engineering

Engineering Manufacturing Technician Career Paths

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Male engineer in hard hat pointing

Are you looking to become an engineering manufacturing technician apprentice or currently in a training programme? If you answered yes to either of these, then it’s great to plan ahead and start looking at possible careers for your next steps. In this blog, we go through our top 3 career paths for engineers after their apprenticeship.

Costing engineer

As it says in the job role title, this career is focussed of the cost of working. Before working on a job, the costing engineer prices up the job based on the work that needs doing, tools required, and an approximate time that it would take to complete this job. This role is highly important, so the engineers know what they’re working with. They keep track of the project and ensure that the tools and project remain within the budget and is cost effective for the task they are completing.

Costing engineering is a great role to go into. You have high stakes in how engineering products go ahead by collecting data, analytics, proposals, and specifications for the engineer’s work and create templates for how the work will be competed, analysing the job again at the end to make sure that the budget was well kept, and everything went according to plan.

The required skills to become a costing engineer are good communication, negotiation, and influencing skills in order to work with the client to get what they want and the price you require. You also need to have good analysis skills, project management, and be good financially, knowing what prices things so nothing is over or under charged. Finally, you also need to be able to interpret technical data and be able to translate that to the other workers in your team, alongside the client.

With all of these, you’re on the path to becoming a costing engineer.

Production support engineer

Within this role, you are responsible for a lot of the faults or troubleshooting errors that may occur before or during jobs. They respond to any requests sent in my clients to ensure everything on there is up to scratch and ready for the engineers to go in and work on the job at hand. Once these errors have been found, they talk to the engineers about the issue, so they know for the current job and the future, as well as recording them on the system so these any faults that occur, don’t occur again or as regularly in the future. With these problems found, they work to find solutions or improvements that could be used – planning, designing, and testing their ideas. Production support engineers play a huge role in engineering, always having a job to do.

In order to become a production support engineer, you need to ensure that you have the required skills in order to do the job effectively and safely. These are problem solving in order to always find the correct solution that will take place of the fault and work safely. You also need to ensure that your customer service skills are highly trained so you can communicate with clients, receive feedback, and do all this in a professional and polite manner. Finally, you need to have a trained eye with a lot of attention to detail and technical expertise, so any errors or faults are resolved in a high-quality and timely manner.

Highly skilled, organised, confident, and calm? Maybe the production support engineer role is for you.

Process engineer

The role of a process engineer is very important in the engineering world. As a process engineer, you transform raw materials into everyday product by designing, implementing, controlling, and optimising the manufacturing process. Whilst doing this, you also ensure that the role that you are doing is time efficient, in order to get tasks done and tested before the job. You also have to ensure that you are cost effective, so you are not over exceeding the budget required. On top of all of this, you also work to ensure that what you do produce coincides with the health and safety standards.

This job, much like all engineering jobs, have a certain set of skills that are required in order to work effectively. These include problem solving. When something goes wrong while designing or creating, you have to ensure that you can figure out what the problem is and how it can be resolved in a timely matter to ensure all materials are ready when necessary. This also requires critical thinking. You also need to ensure that you have a good attention to detail so your products are to the highest standard possible, matching or exceeding the company standard for better customer reviews.

With these, you could be a process engineer after your apprenticeship.

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Level 4 Electrical Power Networks Engineering Apprenticeship

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Level 4 Electrical Power Networks Engineering Apprenticeship

Are you looking for an alternative to university, and want to start you engineering career? If so, we have the perfect apprenticeship for you. This role will allow you to plan, manage and undertake a variety of engineering tasks involving the electrical network, and gain a level 4 qualification alongside 30 months of experience.

Job Summary

Electrical power network engineering involves 6 roles: Asset Management Engineer, Planning Engineer, Design Engineer, Control Engineer, Electrical Project Engineer and Operational Delivery Engineer. This role will involve safely planning, managing, maintaining, constructing, and repairing parts of the power network, solving electricity network problems, and working in teams with other engineers.

