Thales 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.

2027 Cloud Assurance and Cyber Security Apprentice - Level 4 Cyber Security Engineer Apprenticeship

Start Date: Monday 6 September 2027

Salary: £24,000 per annum

Location: Crawley

Employee Type: Permanent

Working Schedule: Monday – Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday – Thursday, 5 hours Friday)

Do you love troubleshooting and finding a solution to complex challenges? If so, turn your curiosity into a career…. We would love to hear from you. This apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity to learn about cloud assurance and cyber security within a leading UK tech and defence company.

Benefits of the Programme:

• Earn a salary while studying for your apprenticeship
• Gain hands-on experience in a real working environment
• Receive job-specific training and development
• Achieve a recognised qualification
• Secure a permanent role from the start of your apprenticeship
• Tuition fees fully paid

About the Role:

As a Cloud Assurance and Cyber Security Apprentice, you will gain hands-on experience and practical knowledge in cyber security, particularly focused on security operations and safeguarding cloud platforms. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the security and integrity of critical systems while gaining exposure to government-level security operations.

What You Will learn:

• Cloud Security Monitoring: Assist in monitoring and maintaining the security of the Thales adopted public cloud infrastructure (e.g., Azure, Google Cloud) in compliance with government security guidelines
• Incident Response: Support the reporting, investigation and analysis of security incidents and potential breaches within classified environments, helping to resolve issues swiftly
• Security Auditing: Help perform regular audits of cloud-based systems to ensure compliance with security protocols and government regulations
• Risk and Vulnerability Assessments: Participate in identifying vulnerabilities within cloud services, maintaining Risk reporting mechanisms and proposing mitigations to improve security posture
• Compliance & Governance: Assist in ensuring that the Thales cloud environments comply with government policies, such as GDPR, NCSC guidelines, and other relevant frameworks
• Collaboration with Development Teams: Work alongside cloud architects, developers, and engineers to ensure security is integrated into all stages of development, from design to deployment
• Training & Development: Engage in continuous learning and development, including completing certifications relevant to cloud security and government standards

Apprenticeship Programme:

This is a 24-month programme aligned to the Level 4 Cyber Security Engineer Apprenticeship standard and delivered in partnership with a digital specialist provider.

The programme is delivered via a virtual learning model consisting of live taught lectures and online learning materials.

The programme will conclude with an End Point Assessment, followed by roll-off into your permanent role within the Thales UK business.

Entry Requirements:

To apply, you will need:

• An A-Level in ICT or an International Baccalaureate at Level 3 in ICT or a Level 3 apprenticeship in a similar subject or a BTEC Extended Diploma in IT (180 credits)
• 5 GCSEs Grade 9-4 (A-C) including English and Maths

Benefits:

• Competitive salary of £24,000 per annum
• Performance-related pay uplifts
• Holiday entitlement of 201 hours a year (plus a company day and bank holidays)
• Contributory Company Pension
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Hybrid/flexible working options
• Employee assistance programme
• Learning and Development support
• Employee discounts and wellbeing initiatives
• Life Cover
• 80 Hours Volunteering per year (first two years)

Thales Apprentice Recruitment Process:

1.      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.

2.      Upload Your CV

3.      Check Your Emails for the Invitation to Apply – this will come from [email protected]

4.      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.

5.      Complete Online Tests - undertake the online assessments designed to evaluate your suitability for the role.

6.      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.

7.      Job Offer – successful candidates who perform well throughout the recruitment process will receive a job offer from Thales.

For 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.

Please 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.

Closing date: Our applications will close at 11.59pm 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.

PLEASE 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.

Because of the work we do at Thales, all roles are subject to security requirements.

To 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.

To 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.

For 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

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity, and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

At 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.
 

We 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.

If 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. Join the Talent Community here.

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