Space systems engineer
Level 6 · DegreeEngineering and manufacturing 4 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
This Level 6 apprenticeship trains engineers to design, develop, test, and verify complex space systems including satellites, launch vehicles, and ground support infrastructure. Apprentices work on real space programmes, applying engineering principles across the full system lifecycle. It can lead to roles as a Systems Engineer, Payload Engineer, or Mission Assurance Engineer within the UK space industry.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Systems engineering principles and the engineering lifecycle
Space environment and the constraints it places on design
Requirements capture, analysis, and verification methods
Spacecraft subsystems including power, propulsion, and thermal control
Safety, reliability, and failure mode analysis techniques
Model-based systems engineering tools and methods
Stakeholder management and technical communication skills
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Contribute to the design and analysis of space system components
Write and manage technical requirements documentation
Carry out testing and verification activities on hardware or software
Participate in design reviews and present technical findings
Analyse failure modes and assess risk mitigation options
Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams
Produce technical reports and interface control documents
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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