Software Engineering Apprentice Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £23,186
Hours: Full time - 37 Hours
Contract Type: Fixed Term - 4 Years
Location: Daresbury, Cheshire
Closing date: 16th February 2025
The
Software Engineer Apprentice will be based in the Hartree Centre in Daresbury Laboratory. The Hartree Centre is part of The Science and Technology Facilities Council and provides collaborative research, innovation and software development services to unlock the high growth potential of advanced digital technologies for UK industry. This includes full-stack software engineering, data engineering, high-performance computing (HPC), data analytics and artificial intelligence technologies.
Learn standard software engineering practices, problem-solving techniques, and effective communication skills to meet client needs, while working on a wide range of software engineering projects. Hartree Centre is placed at the intersection of ground breaking digital innovation and industry adoption.
About an Apprenticeship at STFC With training and support from experts in their fields, you'll be enthusiastic about developing your knowledge, skills and behaviours, working towards completing your apprenticeship, gaining appropriate qualifications whilst making a real difference in your role.
If working with innovative technologies on world-leading research isn't enough, you will develop both professionally and as a critical member of the team in an environment you won't find anywhere else.
Our dedicated Apprenticeship Team will support you every step of the way, helping you make the most of your opportunities and to achieve the goals you already have - and those you have yet to discover!
We provide an opportunity to really pursue your interests and passion. You'll have access to additional core skills development, access to a community of apprentices across the site, annual Apprentice awards evenings, a number of active sport and social groups across campus, and potential opportunities for overseas placements.
STFC offers a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days' annual leave, an outstanding index linked pension scheme, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas closure and flexible working hours.
For a list of our full benefits, please visit here .
Responsibilities Include: • Learning to write well-structured, tested, readable and maintainable code in small agile teams under the supervision of more senior engineers.
• Participating in code reviews, refactoring, and communicating your work in knowledge exchange sessions.
• Assisting in the deployment and scaling of applications using continuous integration/deployment (CI/CD), developing standard processes, and handling your work using Git & agile processes.
• Creating high-quality documentation, reports, case studies, and web content.
• Assisting with use case analysis, requirements capture, and project planning.
• Maintaining curiosity about the application of innovative software across high-performance computing, AI, cloud, andfull-stack development.
• Supporting your fellow apprentices by continuing to learn and grow.
By the end of the apprenticeship, you will be able to confidently write well-structured code, deliver code reviews of colleagues' work, and implement effective development processes. You will have gained an understanding of resource planning across projects, and you will be able to work with clients to capture their requirements, plan packages of work, and communicate effectively during technical delivery.
Training will be provided, but a clear enthusiasm for software engineering, and strong interpersonal communication skills, are crucial.
Alongside this, you will undertake professional development and training through a mix of day-release and block teaching with Manchester Metropolitan University completing the Digital Technology Solutions Professional Apprenticeship - Software Engineering.
The modules you will complete will be a combination of general computing principles applicable to all occupational areas, with specialist units focused on the requirements of developing competencies in a Software Engineering role.For more information visit: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/study/apprenticeships/courses/digital-technology-solutions
In your final year, you will also complete your work-based project before undertaking your End Point Assessment. The End Point Assessment will include a presentation between the university and STFC, covering the work-based project, your approach, outcome and the skills, knowledge and behaviours demonstrated. This will be assessed as part of the overall project assessment.
You will be supported in developing a portfolio of work-based projects to build and demonstrate the required skills, behaviours and knowledge required for this apprenticeship.
The qualifications you will achieve are: • BSc (Hons) in Digital & Technology Solutions
• Level 6 Digital & Technology Solutions Professional
For more information about the apprenticeship standard, please visit the IfATE website https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/digital-and-technology-solutions-professional-v1-2
Person Specification In order to apply for the role, we are looking for the following:
Key - (S) will be measured at shortlisting, (I) will be measured at interview, (S&I) is both.
Essential: • Achieved passes at Grade C/4 or above including Maths & English (S)
• A minimum of 104 UCAS tariff points at A Level ( x 3 subjects at grades BCC or above) or an equivalent Level 3 qualification i.e., BTEC National Diploma (S)
• Computing or Maths at A-level or equivalent (S)
• Ability to present some project work (e.g. coursework, hobby projects) of relevance to the role(S&I)
• Awareness of our specialist domains, e.g. Full-Stack software, Cloud, Data-Engineering, HPC, AI (S&I)
• A clear enthusiasm for software engineering and our specialist domains (S&I)
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to build rapport and work within teams (S&I)
Desirable: • An ability to clearly present a previous coding project you have completed (S&I)
• Understanding of Hartree's function to deliver impact, i.e. encouraging and supporting UK industry to adopt the latest digital technologies (S&I)
Important Information 1. To complete the apprenticeship, you will need to evidence passes at 9-4 or A*-C in GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English. For those sitting their GSCEs in Summer 2025, we would need evidence of your predicted grades.
2. When applying for an apprenticeship, there is a set residency eligibility criteria that must be met by the applicant. To check your eligibility please click here.
3. The training provider will also ask you to complete an initial assessment during the application process.
If you already have a qualification in this subject area or similar please include, as an attachment, your transcript outlining the grade/s achieved and modules covered. By applying for this apprenticeship, you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider.
We will be in touch after the closing date, however, please reach out
[email protected] you have any questions.
Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.
What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side?
Join us and discover what's possible!
About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) As one of Europe's largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We're proud of the impact we make. And we're committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You'll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you'll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you'll discover just what a difference you can make when you're equipped and inspired to excel.
We're a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don't, ask questions that others won't, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it's at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It's very often ground-breaking. And it's endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI) UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org .
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
How we support EDI in the workforce At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce' .
Disability Confident Employer As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
Additional Information
- Organisation: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
- Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
- External Closing Date: Feb 16, 2025
- Minimum Salary: Pound Sterling (GBP) 23,186
- Hours: Full-time
