2025 Cloud Assurance and Cyber Security Apprentice - Level 4 Cyber Security Engineer Apprenticeship

Location: Crawley, United Kingdom

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

2025 Cloud Assurance and Cyber Security Apprentice - Level 4 Cyber Security Engineer Apprenticeship

Start Date: 01 September 2025

Salary: £22,500 per annum

Location: Crawley

Employee type: Permanent

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

Are you a critical thinker? Do you love troubleshooting and finding a solution to complex challenges? New for 2025, this apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity to learn about cloud assurance and cyber security within a leading UK defence company.

What the role has to offer:

• Earn while you learn
• Job specific training experience
• Recognised qualifications
• Permanent role from day one

As an apprentice, you will gain hands-on experience and practical knowledge in cyber security, particularly focused on security operations and safeguarding public 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.

Key Responsibilities:

• Cloud Security Monitoring: Assist in monitoring and maintaining the security of the Thales adopted public cloud infrastructure (e.g., AWS, 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

Apprentice Programme

This is a 24-month programme aligned to the Level 4 Cyber Security Engineer Apprenticeship standard. Delivered in partnership with a digital specialist provider, this programme will be delivered via a blended model - including live virtual sessions, 1-2-1 coaching calls and online learning. The programme will conclude with an End Point Assessment, followed by roll-off into your permanent role within the Thales UK business.

Requirements:

You will also need 5 GCSEs grade 9-4 (A-C) including English and Maths (or equivalent).

A Levels (Grade C or above), Highers, T Level (Merit or above), BTEC Diploma (Merit or above).

Right to work in the UK for the duration of the programme.

Benefits

• 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays)
• Company Pension
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Life Insurance
• Discount Portal
• Performance-related pay uplifts
• 80 Hours Volunteering (first two years)

Please note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February and May 2025. Induction week for all Graduate and Apprentices will take place from Monday 01 September until Friday 05 September 2025.

Closing date: Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 16 February 2025, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note, we will be in contact by the end of February 2025 with details of next steps.

Recruitment Process:

For further information on our Early Careers recruitment process or to speak to a member of the Early Careers Team or a Graduate or Apprentice, please visit Thales Future Talent - Connectr.

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions.  This role requires you to be a sole British National from birth and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.  Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years.  In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.  As part of the vetting process you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, eligibility to work in the UK, time spent abroad over the last 5 years, as well as employment and/or educational 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.

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!