Male engineer in hard hat pointing

Key Job Information:

  • Salary: Up to £27,000
  • Duration: 30 – 36 months
  • Entry requirements: 2 A levels at grade A-C in maths and a science, English GCSE grade A/B or an equivalent level 3 engineering qualification
  • Level: Level 4

Competencies required:

  • Organizational skills
  • Safe/risk aware
  • Problem solving
  • Teamwork and good communication
  • Manage expectations of stakeholders

What you will learn:

  • Electrical power principles
  • Design, operation, capabilities and limitations of electricity network
  • Safety and risk management
  • Company policy
  • Time management and communication with stakeholders
  • How to produce precise reports
  • How to create project plans
  • Learn to use company tools and IT systems

Different electrical network engineer roles:

Asset management engineer – You will help develop policy solutions for customers and stakeholders. Plan and develop network reinforcement plans and evaluate and make recommendations on equipment proposals. Also identify effect of low carbon on the network’s operation.

Planning engineer – You will build plans and manage conflicts, negotiate and confirm area plans and document and communicate planning decisions. Ensure assets comply with all policies and criteria, and accountability for resource and outage planning ownership.

Design engineer – You will turn company strategies into designs and make proposals about benefits of plant and equipment to be used. You will design approvals, wayleaves, consents, appropriate regulations and costing information, and account for effects of safety requirements and standards on designs and proposals.

Control engineer – You will control the electrical network, ensuring safety and efficiency and ensure security risks are minimized. Also manage operations to ensure a safe electricity supply and provide technical and operational advice. And gain necessary Control Engineer Authorization in-line with company requirements.

Electrical project engineer – You will project manage to ensure work is delivered on time and meets stakeholder requirements. Also Interpret criteria for project designs to fit the environment while also managing stakeholder relationships. You’ll produce final construction plans, takeover contractor management and issue, review and communicate safety requirements to onsite personnel. And ensure final hand back documentation is complete to specifications given.

Operational delivery engineer – You will meet design, safety, time and commercial requirements on a range of engineering activities. Take control of testing, maintenance and inspection and take responsibility of the team. Issue, review and communicate safety requirements to onsite personnel and ensure final hand back documentation is complete to specifications given.

Engineering Construction Erector Rigger.

Learn more about being a network engineer here!

Engineering Apprenticeships

As well as working as an electrical network engineer, there are many other engineering apprenticeships available. These are also offered at different levels and vary in time and salary. You can find more engineering apprenticeships here.

Benefits of doing an apprenticeship

There are many benefits to doing an apprenticeship rather than going to university:

  • Gain experience and a qualification simultaneously and become more employable for the future
  • Get paid to learn (no student debt)
  • Learn about engineering on the job rather than in a classroom
  • Enter the industry without requiring a degree and go on to have a successful career
  • Meet people who have industry experience and network to help with your future career

Where to find us

In addition, if you have any questions on this apprenticeship, or are interested in working in a different industry you can explore our website and message us on LinkedIn and Twitter!

What is a Level 4 automation and controls engineering technician?

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Image of a laptop with a yellow hard hat.

If you have recently completed your Level 3 qualification, have you thought of becoming a Level 4 automation and controls engineering technician apprentice?

The Level 4 automation and controls engineering technician apprenticeship is a 24-month programme working towards the occupational standard with a minimum of 20% off-the-job training. All apprenticeships will spend a minimum of 12 months on the programme.

Do I qualify for Level 4?

As a gateway requirement and prior to taking the EPA (End Point Assessment), apprentices must complete all approved qualifications mandated in the Automation & Controls Engineering Technician standard.

These are level 4 technical engineering qualifications covering at least one of the following areas:

  • Electronic engineering
  • General engineering
  • Manufacturing engineering
  • Operations engineering
Graphical user interface Description automatically generated with medium confidence
How Am I Assessed?

