels, Mirror Bonding and Treatments using the latest approved processes and advanced production techniques for Satellite manufacture.

Your key activities & responsibilities will be:

Panel Assembly

• Use of various different adhesives
• Use of hand measuring tools to meet tight tolerances
• Installation of various panel features (potting inserts, riveting, edge taping)
• Following process and tolerances to drawings on 3DX

Final Assembly

• Installation of panel features including Ty-bases, MLI (multi-layer insulated blankets) studs, connector brackets & cleats and brackets using laser technology
• Heat pipe installation to extremely tight tolerances as low as 0.15mm

Mirror bonding

• Use of silicone adhesive to install SSM (second surface mirrors) to various types of panels and spacecraft features.
• Cutting mirrors with diamond tip pens to extreme accuracy

Treatments

• Surface finish measurements such as friction and paint thickness
• Application of surface finishes including aerospace approved primers and paints
• Grit blasting
• Conversion coatings and protective finishes
• Masking of hardware in preparation for spraying

During the 2nd year of the apprenticeship, you will attend a week of Team Building Activities and Exercises at one of the Outward‑Bound UK Sites. Split up into teams consisting of Apprentices of all levels from various Airbus Defence and Space sites, you will work as a team to complete daily activities such as Rock Climbing, Hiking, Abseiling, Canoeing and more

Year 3:
You will be fully on‑site, fine tuning your hand skills against the business skills matrix.

• Funding Eligibility:
  Applicants must be aged 16-21
  * and cannot hold a Level 2 or higher qualification (e.g., NVQ, BTEC, HND, or Degree) in Engineering, Aerospace, or related technical fields. For more information, please consult Foundation Apprenticeships Criteria *
• Education:
  
  No strict…