Job Description

Location: Crawley, United Kingdom
In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.
Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that's why we offer you the flexibility to do what's important to you; whether that's part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.
2026 Test and Repair Apprentice - Level 3 Maintenance Operations Engineering Technician
Start Date: 07 September 2026
Salary: 24,000 per annum
Employee type: Permanent
Location: Crawley
Working Schedule: Monday - Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday - Thursday, 5 hours Friday)
Are you looking for an employer who will sponsor you through your qualifications, whilst providing valuable and exciting on-the-job experience within a global, innovative and industry leading organisation? If so, read on to see what Thales has to offer...
What the role has to offer:

• Earn while you learn
• Job specific training experience
• Recognised qualifications
• Permanent role from day one
• Tuition fees for university or approved training providers are fully covered

What you'll be doing:
Through our test and repair apprenticeship, you'll be making the most of your talents, getting to understand the manufacturing function; and doing so with the help of one of the biggest and best names in the industry.
The first few weeks will be spent in assembly learning the key safe ways of working and the mechanical skills throughout the shop floor; assembly techniques, wiring and looming, soldering and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) safety. You will be set up with all the relevant tooling and software needed to work throughout Thales.
Once armed with appropriate skills you will move to a focussed sequence of learning. A rotation plan will start once you have completed your manufacturing key skills training, you will progress to working in test and repair using a lot of complex and interesting facilities. Through this time, you will learn you will gain experience & knowledge in different types of customer equipment. You will spend time in other departments in manufacturing rotating through different disciplines of assembly & integration, test, repairs and fault finding and planning and manufacturing engineering.
Over this time, you will have learnt many different skills in Mechanical and Electrical criteria within accordance with IPC 610 (Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies) / 620 (Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies).
You will become a key member of the team, with technical knowledge and practical expertise in the use of both common and specialist tools and equipment, including the use of a variety of measuring, testing, diagnostic aids/equipment and processes to ensure individual components, assemblies and/or integrated systems meet the required specification.
Apprentice Programme
As a Test and Repair Apprentice you will be working towards a Level 3 apprenticeship following the Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician standard. For the duration of this 3-4-year programme, you will be given one day per week in which to complete your studies with Crawley College. For the other 4 days, you will be working in the business, applying your learning and gaining a breadth of experience
Who we're looking for:
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are motivated, committed and keen to learn. A self-starter who can manage their time, show initiative and has a genuine interest in manufacturing and Thales. Successful candidates will show self-discipline and an aspiration to achieve the qualification.
Requirements:

• 5 GCSEs grade 9-4 (A-C), including English and Maths

Benefits

• 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays)
• Company Pension
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Life Insurance
• Discount Portal
• Performance-related pay uplifts
• 80 Hours Volunteering (first two years)

Please note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February - May 2026. Induction week for all Graduates and Apprentices will take place from Monday 7 September - Friday 11 September 2026.
Closing date: Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Thursday 12 February 2026, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note, we will be in contact by the end of February 2026 with details of next steps.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ROLES MAY CLOSE EARLIER THAN THE ADVERTISED DEADLINE IF WE RECEIVE A HIGH NUMER OF APPLICATIONS. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID MISSING OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.
Recruitment Process:
For further information about our Future Talent recruitment process, including hints and tips, or to connect with a member of the Future Talent Team, a Graduate, or an Apprentice, please visit .
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, all our roles are subject to security restrictions.
All successful candidates must possess the permanent right to work in the UK and will be required to go through Government security clearance at BPSS Level and to obtain full Security Clearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements below, prior to starting with us.
This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. As part of the vetting process, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, eligibility to work in the UK, time spent abroad over the last 5 years, as well as employment and / or educational history.
For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link -
Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity, and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.
In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.
At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.
Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact for mid to senior roles, or the for graduate and apprentice roles.
Great journeys start here, apply now!

Skills Required