NATS (National Air Traffic Services) is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2 million flights each year.
We have around 4,500 employees working at NATS. That includes 1,700 Air Traffic Controllers, 650 Air Traffic Service Assistants, 1,000 engineers, and 1,000 other specialists. NATS provides Air Traffic Control (ATC) services from two control centres at Prestwick and Swanwick as well as from various airports around the UK.
In addition, we offer a wide range of commercial solutions to over 30 countries internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.
During this Engineering Apprenticeship you will be trained to become an operational engineer at NATS, this means you will learn about the design, installation, maintenance and reparation of all operational systems and equipment, this is the equipment used by our Air Traffic Controllers and customers throughout the UK to keep the skies safe. With the aim to ensure our operation systems and equipment function 24/7 to allow Air Traffic Controllers to safely mange the air traffic in the UK airspace. Our systems and equipment can be found at our Air Traffic Centres in Swanwick and Prestwick, at airports as well as at various (remote) sites across the UK.
As an ATC (Air Traffic Control) Engineer, you will support our design teams with your knowledge of the operational environment, learn how to control and monitor the equipment in use, so that any problems are identified and resolved quickly.
You will also undertake preventative maintenance and support the installation of new equipment amongst a variety of other tasks such as systems reconfiguration and switching out equipment to ensure the service we provide is maintained.
This 3-year Engineering Apprenticeship scheme prepares you 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. The scheme will provide you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to become an operational Engineer.
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 Electrical Engineering. Find out more about the apprenticeship here- Lead engineering maintenance technician / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
Alongside the formal education, NATS has designed an internal learning pathway to provide you with the required ATC specific engineering 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 gain a thorough understanding of the various engineering roles at NATS and undertake four rotations across 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 years 2 and 3 of your apprenticeship and specialise in one aspect of operational engineering at NATS. You could be based at one of the world’s busiest Air Traffic Control Centres at Swanwick or at our head office in Whiteley, working in either the Day Teams (engineering teams who specialise in a particular Air Traffic Control service such as, such as communication, surveillance or flight data), or the Central Maintenance Services (CMS) team (engineers who are based at our workshop and Whiteley and repair equipment to component level).
You will complete an HNC in Electrical Engineering during the first two years of your apprenticeship through on-line day release (1 day per week). In addition, you will be working towards your Lead Engineering Maintenance Apprenticeship (Level 4) through work-based assessments throughout the three-year apprenticeship.
This year we are recruiting 3 apprentices for Day Teams, and 1 for Central Maintenance Services. Find out more about the different types of operational engineering roles within NATS below:
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.
Central Maintenance Services (CMS) Engineers are based in a workshop at our Whiteley centre. They repair various equipment down to component level from radars, communications, navigational aids, and IT from across the UK and beyond.
To be eligible for this apprenticeship, you must be:
18+
Live and work in England (funding purposes)
Must have the right to work in the UK, without requiring sponsorship. If you are unsure, check the Home Office guidance
You will need to pass pre-employment security clearance checks
Pass an Ishihara colour vision test
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
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
Desirable skills and experience:
Practical engineering experience (for example acquired through a Level 2 or 3 apprenticeship, or other exposure to an engineering environment)
Having an engineering qualification and/or A-Levels
Salary- 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
Please note that this position is categorised as mobile grade and as such there will be some travel required.
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.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion:
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 require any reasonable adjustments.
