2016 Advanced Apprentice FLX Hardware Engineer

Job description

Thales Flight Avionics (FLX) is a Domain within the AVS-UK CBU (Avionics UK Country Business Unit). FLX is comprised of three Sectors: Civil Avionics, Military Avionics, and Helicopter Avionics.


Thales FLX provides a unique opportunity for you to create state of the art hardware that delivers capabilities for both UK and International customers.

Our FLX business develops Audio Communications Systems, Satellite Communications Systems and Tactical Management Systems for a number significant projects and platforms; on rotary & fixed wing aircraft for both the civil and military environments.

As a Thales hardware engineer, you will also help develop the next-generation of technologies, for which we are world-renowned.

You will be a key member of the Hardware Development team based at the Thales site in Crawley, and will have the opportunity to collaborate with Thales sites in the UK and overseas.

Key responsibilities will be to carry out all aspects of design, development, verification and certification of hardware products across many different Civil and Military platforms.

This will involve opportunities ranging from high speed digital design, Signal Integrity Analysis, microprocessors, programmable devices, DSP and FPGA design, to power supply technology, analogue, RF, electro-mechanical and mechanical design along with Printed Circuit Board design for manufacture.

The team is looking for original thinkers who share our passion for all things technical and engineering to take advantage of our four year apprenticeships. Splitting your time between classroom learning at a partner College and hands-on placements as part of the Thales team, you'll work towards completing a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, which will include a BTEC and an NVQ. You will also be assigned a mentor and a buddy to turn to within the business, plus enjoy guidance from the education experts at College, so you will have all the support you need to develop a successful career in engineering.

Technical Skills

You will be required to provide evidence of activity that supports the desire to pursue a career in Hardware Engineering at Thales.

Desired skills and qualifications:

·  Five GCSEs at grades A*- C, including Maths, English and a science subject
·  Be a real problem solver with a genuine interest in technology and engineering
·  A desire to work with modern hardware development techniques, methods, tools and languages
·  Have what it takes to work well as part of a team, but be able to take the lead when you have to
·  Strong written and verbal communication skills
·  A desire to take responsibility for your professional development. Candidates with ‘A' level or equivalent in appropriate subjects (eg Science, Maths) are also invited to the scheme.

Job Content

·  Define our solution by working with Systems Engineering to develop requirements and a test strategy.
·  Develop our systems by working as a key member of a project team to deliver a high quality, robust hardware deliverable that meets customer requirements, on time and within budget.
·  Support our systems by working with customer support functions to ensure that currently deployed hardware products are maintained.
·  Build our strategy by working with the hardware management function to ensure that skills, technology and ways of working are developed.

Additional information

You should have the ability to work well within a team and to obtain co-operation and lead change. You will be self-motivated, with the ability to see innovative solutions to problems and the enthusiasm to drive them to a successful conclusion.

Please note that Hardware Apprentice Development Programme activities take place during the working week but will require the investment of some personal time.

You will have the opportunity to travel to Thales and non-Thales sites throughout the UK when working on Thales projects. Therefore a willingness to undertake business travel is essential.

This role requires enhanced security clearance to secret (SC) level. Candidates will be required to meet the criteria and seek Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) clearance, which will be sponsored by Thales. For eligibility criteria, please refer to the DBS NSV website.

(Job Ref: R9999846A)