How am I assessed?

The apprenticeship is assessed by:

Assessment method 1: Project, Report and Presentation with Questioning which is graded on a final, pass, or distinction level.

Assessment method 2: Occupational Professional Discussion which is also graded on a final, pass, or distinction level.

English and Maths

Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.

Skills needed to become an automation and control engineering technician.

  • The ability to work safely in an industrial environment and where required, produce risk assessment/method statement documentation.
  • Be able to apply the principles of functional machinery and process safety including SIL (Safety Integrated Level) and PL (Performance Level) terminology
  • Production and interpretation of a range of technical documentation (device manuals, operating procedures, schematics, fault reports etc), and working with company documentation systems
  • Project engineering capabilities – Support of installation, commissioning, shut-down, start-up and maintenance/service/support of a wide range of systems and devices
  • Fault finding, diagnosis, rectification and reporting of automation control systems and controls applications via the utilisation of formal problem-solving methods and diagnostic tools/software
  • S5: Instrumentation configuration and calibration – Set up, calibrate and commission a wide variety of field-level instrumentation that interfaces to automation & control systems
  • configure, assist in commissioning and continued support of industrial network solutions at all hierarchical levels of control system integration using the requisite tools and or software
  • Make changes to existing systems or implement new configurations
  • Implement complex PLC/Robot program content and configurations to affect changes to increase availability and or efficiency of automation-controlled machinery and the ability to configure PLC and or Robot hardware and program a wide variety of PLCs and or Robot’s

What is expected of the apprentice?

For the Project and Presentation, the apprentice will be required to submit:

  • A portfolio, compiled throughout the apprenticeship and completed by the gateway. This must be sufficient enough to evidence that the apprentice can apply the knowledge, skills and behaviours required as mapped to assessment method 2.
  • There must be at least one piece of evidence relating to each knowledge, skill and behaviour mapped to AM2 although in most cases one piece of evidence will be referenced against more than one KSB requirement.
  •  It is expected that there will be a minimum of 14 and a maximum of 18 pieces of evidence to allow flexibility, but also encourage economical use of evidence for the number of KSBs to be covered.
  • The portfolio should contain written accounts of activities that have been completed and referenced against the knowledge, skills and behaviours, supported by appropriate evidence, including but not limited to photographic evidence and/or work products, reference guides, presentations, reports, schematics, specifications and work orders. Progress review documentation can also be included. The apprentice’s manager/mentor will typically support the development of the portfolio in accordance with organisational policy and procedures, although the EPAO will provide further guidance on the content.

Summary of the qualification including benefits

They are numerous benefits of a level 4 qualification including being recognised by a professional body such as the Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET)/Engineering or the Technician (EngTech) Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)/Engineering Technician (EngTech)

A typical job title is an automation and controls, and engineering technician. According to Glassdoor, the average base pay salary is £41,998 a year.

If you are interested but have not completed a Level 3 qualification, you can find more information here or get in touch by contacting us via LinkedIn or Twitter.  Or for an overall view of apprenticeships visit our website.

Engineering Operative | Level 2

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From design to project management. There’s always something to be excited about in the engineering industry.

What does an Engineering apprenticeship entail?

There’s an increasing demand for qualified and skilled apprentices. Engineering apprenticeships allow trainees to acquire specialist skills, whilst gaining hands on experience in the workplace. Engineering Operatives are primarily involved in engineering operations, which are essential to the manufacturing and engineering sector’s performance and enable companies to expand their businesses while training a workforce with the necessary abilities to support the industry.

