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Mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship

DEVONPORT ROYAL DOCKYARD LIMITED · Bristol

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Advertised to close on 7 December 2026, but employers often close early.

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Pay
£27,381 a year
Hours
35 a week
Length
48 months
Starts
1 Sep 2027
Advertised closing date
7 Dec 2026
Openings
2 positions
Last checked
an hour ago

Applications are handled by DEVONPORT ROYAL DOCKYARD LIMITED directly.

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Disability Confident employer

This employer is in the government Disability Confident scheme. If you have a disability, you can ask to be considered for an interview under the scheme, as long as you meet the essential requirements. Read about the scheme on GOV.UK.

What you would do

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.

Day to day

  • 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.
  • During your apprenticeship, you may be involved in: Assessing submarine structures for explosive shock survivability; Conducting technical performance analyses on mechanical systems and components;
  • Supporting technical investigations and feasibility studies, or;
  • ·Taking part in platform surveys at locations such as Devonport Royal Dockyard and HM Naval Base Clyde.
  • 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.

What you would study

Electro-mechanical engineer (level 6)

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.

Training provider: UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND, BRISTOL

Working week

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

What you need

  • GCSE English at grade C (essential)
  • GCSE Maths at grade C (essential)
  • A Level Maths at grade C (essential)
  • A Level STEM (science, technology, engineering or maths) at grade C (essential)

Skills they are looking for

  • Communication skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Initiative

After the apprenticeship

It’s hard to beat the variety of fantastic opportunities and business experiences you’ll receive. You can expect real world encounters and exposure to exciting projects that will really help you navigate where you want to take your career.

Plus, when you join us, you’ll be automatically enrolled onto our Apprentice Development Programme. Through a series of digital and face to face sessions, presented by wellbeing and performance experts and our external partners, we will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to thrive and perform at your very best on your programme and beyond.

Where

Bristol, South West (BS16).

About DEVONPORT ROYAL DOCKYARD LIMITED

Babcock is an international defence, aerospace and security company operating in our focus countries of the UK, Australasia, Canada, France and South Africa, with exports to additional markets with potential to become focus countries. We meet our customers’ key requirements of affordability, availability, and capability by delivering engineering, support and critical systems to defence and civil markets.

Benefits

  • Fully funded qualification
  • Personal development training and opportunities
  • 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays
  • Competitive pension scheme
  • Employee share scheme
  • Flexible benefits

Things to consider

Many of our programmes are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold or have held may impact which programmes you are eligible for. For this programme, you must be able to achieve and maintain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), Security Check (SC) and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information clearance. For further details, visit GOV.UK and search ‘United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels’.

Under applicable national security legislation, this post may only be occupied by a sole UK national. This legal requirement is independent of our recruitment policies, and all eligible applicants will be assessed fairly and without discrimination.

Mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship, DEVONPORT ROYAL…