{"id":2258442,"url":"https://alion.io/job/thales-group-2027-machine-learning-apprentice-level-6-ai-engineer","title":"2027 Machine Learning Apprentice - Level 6 AI Engineer","company":{"id":143,"name":"Thales Group","domain":"thalesgroup.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/thales","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":97,"open_postings":36,"ghost_share":0.028,"stale_share":0.056,"repost_share":0.028,"time_to_fill_p50_days":47,"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"}},"role":"AI/ML","role_family":"AI/ML","seniority":"intern","employment_type":"internship","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Templecombe, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":24000,"max":null,"currency":"GBP","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":31764},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Azure","optional":false},{"name":"Explainable AI","optional":false},{"name":"Instructor","optional":false},{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":false},{"name":"Transformers","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-05T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-05","last_verified_at":"2026-10-17T10:26:08Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":12,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":12},"description":"Location: Templecombe, United KingdomThales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.\n2027 Machine Learning Apprentice - Level 6 AI Engineer\nStart Date: 06 September 2027\nSalary: £24,000 per annum\nEmployee type: Permanent\nLocation: Templecombe\nWorking Schedule: Monday - Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday - Thursday, 5 hours Friday)\nTurn your curiosity into a career. If you're passionate about engineering, eager to learn, and looking for a degree apprenticeship that combines academic study with exciting on-the-job experience, we'd love to hear from you.\nBenefits of the programme:\nEarn a salary while studying for your qualification\nGain hands-on experience in a real engineering environment\nReceive job-specific training and development\nAchieve a recognised engineering qualification\nSecure a permanent role from the start of your apprenticeship\nHave your tuition fees fully paid\nAbout the Role\nAs a Machine Learning Apprentice, you will develop the technical knowledge, practical skills and professional behaviours needed to become a confident and capable engineer.\nWorking as part of our Specialist Underwater Systems Engineering team, you will support the rapid delivery of novel solutions, ensuring that our Royal Navy and export customers have the capability needed in today’s fast paced environment to carry out their critical missions, keeping them and our nation safe and secure.\nYour responsibilities may include:\nWorking with Underwater Systems specialists and software developers to create novel solutions\nDeveloping solutions with our partners across the multinational Thales organisation, academia and industry\nParticipating in testing and validation activities\nAssisting with engineering investigations and problem solving\nVisiting customer sites, platforms and installations to support surveys, trials and system deployment where required\nWorking with experienced engineers on live projects\nWhat You Will Learn\nThroughout the apprenticeship, you will gain experience and knowledge in:\nProfessional engineering behaviours and industry best practice\nUnderstanding and working with complex engineering systems\nDifferent engineering roles and activities across live projects\nThe Systems Engineering Lifecycle and key engineering processes\nRequirements capture, requirements management and system design techniques\nSystems Engineering tools and methods\nTesting, integration, verification, validation and qualification (IVVQ) activities\nStructured and methodical approaches to problem solving and investigation\nApprenticeship Programme\nYou will study towards a Level 6 in AI Engineer Apprenticeship with QA. The AI Engineer programme gives you the skills to design, build, and deploy advanced AI systems - including generative AI and deep learning. You’ll move from concept to real-world application. Creating solutions that scale and deliver impact.\nThe programme is 23 months in duration and is delivered via a virtual delivery model combining:\nInstructor led live workshops (28 days)\nInteractive labs and self-paced learning\nProgramme structure - You will complete learning in:\nAI System Development and Automation\nAI Solution Design and Testing\nDeep Learning and Transformers\nBusiness Process Optimisation with AI\nSecurity, Ethics and Explainable AI\nLeading AI and Future Innovation\nOn completion of the programme, you will have the opportunity to achieve the Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI -102) in addition to the IfATE L6AIE Qualification.\nEntry Requirements\nTo apply, you will need:\nA Levels\nThree A Levels Grade B or above in Maths\nAt least one other relevant subject (Physics, Computer Science, Software, ICT)\nOr Level 4/5 apprenticeship in a relevant discipline \nGCSEs\nMinimum of five GCSEs at Grade 9-4 (A-C) English and Maths\nPlease note that Computer Science graduates are not eligible due to funding restrictions.\nBenefits\n· Competitive salary of £24,000 per annum\n· Performance-related pay uplifts\n· Holiday entitlement of 201 hours a year (plus a company day and bank holidays)\n· Contributory Company Pension\n· Health Care Cash Plan\n· Hybrid/flexible working options\n· Employee assistance programme\n· Learning and development support\n· Employee discounts and wellbeing initiatives\n· Life Cover\n· 80 Hours Volunteering per year (first two years)\nThales Apprentice Recruitment Process\n1. Apply Online - submit your application online to register your interest. You only need to register for one role as you will have the opportunity to apply for additional roles at the full application stage.\n2. Upload Your CV\n3. Check your emails for the invitation to apply - this will come from \n4. Complete Your Application - follow the link provided in the email to complete your application. You can apply for one primary role and up to 3 additional roles.\n5. Complete Online Tests - undertake the online assessments designed to evaluate your suitability for the role.\n6. Virtual Assessment Centre - candidates who progress from the online assessment stage will attend a virtual assessment centre, which will include group exercises, and competency-based interviews.\n7. Job Offer - successful candidates who perform well throughout the recruitment process will receive a job offer from Thales.\nFor further information about our Future Talent recruitment process, including hints and tips, or to connect with a member of the Future Talent Team, a Graduate, or an Apprentice, please visit Thales Future Talent - Connectr.\nPlease note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February - May 2027. Induction week for all Graduate and Apprentices will take place from Monday 6 September - Friday 10 September 2027.\nClosing date: Our applications will close at11.59pm on Wednesday 17 February 2027, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note, we will be in contact by the end of February 2027 with details of next steps.\nPLEASE NOTE THAT ROLES MAY CLOSE EARLIER THAN THE ADVERTISED DEADLINE IF WE RECEIVE A HIGH NUMER OF APPLICATIONS. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID MISSING OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.\nBecause of the work we do at Thales, all roles are subject to security requirements.\nTo be considered for this position, you must have the permanent right to work in the UK and be able to successfully complete and maintain UK Government security checks, including Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) screening and Security Clearance (SC), which is a government background check, before starting employment.\nTo be eligible for SC clearance, you will typically need to have lived in the UK continuously for the last five years. As part of the vetting process, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, right to work in the UK, any time spent overseas during the last five years, and your employment and/or education history.\nIn addition, this role supports a UK Eyes Only programme and is therefore subject to government-mandated nationality restrictions. To satisfy the security clearance requirements for access to highly sensitive information, applicants must have been British citizens from birth and must not hold any other nationality. This requirement is determined by the UK Government and is a condition of programme access rather than an employment preference.\nFor further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link -https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.\nThales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity, and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.\nAt Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.\nWe are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.\nIf this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. 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