Occupational role profile

An engineering operative will understand:

  • How to obtain the necessary job instructions, engineering drawings and specifications and how to interpret them
  • Relevant statutory, quality, environmental compliance procedures/systems, organisational and health and safety regulations relating to engineering operations
  • Their individual roles and responsibilities within the organisation and the flexibility required to support the achievement of company targets
  • Engineering operational practices, processes and procedures
  • Potential problems that can occur within the engineering operations and how they can be avoided

An engineering operative will be able to:

  • Work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, environmental compliance procedures and systems and other relevant guidelines
  • Identify and deal appropriately with any risks, hazards, hazardous situations and problems that may occur within the engineering environment within the limits of their responsibility
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills which include oral, written, electronic
  • Complete appropriate documentation accurately, efficiently and legibly using the correct terminology where required
  • Obtain and follow the correct documentation, specifications and work instructions in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the engineering activities, extracting the necessary data/information from specification and related documentation
  • Select and use appropriate tools, equipment and materials to carry out the engineering operation
  • Deal appropriately with any problems that may occur within the manufacturing environment within the limits of their responsibility
  • Work efficiently and effectively at all times maintaining workplace organisation and minimising waste

Apprenticeship level: Standard Level 2

Jobs and entry criteria for the apprenticeship

The apprentice must work within ONE of the following job role options:

Job role: Description:
Maintenance roleThis role can cover either mechanical, electrical, electronic or fluid power work or a combination of them.
Mechanical manufacturing engineering roleThe apprentice should have knowledge of specific equipment operating parameters,
mechanical manufacturing techniques,
specific quality specifications for mechanical manufacturing operations.
Electrical and electronic engineering roleThis role covers cable types and where they should be used, electrical and electronic assembly and testing techniques, specific safe working practices and isolation procedures.
Fabrication role


This role covers specific marking out and preparation techniques, different fabrication and joining techniques, specific safe working practices and isolation procedures.
Materials, processing or finishing roleThe apprentice should have knowledge of specific machinery, equipment and tooling required for the materials, processing or finishing operation, different materials, processing or finishing techniques, specific quality specifications for materials, processing or finishing operations.
Technical support roleThe apprentice should have knowledge of specific machinery, equipment and tooling required for the technical support operation, different technical support techniques, specific safe working practices, procedures and quality requirements that need to be observed.

Details of the apprenticeship

Duration: Between 12 to 18 months

Entry requirements: Each individual employer will set the selection criteria for their Apprenticeships.

Mandatory qualifications: Apprentices without Level 1 (or equivalent) in English and maths must ensure that apprentices achieve Level 1 and take the test for Level 2 prior to taking the end-point assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the apprenticeships English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language qualification are an alternative to English qualifications for whom this is their primary language.

EQA provider: Ofqual

Maximum funding: £6000

After completing this apprenticeship, there are so many opportunities to branch out into other industries.  A large majority of sectors have a demand for engineers, which means that there are opportunities for engineers to use their skillset in many different environments.

An apprenticeship in engineering manufacturing means that apprentices could go on to work in aerospace, marine maintenance or the automotive industries.

Another sector for apprentice engineers could consider is engineering construction. Where they will help to construct built environments, which may include the erection of steel structures and or assisting teams with welding.

More information:

For further details about the apprenticeship click here

Find out more about the Engineering Operative assessment plan here

If you require any further assistance please get in touch

Level 2 Piling Attendant Apprenticeship

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This Level 2 Piling Attendant Apprenticeship includes assisting in driving, boring and forming piles in the ground to provide support for building and structures. The apprentice will train in the practice of pushing concrete, metal or wooden posts into the ground. Progression from this apprenticeship could lead to further work within the construction industry.

