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Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering)
Job Role

Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering)

You’ll maintain and operate complex communication, detection and weapon systems worth millions of pounds.

Fast trackTechnologyWeaponsEngineeringApprenticeships
  • £18,500 - £58,000
  • No qualifications
  • Surface Fleet
  • Engineering
  • Rating level

At a glance

You’ll take charge of some of the most advanced kit on the planet, ensuring it’s spot on and ready to perform in any situation. That could mean maintaining highly sensitive radar one day and working on state-of-the-art missile systems the next.

£23,000

The minimum you’ll earn after training

£58,000

Earn over this amount as your progress

Zero

Qualifications needed

Register

Route your way to EngTech and IEng

6 weeks

Of paid holiday every year

Study

Potential for foundation degree
Engineering technician analysing equipment
I don’t know many jobs where I’d be given responsibility for hundreds of millions of pounds worth of equipment – there’s a lot of trust there. That trust gives you the room to learn and progress really quickly.

Shane

Junior Rating, Engineering Branch

Role details

What you’ll do

Being an Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering) means taking responsibility for the serviceability, readiness and accuracy of systems that make a Royal Navy Ship a Warship. You will be keeping advanced electronic systems, communications, information systems and weapons ready for action anywhere in the world.

Your role

  • Take responsibility for the safety of your crewmates, whether that’s identifying a potential threat, or ensuring your ship is able to defend itself.
  • Maintain, diagnose and repair complex communications, sensors and weapon systems, guaranteeing missiles, guns and anti-submarine torpedoes are fully operational.
  • Get your hands on some of the most sophisticated electronic equipment in existence, working with your team, and under the guidance of the Engineer Officer.
  • Complete daily rounds, checking equipment to ensure the ship remains operational, and finding innovative solutions when there’s a problem.

Pay & benefits

  • Earn over £23,000 after training, rising to over £58,000 as your career progresses
  • An excellent pension scheme
  • Additional pay for each day spent at sea
  • Six weeks of paid holiday every year, plus bank holidays
  • Free medical and dental care
  • Access to superb sport and fitness facilities
  • Wide range of benefits including a House Purchase Scheme
  • Subsidised travel and accommodation

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain

  • Attain a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Maritime Mechanical Electrical Mechanic
  • Progress to gain a level 3 Apprenticeship in Engineering Maintenance
  • Potential to gain a Foundation Degree in Engineering
  • Gain specialist vocational qualifications as your career progresses
  • Opportunity to study for GCSEs, A-Levels, NVQs or a degree

Skills you'll develop

  • Learn how to command, lead and manage
  • Streamlined route to registering as EngTech and IEng with the IET
 

Eligibility

  • You must be aged between 16 to 39
  • No qualifications are required for this role
  • You must be a United Kingdom citizen or British Dual National. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
  • You must have lived in the UK for 5 years continuously prior to application
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
  • Pass the Naval Swimming Test
     

Skills & Interests

  • Quick thinkers who get things done
  • A passion for working with the latest equipment and technology
  • Problem-solvers
  • Team players and potential leaders
  • Physically and mentally fit professionals

 

Joining Process

From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.

Step 1

Submit an application

Once you’ve registered your interest, we’ll be in touch to discuss your options
Apply
Step 2

Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
To prepare, you can practise the DAA

practise the DAA
Step 3

Interview

 A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform
Step 4

Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)

This four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, including a Swimming Test and a fitness assessment, is a pass or fail course

CPC
Step 5

Start training

Once you’ve passed a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh

Career Progression

From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.
Phase one training
10 weeks at HMS Raleigh, learning basic military skills
Phase two training
Develop your professional skills, make friends for life
First year
Consolidate your skills in the maritime environment
First promotion - Leading Hand
Take charge of a section, lead and develop a team
Second promotion – Petty Officer
Oversee vital equipment as a head of a section

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