Engineering Technician Apprenticeship Level 3

Career Area:

Operations

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Engineering Technician Apprenticeship Level 3

Location: Shrewsbury, United Kingdom

Salary: £14,750 potential for 4% Annual Bonus, Share Scheme, Pension and 21 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and Employee Benefits/Discount Scheme, Employee Assistance Scheme.

First 10 months full-time college five days/week, thereafter four day working week with day-release at college.

When you join Caterpillar, you are joining a team of makers, innovators and doers. We are the people who roll up our sleeves and do the work to build a better world. We don’t just talk about progress and innovation. We make it happen. And we are proud of that, because it helps our customers build and power the world we live in – the roads, hospitals, homes and infrastructure.

We are Caterpillar. Are you?

What do we do?

Based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, our facility has over 100 years of manufacturing experience and now specialises in a wide variety of military, rail and Cat machine engines, transmissions and drive line systems.

What experiences can we offer you?

There's more to work at Caterpillar than just the work itself. We hire smart, friendly people and it shows in our culture. We hold ourselves to high standards and make sure our values of integrity, excellence, teamwork commitment and sustainability come to life in the way we work.

We believe diversity and inclusion are fundamental to innovation. We respect and value people with different opinions, experiences and backgrounds and believe that by working together, we can produce better results than any of us can achieve alone. Caterpillar is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds.

What is the apprenticeship programme?

For the first 10 months of this four-year training programme (September to July), you will attend Shrewsbury College full time, Monday to Friday.

Following this, you will attend college one day per week and work the remaining three days per week in facility where you will be given the opportunity to experience different aspects of engineering, designed to provide you with an excellent foundation in the function.

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will be a qualified Engineering Technician. You will also be professionally recognised by the IMechE (Institute of Mechanical Engineers).

The programme is offered as a four-year fixed-term contract of employment. At the end of this period you will be eligible to apply for any roles that are available at that time.

Outline list of main job duties & projects

You will be embedded in a highly skilled team and will collaborate with a range of people across the facility whilst spending time in other areas of the business to fully understand how our Manufacturing Operations function works. Our apprenticeship roles will be based in each of the following areas:

• Machining: Do you like the idea of creating bespoke items and specialist components? Do you like the idea of developing salvage techniques? As a Machining Apprentice, you will learn to use various machining techniques on lathes, grinders, millers and state-of-the-art 5-axis CNC machines. You will use a variety of different tools, systems, and machines and interpret drawings to create new components, and return used components back to “new” quality against the drawing specification. These specialised activities support the remanufacturing and development of a range of our engines and transmissions across the business.

• Manufacturing Engineering: Do you like learning how things are made, w hat they are made from, and how they are built? Do you like problem solving, and seeking improvement? As a Manufacturing Engineering Apprentice, you will work alongside all other areas of the business learning the manufacturing processes and techniques used for production. You will be involved in the development and creation of processes for manufacture of complex machining, assembly, and test processes.  

You will learn to use CAD software to design layouts and tooling and will support Production Operations by improving Safety, Efficiency and Problem Solving using RCCA and Lean Manufacturing Tools following the Caterpillar Production System method. You will learn project management techniques and lead plans which improve the facility and introduce new products incorporating all the elements of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).

Within Manufacturing Engineering, you will have the opportunity to learn specialist skills in Assembly, Machining and Test, over a diverse range of products from components, transmissions, engines and powerpacks, becoming an integral member of the production team.

• Engineering Workshop: Are you a practical and hands on learner with a keen interest in advanced military engines and transmissions? Do you like the idea of supporting the build and test of new powertrain components within the research and development space? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then our Level 3 Engineering Workshop apprenticeship could be the ideal apprenticeship scheme for you! From day one you will be embedded in a team solving real-world problems by combining college-based learning with on-the-job training. You will learn the latest skills and knowledge from our engineering workshop experts. Our engineering workshop team members use a variety of mechanical, electrical and software-based systems to measure, build and test powertrain components to support the needs of the Shrewsbury Engineering department.

Who are we looking for?

For this apprenticeship, the minimum / expected requirement is to have:

• 5 GCSEs (or academic equivalents) at Grade C/Level 4 or above. Must include:

  • Maths & English

  • A Science or Engineering subject

NOTE: You can apply with predicted grades. If you’re successful at the interview stage, the job offer will be conditional on you achieving the required grades before September 2024.

We will provide you with the training and support you need to be successful at Caterpillar.

Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong interest in developing a career in a production engineering environment in the area they are applying for. See our website for more hints and tips on making your application stand out.

Recruitment Process

Stage one – Online Application: The first stage of the process is to complete the online application on or before the closing date. Your application will be assessed against the information you provide within your answers so, please take time to consider and construct your answer with detail and use the word count provided.  After the close date all application will be reviewed. This will take some time; however, all applications will receive a response.   

Stage two – Assessment Centre: The half day assessment centre will focus on a range of behaviours such as teamwork, decision-making, communication, and problem-solving. The assessment will comprise a group exercise, a competency-based interview, and a short presentation which will be prepared in advance. Details may vary depending on the specific role you are applying for. Our aim is to make these days fun, inclusive and as relaxed as possible.  

Stage three – Offer/ Feedback: After the assessment centre, the Caterpillar team will extend verbal offers to our chosen candidates, we aim to do this as quickly as possible.  Individual feedback will be offered to all candidates who attended the assessment centre.

The company will not be providing work sponsorship or support with relocation.

We look forward to receiving your application to join Caterpillar. If you have a question, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the team on UKRecruitment@cat.com .   

Posting Dates:

January 30, 2024 - April 1, 2024

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO).

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