Piling Rig

Level 2 Piling Attendant Apprenticeship Details

  • Job Role: Level 2 Piling Attendant Apprenticeship
  • Duration: 18 – 24 Months
  • Maximum Funding: £15,000
  • Apprenticeship Level: Level 2

Key Responsibilities

The apprentice will assist with supporting piling plant machine operatives and specialist piling operatives by performing tasks such as; loading and unloading, handling and moving materials, preparation, measuring, marking and cutting materials, monitoring and reporting progress. On completion of this apprenticeship, Piling Attendants will be able to demonstrate the following:

  • Working Safely on Site
  • Contributing to Sustainable Practice
  • Manually Handle Loads
  • Carrying out User Maintenance on Tools and Machinery
  • Guiding and Controlling Movement of Vehicles
  • Operating Powered Tools Including Concrete Pumps, Generators and Compressors Agitators
  • Monitoring Delivery of Concrete and Take Samples for Testing
  • Transporting, Handling, Pouring, Positioning and Laying Concrete
  • Applying First Aid
  • Identifying Excavated Soils and Rock Types

The apprentice will also need to support one of the following:

  • Continuous Flight Auger: A flight augering drill used to excavate a hole where concrete is injected through a hollow shaft under pressure as the auger is extracted. This will create a continuous pile without leaving any holes open.
  • Rotary Large Diameter: Use of a bored piling machine with drilling tools, buckets and grabs to remove soil and rock. The auger is bored into the ground, withdrawn and spoil removed. This is repeated until design depth is reached and reinforced with concrete.
  • Driven – Pre-Cast: Metal or concrete piles are top-driven using hydraulic drop hammers. The concrete piles are pre-cast and designed for compression and bending.
  • Sheet or Vibro: Vibratory pile hammers contain counter-rotating eccentric weights powered by hydraulic motors. They are designed to cancel out horizontal vibrations and transmit vertical vibrations into the pile. The pile driving machine is positioned over the pile and fastened. Vibratory hammers can drive in or extract piles.

Level 2 Piling Attendant Apprenticeship Core Competencies

As part of the job role, the apprentice will carry out duties that will satisfy a number of competencies. Examples include:

  • Principles of Health, Safety Welfare and Environmentally Responsible Work Practices
  • Operatives Responsibilities Under Current Legislation
  • Communication and Following Organisational Procedures
  • Supporting Piling Operations
  • Interpreting Information from Drawings, Method Statements, Risk Assessments, Manufacturers Information, Work Schedules and Specifications
  • Handling and Moving Loads Manually with Mechanical Aids
  • Maintaining Tools, Plant, Machinery, lifting Accessories and Equipment
  • Specific Requirements for Operating Plant, Machinery and Equipment
  • Complying with Quality Requirements
  • Sample Taking
  • Techniques and Requirements of Piling Processing
  • Recognising Changes in Geology
  • Reacting in an Emergency

This standard has been designed in order to deliver sufficient competence, knowledge and understanding in the job role. This also allows individuals to learn the requirements of construction industry registration schemes.

Man and Woman on Construction Site

Exams and Qualifications

Individuals without their Level 1 English and Level 1 Mathematics will be required to achieve this level. They will also take the test for Level 2 English and Mathematics before their End Point Assessment. Individuals who undertake this standard will achieve the Level 2 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Piling Operations.

Progression from this apprenticeship can lead to the Level 3 in Specialist Piling Operations or with great experience within the construction industry. On successful completion of the Level 2 standard, Level 3 offers the roles of a Piling Rig Operator, Mud Plant Operative, Tremie Operative or Charge Hand.

As well as gaining qualifications, this apprenticeship also teaches behavioural skills such as:

  • Effective Communication: Oral, Written and Electronic
  • Respect: Knowledge of Equality and Diversity
  • Team Work: Working Effectively and Safely with Others
  • Independence: Taking Responsibility for Individual Work
  • Logical Thinking: Valid Reasoning when Making Decisions
  • Working Effectively: Undertaking Work in a Safe and Productive Manner
  • Time Management: Using Time Effectively and Completing Work
  • Adaptability: Adjusting to Instruction Changes
  • Assertiveness: Resisting Pressures to Work Following Unsafe Practices

Conclusion

This Level 2 Piling Attendant Apprenticeship provides a great foundation for those wanting to pursue a career within the construction industry. This course offers the necessary skills to advance your career and have a prosperous future ahead in this career.

