Mechanical Maintenance Apprenticeship - Level 3

During the foundation phase of the apprenticeship, individuals will learn the fundamentals of mechanical maintenance. This phase acts as the building blocks of an interesting career within AWE. Basic skills and knowledge are developed through the Skills Academy, where apprentices begin by learning the correct selection and use of hand tools. They will manufacture a range of test pieces to support their development as mechanical maintainers, before progressing to carry out maintenance activities in a simulated environment.

Once this phase has been completed, taking approximately 18 months, apprentices will move into the consolidation phase. This involves rotating through the Mechanical Maintenance teams located within the various Technology Centres across both AWE Aldermaston and AWE Burghfield sites. During this stage, apprentices will build upon the skills learned during the foundation phase, working on a wide range of plant and equipment in a real-world environment.

This role may appeal to those who enjoy:

• Understanding how mechanical assemblies work
• Understanding how heating, ventilation, and cooling systems operate
• Understanding the maintenance of rotating plant and equipment
• Problem-solving activities
• Being hands-on
• Applying engineering principles in real-life scenarios

The Benefits:

• A starting salary of £16,750 yearly, increasing to £23,500 in Year 2 and annually throughout your apprenticeship — subject to meeting key milestones and performance expectations
• Market leading contributory pension scheme
• Generous holiday entitlement of 270 hours a year (inclusive of Bank Holidays) plus every other Friday off
• Access to employee discounts portal - everyday savings on retail, hospitality and leisure
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services

Alongside these benefits you will get the opportunity to learn from some of the top leaders in their field whilst helping AWE to continue to deliver national nuclear security, threat reduction and counter-terrorism solutions.

Recruitment process:

This vacancy will close on 11th January 2026, but AWE will review applications as they come in — so they strongly encourage you to apply early. AWE want you to shine in your application process which is designed to be fair and transparent. So they've kept it simple with a three-step process:

Online application

Apply for one apprenticeship that best aligns with your interests and career goals. Take your time to explore the opportunities before submitting your application.

Online assessment
If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to complete online tests covering numerical, verbal, logical, and cognitive reasoning. Practice materials will be available so you’ll know what to expect and can prepare in advance.

Virtual assessment centre
Those successful at testing will be invited to an in-person assessment centre. The Assessment Centres are scheduled for 6th and 16th March 2026. Please note that these dates may be subject to change, but rest assured, AWE will keep all applicants informed throughout the process.