Electronic and Communication Engineering Degree Apprentice

Job title: Electronic and Communication Engineering Degree Apprentice

Programme title: Embedded Electronic Systems Design and Development Engineer Degree Apprenticeship

Level: 6

Salary: £23,776
Location: Bristol Hub (Ashton House and Babcock Technology Centre)

Application closing date: 8th December 2026

Programme start date: September 2027

Role ID:74959

As an Electronic and Communication Engineering Degree Apprentice, you'll support critical defence projects while completing our 6-year Embedded Electronic Systems Design and Development Engineer Degree Apprenticeship and working towards a BEng (Hons) Electronic and Computer Engineering Degree.

About the programme

Working in a discipline of such fundamental importance means your work will be both varied and impactful. Throughout the programme, you’ll help develop and support systems that enable our customers to communicate securely in demanding and remote environments. This could involve supporting electronic design, development, testing and component level repair, solving technical challenges unique to the defence sector.

You’ll collaborate closely with experienced colleagues across design, software, mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as project management, quality and supply chain teams. Along the way, you’ll strengthen your engineering skills by working with stakeholders, understanding business and customer requirements, identifying risks, and ensuring key deliverables are met.

 We encourage mobility across our organisation to help broaden your experience. During the programme, there may be opportunities to undertake placements at different UK locations, including Bristol, Devonport, Ashchurch, Corsham and sites in Hampshire, giving you exposure to a range of teams, projects and operational environments while building a broader understanding of our business.

Your education/training

You'll study part-time over the course of the apprenticeship, with the first three years based at Gloucestershire College's Cheltenham Campus and the final two years at UWE Bristol's Filton Campus. The academic element is delivered over 60 months, with the remaining time focused on completing your End Point Assessment and preparing for your transition into an engineering role.

Alongside your studies, you'll spend four days a week working within the business, developing your technical knowledge and applying your learning to live projects.

Throughout the programme, you'll develop knowledge and experience in areas including:

• Professional engineering skills
• Electrical circuit theory
• Mathematical modelling techniques for circuit design
• Analogue and digital design techniques
• Digital Signal Processing
• Fundamentals of structured software design
• Structured programming for embedded software
• Embedded software development

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you'll achieve a BEng (Hons) in Electronic and Computer Engineering.

Future prospects 

Upon successful completion of the programme, you'll be ready to progress into an engineering role with a competitive salary.

You’ll also have the opportunity to build on your progress toward professional registration as an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer, a recognised benchmark of engineering competence, which can support your journey into more advanced roles.

 From there, your development doesn’t stop. Through the Babcock Role Framework, you’ll have a clear view of how your career can progress, with mapped-out pathways, development opportunities and the tools you need to get wherever you want to go. 

What y****ou’ll need 

• 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, including Maths, English and a science, technology or engineering related subject, plus 3 A Levels at grade C or above, including Maths and two other science, technology, engineering or mathematics related subjects, or 90+ credits in an Engineering BTEC. Learners must have the equivalent to 112 UCAS points.

• A full driving licence is required for this role, as it requires frequent travel to multiple sites where no reasonable alternative transport is practical.

• 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 Developed Vetting (DV) security 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.

What you’ll get

We’ll provide you with a supportive and engaging environment where you can grow your career.

In addition, you’ll benefit from:

• Fully funded qualification
• Personal development training and opportunities
• Minimum 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays
• Competitive pension scheme
• Employee share scheme
• Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme and employee shopping savings portal

You’ll also have the chance to get involved in our STEM outreach activities and volunteering opportunities, which our apprentices find incredibly rewarding.

Your career development

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.

Application process and closing dates  

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the programme may close early if we receive a high volume of interest. To give yourself the best chance of being considered, we strongly recommend submitting your application and completing any required online assessments as soon as possible.