Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship - Software Engineering Pathway

Join us as a Software Engineer in training and help us make our business operations more efficient, make better decisions, and ultimately make the world safer. In this 5-year programme, you’ll gain a BSc Honours Degree in Digital and Technology Solutions and set yourself up for a career in software engineering.

About the programme

On this 5-year degree programme, you’ll learn core technical skills and gain real-world experience of digital and technology solutions in action through a blend of university studies and work placements. You’ll learn how to produce technical documentation, code and schematics including:

• Cyber security designs
• Software in a variety of different languages
• PLC control
• Concept designs
• CAD
• Electrical and electronic design
• Database management

You’ll complete your university studies on a part-time basis across four years. Years 1 and 2 will provide you with a solid basis in the digital environment. In years 3 and 4, your studies will focus on your chosen specialism: Software Engineering.

In year 5, having completed your studies, you will work full-time on placements within the business. At the end of the year (upon successful completion of the degree and apprenticeship), you’ll qualify as a Software Engineer.

Software Engineering at Babcock

Many of the systems that we create are driven by our own high-performance software. From harsh environments to complex architectures and strict information assurance, our software needs to be proven, reliable and fully integrated.

Over the course of the 5-year programme, you will gain extensive experience in software engineering, working in modern design offices and within practical lab environments, test and integration facilities and manufacturing workshops. Placements during the programme could include Submarine Systems, Surface Ships, Communications and Security, Command and Control and Electronic Warfare.

You could be working on a huge variety of different projects. You could focus on something as small as an audio console for a communications project. Or you could work on something as large as a handling system on a world-class ship.

Whatever you work on, you may be closely involved in the design, specification, implementation, and testing of software and associated systems.

Whilst the programme is predominantly based in Bristol you will be encouraged and supported to undertake off-site placements at some of our other business units around the UK.

Your education/training

At the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll have earned a BSc Honours Degree in Digital and Technology Solutions and gained rich work experience within your chosen specialism.

From undertaking general project management activities including project planning, resourcing, budgeting, document management and configuration control, you will have also gained valuable project management skills.

Your technical training will be supplemented with in-house training courses and soft skill training to help you develop your personal and team working skills.

Future prospects

Upon successful completion of your apprenticeship, you will be ready to step into your first substantive role as either Assistant Software Engineer or Software Engineer within the business.

Graduates of the programme can expect a competitive starting salary in software engineering, along with opportunities to work towards professional registration and chartership under the mentorship of industry experts.

Notably, one of our recent graduates from the Digital and Technology Solutions Apprenticeship has already become a recognised leader in their field, travelling internationally to collaborate with allies on cutting-edge defence solutions.

What you’ll need

• A minimum of 5 GCSEs, all at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).
• A minimum of 3 A Levels at grade B or above, preferably in related subjects such as Mathematics, Science and IT, or a BTEC Extended Diploma at MMM, or other qualifications equivalent to 96 UCAS tariff points.
• You’ll also need good proficiency in IT, awareness of software development tools and web technologies including HTML, and strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Many of our early careers roles are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold or have held may impact which roles you are eligible for.

What you’ll get

We will provide you with a supportive and engaging environment where you can grow your career.

In addition, you’ll benefit from:

• Fully funded qualification
• Personal development training and opportunities
• Minimum 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays
• Competitive pension scheme
• Employee share scheme
• Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme and employee shopping savings portal

You’ll also have the chance to get involved in our STEM outreach activities and volunteering opportunities, which our apprentices find incredibly rewarding.

Application closing date: March 2025

Programme start date: September 2025