Location- Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland
Start Date- September 2026
Salary- This 4-year apprenticeship starts from £23,000 with annual progression through the scheme duration. Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, upwards of £39,690.
Job Purpose:
During this Engineering Apprenticeship, you will be trained to become an operational engineer at NATS. This involves focusing on learning about the design, installation, maintenance and reparation of the systems and equipment used by Air Traffic Controllers and our customers across the UK to keep the skies safe. Your work will help ensure these operational systems function 24/7, enabling controllers to safely manage Air Traffic in UK airspace.
Our engineering infrastructure spans our Air Traffic Control (ATC) Centres in Swanwick and Prestwick, airports across the country, and a range of remote sites. As an ATC Engineer, you will use your understanding of the operational environment to support design teams, and you will learn how to control and monitor live equipment so issues can be identified and resolved quickly. You will also carry out preventative maintenance, assist with the installation of new equipment, and undertake tasks such as system reconfiguration and equipment switching to ensure the continuity and reliability of the services we provide.
What does this apprenticeship involve:
This four-year SCQF Level 7 Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering (Asset Lifecycle and Maintenance) prepares you for a rewarding career in the aviation industry. Designed for those with limited work experience, it provides a structured pathway to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to become an operational Engineer at NATS.
Alongside your formal education, you’ll follow an internal learning pathway that builds ATC specific engineering expertise and develops your interpersonal and professional skills. You’ll apply your learning on the job with support from experienced NATS engineers.
In your first year, you’ll complete a comprehensive induction, complete your SVQ Level 5 Performing Engineering Operations in block release throughout the year and rotate through four engineering disciplines. You’ll also take part in additional development activities such as personal development weeks, site visits and technical forums to deepen your understanding of our engineering environment and the organisation.
After year one, you’ll be assigned an engineering unit based on business needs and your strengths. This is where you will complete year two, three and four of your apprenticeship, where you’ll focus on a specific area of operational engineering at our Prestwick site. Here you will begin building the technical competencies needed to progress towards becoming an Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEP) Engineer, gaining hands-on experience with guidance and mentoring, critical ATC systems, supported by experienced colleagues and developing the operational awareness.
Throughout the programme, you’ll study for a SCQF Level 7 Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering (Asset Lifecycle and Maintenance), a HNC in Electrical Engineering, and an SVQ Level 5 in Performing Engineering Operations.
You’ll join a diverse engineering community, including women engineers at difference stages of their careers.
By the end of the scheme, you’ll have the foundation, qualifications and practical experience needed to take the next steps toward full ATSEP status and a long-term engineering career at NATS.
Find out more about the different types of operational engineering disciplines within NATS which you could be assigned:
- Engineers in our control and monitoring centres in Swanwick and Whiteley oversee equipment for ATC, respond to issues and conduct maintenance. They collaborate with specialised colleagues for fault rectification and service continuity.
- Day Teams Engineers specialise in specific ATC services like surveillance, networks, data, and voice communications. They handle complex issue resolution, maintenance support and aid in designing, testing, and installing new systems.
- Outstation engineers are responsible for maintaining radars, communication equipment and navigation aids throughout the UK. Working closely together in a supportive enviroment as a tight knit team, the engineers ensure our equipment remains in top condition to enable NATS to provide a 24/7 service.
- NATS Installations and Hardware are responsible for the installation of all ATC systems at Operational Centres, Outstations and Data Centres. They also maintain and repair equipment that support ATC services at these sites. The role involves installing new hardware, cabling, testing, commissioning, configuration control. They also provide ongoing support for these systems as required by other areas of the business. NATS Installation and Hardware are an integral part of major project delivery across the estate and work with all stakeholders to ensure a successful project delivery.
What Qualifications will you get?
- Diploma in Engineering Level 7
- HNC in Electrical Engineering
- SVQ Level 5 in Performing Engineering Operations
Benefits:
We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally. In addition to a competitive salary that is regularly reviewed, you will also benefit from a wide range of other benefits which includes generous leave entitlement, a market-leading defined contribution pension scheme and lots more. For more information on the benefits we offer, please visit https://www.nats.aero/careers/why-nats/
Why NATS?
NATS (National Air Traffic Services) is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2 million flights each year. We have around 4,500 employees working at NATS. That includes 1,700 Air Traffic Controllers, 650 Air Traffic Service Assistants, 1,000 engineers, and 1,000 other specialists. NATS provides ATC services from two control centres at Prestwick and Swanwick as well as from various airports around the UK. In addition, we offer a wide range of commercial solutions to over 30 countries internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.
Essential Requirements:
- You must be 18 years old at the start of the scheme
- Live in Scotland
- Not have partaken or currently partaking in any other national training programme funded by the Scottish government (please note this includes SAAS funding- cannot receive funding from SAAS and SDS at the same time. If you have previously received funding from SAAS, this is fine but cannot be at the same time as the funding from SDS).
- Not previously have achieved an SVQ (apprenticeship) in Engineering (we may accept incomplete apprenticeships)
- Must have the right to work in the UK, without requiring sponsorship. If you are unsure, check the Home Office guidance
- Pass an Ishihara colour vision test
- Hold a Full UK clean driving license (you may be required to travel across the UK)
- Two Highers at Grade C or above including Mathematics and preferably Physics; OR National Qualification at SCQF level 6 in a relevant Engineering subject; OR Other equivalent qualifications or experience (Higher Applications of Maths will not be accepted).
- Flexibility due to being in a mobile position for this apprenticeship
- Have a genuine interest in engineering
Additional vacancy information:
Applicants may hold any prior HNC qualification, with the exception of HNC Electrical Engineering.
Please note that this position is categorised as mobile grade and as such there will be some travel required.
Please note that NATS reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. If you are interested, please submit your application as soon as possible.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion:
We celebrate the diversity of our colleagues. We thrive because we are all brilliantly different yet united in our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe. For more information on our commitment to diversity and inclusion, please visit: https://www.nats.aero/careers/why-nats/
If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.
We want you to be able to perform at your best, so please email earlycareers@nats.co.uk if require any reasonable adjustments.
