JourneyApprenticeshipsEmbedded electronic systems design and development engineer (degree)
Embedded electronic systems design and development engineer (degree)
Level 6 · DegreeEngineering and manufacturing 3 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
This degree apprenticeship develops embedded electronic systems engineers who design and develop the hardware and software that sit inside electronic products - from automotive control units and medical devices to industrial sensors and consumer electronics. You will work on both the microcontroller hardware and the embedded firmware, bridging the gap between electronics design and software engineering. Graduates are in demand across virtually every technology-intensive industry and typically work towards chartered engineer status.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Microcontroller and microprocessor architecture and low-level programming in C/C++
Real-time operating systems (RTOS) and embedded software design patterns
Digital and analogue electronics design for embedded systems
Communication protocols: UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, and Ethernet
Hardware debug using oscilloscopes, logic analysers, and in-circuit debuggers
Embedded systems testing, verification, and safety-critical standards (e.g. IEC 61508)
PCB design and hardware-software integration and bring-up
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Write and debug embedded firmware in C or C++ for microcontroller platforms
Design or review schematic circuits for embedded hardware
Integrate new hardware peripherals and write device driver code
Debug embedded systems using JTAG, oscilloscopes, and logic analysers
Conduct unit and integration testing of embedded software modules
Contribute to technical design reviews and architecture decisions
Produce and maintain embedded system documentation and test records
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 6 (Degree) - roughly Bachelor’s-degree level. Usually needs A-levels or a Level 3 qualification (employers set UCAS-point targets). You earn a full degree while you work - with no tuition fees to pay.
What’s next: Leads into professional roles, sometimes with a Level 7 (Master’s) apprenticeship after.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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