Starting salary: Competitive
Location: Bristol
Duration: 4 years

At Rolls-Royce, we pioneer cutting-edge technologies to explore the possibilities of cleaner, safer, more competitive power. As a Materials Engineering Apprentice, you’ll work with world-class scientists and engineers to make sure the materials we use are as innovative and safe as possible. Building on your studies, you can expect to gain an understanding of different materials and their uses, failure investigation studies, research and development, process control, manufacturing support, supplier management and laboratory-related improvement activities.

Everyone is unique, so every Rolls-Royce journey is different too. We'll help you to find your way and discover your potential. Your unique personality, passion, and sense of purpose makes us who we are and a place where everyone belongs. And anything is possible.

What will I do?

Joining us in one of our businesses, Civil Aerospace, Defence or Submarines, across the 4 years of your apprenticeship, you will undertake a number of placements based in both materials and manufacturing environments. You’ll get to support the various processes that take place to design and manufacture a component. This includes, additive layer manufacturing, investment casting, welding, heat treatments, application of coatings, laser processes and chemical processing. This will give you a broad overview as you split your time between offices, laboratories, manufacturing sites and university, providing a mix of practical and theoretical experience. As Materials Engineering is a broad discipline, you could be involved in failure investigation, capability acquisition, manufacturing support, materials application, specifications and data and supplier management.

Typical placements could include:

• Assisting our suppliers to deliver products and materials within specification
• Statistically analysing and modelling material properties to help Design Engineers understand how they behave in extreme environments
• Conducting forensic failure investigations by carrying out metallurgical analysis into a product or material to understand how its performance can be improved and higher product safety can be achieved
• Mapping out various technical processes and improving them to reduce cost and improve delivery times
• Testing materials to understand material properties

These placements will allow you to work on a variety of laboratory equipment from initial microscopic component preparation through to scanning electron microscopes. This practical experience will be supported by theoretical learning as you undertake a degree in a Materials or Manufacturing discipline.

What you’ll need

5 GCSEs which must include Maths and Physics at grade B/6, English Language at Grade B/5 plus 2 others at grade 4/C in any subject. Minimum 112 UCAS points from: 3 A-levels, including Maths at grade B, plus Physics or Chemistry at grade C or above plus one other subject at grade C or above. Or an Extended BTEC Level 3 in an Engineering-related subject (including Further Maths element) at DDM. Obtained or predicted.

Every bit as important as your academic achievements, however, are the personal qualities you bring to the role. You need to show real passion for the work you do. And be confident in your abilities, naturally curious and eager to build on what you know.

Beyond that, you've got to be open-minded, collaborative and creative in your approach to problem-solving.

For roles in Defence and Submarines: Due to the nature of our work, we’re unable to employ anyone who doesn’t have the legal right to live and work in the UK and if you have spent more than three months outside of the UK in the last five years (e.g., travelling, working, living), we might not be able to employ you. This role is subject to Full UK Security Check Clearance issued by the United Kingdom Security Vetting. To work for the Rolls-Royce Submarines Business an individual has to hold a minimum of a Security Check (SC) clearance without any caveats to that clearance.  Rolls-Royce will support the application for Security Clearance if the individual does not currently already have this in place.

What you’ll get

• A competitive starting salary, with annual pay rises
• Fully sponsored BEng (Hons) degree in a Materials or Manufacturing discipline
• Competitive pension and 33 days’ holiday per year (including bank holidays)
• Career support from day one

Applications open until Tuesday 28th February 2023

Assessment Centres will be running from January 2023 onwards

At Rolls-Royce, we recruit people based on merit, and regardless of age, disability, gender identity or expression, race/colour/nationality/ethnic or national origins, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable legislation.