2026 Software Engineering Apprentice

2026 Software Engineering Apprentice - Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship Start Date: 07 September 2026 Salary: £24,000 per annum Employment type: Permanent Location: Reading Working schedule: Monday – Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday‑Thursday, 5 hours Friday) 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 Our exciting Software Engineering Apprentice role will develop your software skills to become a confident, positive and versatile engineer with well‑honed technical knowledge. You will support the team to deliver real‑world software solutions to deadlines and within budget, with opportunities to get involved across the entire development lifecycle. Key Skills and Experience Programming skills in industry‑standard languages such as Python, C++, C, Go Experience working in a multi‑disciplined agile environment alongside experienced engineers Familiarity with business management tools for managing requirements and formal documentation Knowledge of new tools and infrastructure used for the development engineering environment Development of secure, quality software solutions that adhere to timescale and budget Experience in different technical domains, such as software‑defined radio and electronic counter‑measure systems Opportunity to develop creative and bespoke software solutions Organisational skills with well‑rounded communication and relationship‑building abilities Digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Apprentice Programme You will enrol onto the Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship with Warwick University, following the Software Engineering pathway. For the duration of this 4‑year programme, you will combine university studies with practical application, working within our software function in Reading. The programme is delivered via a block‑release model, which includes a blend of on‑campus delivery and remote learning. For the rest of the time you will be working in the business for 4 days per week and will be given 1 day per week to focus on your apprenticeship studies. At the end of the apprenticeship you will be working as a software engineer within one of the Thales UK businesses. Your final qualification will be a BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions, plus the Level 6 degree apprenticeship qualification. Requirements 112 UCAS tariff points at A Level (grades BBC) including a grade C or above in Maths and at least one other relevant STEM subject (Engineering, IT, Computing, Web and Telecoms, Physics, Electronics) 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 a year (first two years) Closing date Applications will close at 11.59 pm on Thursday 12 February 2026. Equal Opportunity Statement Thales is an equal‑opportunity employer. Diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier‑free recruitment process and will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro‑diverse applicants or those with a disability or long‑term condition can perform at their best during the recruitment process. Security Clearances 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 obtain full Security Clearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements before starting with us. This role requires SC clearance; possessing it now would be advantageous, but if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant achieve, maintain and upgrade to SC clearance prior to commencing employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr