What will the apprenticeship involve?
This 3-year ATC Engineering Apprenticeship provides exceptional preparation for a fulfilling career in the aviation industry. The scheme is designed to bring new entrants into NATS with limited work experience through a structured training program. This will provide you with the knowledge, skills and attitude required to become an ATC Engineer working on operational equipment. Through remote learning (1 day per week) you will obtain 2 formal qualifications; a Level 4 Lead Engineering Maintenance Technician (Lead engineering maintenance technician / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education) Qualification and a HNC in Engineering.
Alongside the formal education NATS has designed an internal learning pathway to provide you with the required ATC specific knowledge and skills as well as provide an opportunity to develop your interpersonal skills too. You will get an opportunity to apply your new skills and knowledge on-the-job with support from experienced NATS engineers.
During the first year you will be gaining a thorough understanding of the various engineering roles at NATS through four 7-week rotations across the different engineering capacities, providing you with an opportunity to work at various locations across the UK. You will undertake a comprehensive induction programme as well as develop a skillset that will set you up for a successful career at NATS.
On completion of year 1 you will be allocated to a ‘unit’ depending on business needs and individual aptitude. This is where you will complete your apprenticeship and specialise in a particular area. You could be based at one of the world’s busiest Air Traffic Control Centres at Swanwick or at our head office in Whiteley and regularly travel to outstation equipment sites around the UK.
Find out more below about the different types of engineering roles within NATS ATC Engineering:
– Outstation engineers are responsible for maintaining radars, communication equipment and navigation aids throughout the UK. Working as part of a tightly knit team, the engineers ensure our equipment remains in top condition to enable NATS to provide a 24/7 service.
– Engineers in our control and monitoring centres in Swanwick and Whiteley oversee equipment for air traffic control, respond to issues and conduct maintenance. They collaborate with specialised colleagues for fault rectification and service continuity.
– Day Teams Engineers specialise in specific Air Traffic Control services like surveillance, networks, data and voice communications. They handle complex issue resolution, maintenance support and aid in designing, testing and installing new systems.
Check your eligibility, you must be:
– 18+
– Must have the right to work in the UK, without requiring sponsorship. If you’re unsure, check the Home Office guidance
– You will need to pass pre-employment security clearance checks
Essential skills and experience:
– Full UK clean driving license (you will be mobile grade, meaning you may be required to travel across the UK)
– 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or Scottish National 5’s Grade A-C including English and Maths. -Equivalent qualifications are accepted
– Interest in long-standing career in engineering
– Problem-solving skills
– Excellent time management and organisational skills
– Good teamworking skills, ability to participate in group discussions and share ideas, as well as being able to follow direction when needed
– Effective oral and written communication skills with the ability to present information accurately and concisely
– Flexibility due to being in a mobile position for this apprenticeship
Nice to have:
Practical engineering experience (for example acquired through a Level 2 or 3 apprenticeship, or any engineering exposure) but is not essential as appropriate training will be provided.
Additional vacancy information:
Please note that this position is categorised as mobile grade and as such there will be some travel required.
Assessment centres will be held on 10th and 12th July 2024, virtually via Microsoft Teams.
Apprenticeship start date: 9th September 2024
Please note that NATS reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. If you are interested, please submit your application as soon as possible.
Your salary will increase with each successful year completed of the apprenticeship.
Year 1: £21,300
Year 2: £22,098
Year 3: £27,927
Year 4 (upon successful completion of apprenticeship): Upwards of £36,500
We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally. In addition to a competitive salary that’s regularly reviewed, you’ll also benefit from a wide range of other benefits which includes generous leave entitlement, a market-leading defined contribution pension scheme and lots more. For more information on the benefits we offer, please visit https://www.nats.aero/careers/why-nats/
We celebrate the diversity of our colleagues. We thrive because we are all brilliantly different yet united in our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe. For more information on our commitment to diversity and inclusion, please visit: https://www.nats.aero/careers/why-nats/
If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.
We want you to be able to perform at your best, so please email if you’d like to discuss any reasonable adjustments.