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Level 4: Nuclear Welding Inspection Technician

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Looking to earn while you learn with our Level 4 Nuclear Welding Inspection Technician role? Take that next step in your career and gain technical experience in the work environment whilst working towards two industry qualifications.

What does the role involve?

Working in the Nuclear industry is a fantastic challenge for someone who is aiming to work towards a higher-level role.

The role focuses on the safety and integrity of nuclear fabrications and carrying out detailed observations, making detailed records and giving technical feedback.

Everyday tasks/roles:

•Key parts of role: Working on nuclear licensed sites such as waste management, decommissioning, construction and operational nuclear plants, and manufacturing industries will be a key part of the role.

•The individual will work in a challenging environment where quality standards are paramount, and safety is top priority.

•Expectations include working both individually and with a team of inspectors, implying that independence and communication skills are significant.

•NWIT Apprentice will be required to meet the requirements specified in nuclear industry regulations, specifications, and standards.

Nuclear Welding Inspection Technician

What do I need to know for the role?

Because of the high priority of safety in the role, there are a few things the Apprentice should be informed about prior to application.

No need to panic, you will be assisted and supported throughout your journey.

Knowledge:

• Material science: The Apprentice should be aware of the materials they are dealing with. Sensible behaviour and performance during welding process. They will gain a full understanding of the fundamental aspects of destructive testing.

• Welding Technology: Apprentices will be informed of the assurance requirements for welded constructions. Skills will be expanded in the understanding of processes, terminology, standards, documentations, and records.

• A Welding Inspection: Will be given the opportunity to learn the quality control requirements during welding and can carry out three stages of weld inspection. 

Safety/commitment to safety: The Apprentice should be knowledgeable in understanding the importance of working safely in a nuclear industry environment. Aware of fundamental principles and implications of radiation types, sources, hazards, and appropriate control measures. 

Behavioural qualities:

• Integrity: relations with customers, suppliers, and other parties. Portray professional and high quality standards.

• Resilience: Must be able to cope with demand in challenging and pressured environment and give full effort to each task in a tactful way.

•Quality focus: Apprentice can listen well, follow procedures and complete tasks to best of ability.

• Good commination: Confident in speaking internally and externally, written, orally and electronically, taking into consideration diversity and equality.

Skills required:

• Before welding: Conducts in depth detail inspections; storage, condition and certification are correct, and procedure is in place. Check condition of equipment and ensure calibration.

• During welding: Professionally, safely, and correctly carry out the welding procedure, monitoring parameter and verification. Ensuring current voltage, heat and travel speed correct during procedure. 

• After welding: They can carry out checks on appearance and identification, also known as a visual inspection. As well as non-destructive testing, dimensional surveys against engineering drawings. The Apprentice should be able to document and report errors or maintenance checks or repairs.

Additional Information

Duration: 48 months

Entry Qualifications: Employer’s state specific qualifications. 5 GCSE’s Grade A-3. Mathematics and English must be grade B or above.

Qualifications received: Minimum of ONE Level 2 Non-destructive testing method. (visual, penetran, magnetic testing, radiographic testing, ultrasonic or eddy current testing) Employer will determine.

Second qualification is Level 2 welding inspection qualification. 

FYI: NWIT will need to achieve a level 4 qualification in welding inspection as specified by the professional body. 

Progression routes: Apprentice will be eligible for Engineering Technician registration on completion of the scheme

Is this the Apprenticeship for you?

With the nuclear industry becoming more popular than ever, bringing in Apprentices to learn the trade is a great way to kickstart your career. If this Level 4 Nuclear Welding Inspection Technician sounds like the career path you’re looking for. This is the role for you! 

You can find out more information on this role here

Changed your mind? You can view our other Apprenticeship options below.

• Level 3 – Furniture Product Developer Apprenticeship

• Manufacturing Engineer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.