Calibration Apprentice

Job Description Summary

As a Calibration Apprentice, you will work within the Facilities Department, responsible for all site services across the Dowty Facilities. Calibration is the discipline that keeps every measurement — pressure, temperature, torque, dimension — accurate and traceable, giving us confidence that our instruments and controls are telling the truth. In an aerospace environment, that accuracy isn't optional: it's what stands between a component and catastrophic failure, so precision here has a direct line to flight safety.
The team's focus is 24/7 support of the facility, production areas, and production operations staff, ensuring Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) across our people and products.
The Department delivers effective planned calibration across all facilities and production equipment — from hands-on instrument and control systems to complex test rigs — performed both in-house and alongside external partners. As part of a small team operating in a fast-paced, highly regulated aerospace environment, you'll develop real technical expertise early, and you'll need to be self-motivated with the confidence to work autonomously.

Job Description

About GE Aerospace

Are you ready to see your future take flight? At GE Aerospace, we are advancing aviation technologies for today and tomorrow. Your work will contribute to the production of advanced jet engines, components, and integrated systems that power commercial and military aircraft. You’ll be part of a team that embraces your drive, your curiosity, and your unique ideas and perspectives.  Most importantly, you’ll share in our pride and purpose that affects the lives of millions around the world!

Dowty, a GE Aerospace company is based in Gloucestershire. It is a world-leading supplier of electronically controlled, composite propeller systems for a wide range of civil and military applications, including commercial airliners and military airlifters to multi-role seaplanes and marine hovercraft.

Key programs include the Lockheed Martin C-130J, the De Havilland Dash 8-400 and the Leonardo C-27J.

Dowty’s’ in-house production expertise for composite blades includes application of resin transfer moulding processes, which have been continuously evolved and perfected since 1976, and the use of braiding machines that rapidly and accurately apply the blades’ fibre outer layers.

Role Description

The primary purpose of the role is to undertake an apprenticeship 4yr program to achieve Calibration Technician status at Dowty.

This program will include attending college and participating in mandatory training courses to develop the technical and practical skills required for the role. Apprentices will gain hands-on experience in maintaining and improving advanced aerospace manufacturing equipment and systems. You will also complete online training as you progress through the apprenticeship.

You will be supported by your line manager, plus placement managers, mentors, and the wider apprentice network, to ensure you are meeting the requirements of your course and getting the most out of your apprenticeship.

Overview of the scheme

Embark on an exciting 4-year journey to kickstart your engineering career, with an additional 6 months dedicated to completing your End Point Assessment (EPA). This program will include attending Gloucestershire Engineering Training College to participating in mandatory training courses to develop the technical and practical skills required for the role. Apprentices will gain hands-on experience in maintaining and improving advanced aerospace manufacturing equipment and systems. In addition, online learning will be provided for the HNC component of learning by Teeside University. This apprenticeship program is designed to provide you with the perfect blend of academic learning and hands-on experience, setting you up for success in the aerospace industry.

Year 1: Building Your Foundation
Your first year will be spent full-time at college with GET Engineering Training, where you'll gain essential knowledge and skills to prepare you for the workplace. This immersive experience will lay the groundwork for your future success.

Year 2: Balancing College and Workplace Learning
In your second year, you'll attend college one day per week while spending the rest of your time in the workplace. This is your opportunity to apply what you've learned in a real-world setting, working alongside experienced professionals and contributing to meaningful projects.

Year 3:
Your third year will include the HNC Instrumentation course. You will study and progress onto the calibration of live equipment. The HNC study is online and done in conjunction with completing your level 3 study.

Year 4: Becoming a Key Team Member
Your final year is all about diving deeper into the workplace full-time. You'll take on more responsibilities, become an integral part of your department, and actively contribute to the apprenticeship community. During this time, you'll also have dedicated support to complete your HNC and EPA assignments.

At the completion of your studies, you will be awarded an HNC certificate of Instrumentation and Control Engineering.

Key Responsibilities

As an Apprentice you will learn to complete the following duties which is the expectation of a multiskilled technician.

• Planned Calibration & Maintenance: Learn to perform scheduled calibration checks and Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) on production equipment, instruments, and site services — ensuring measurement accuracy, reliability, and uptime.
• Equipment Repairs & Adjustment: Diagnose faults in instruments and control systems, carrying out repairs and recalibration with a "First Time Fix" methodology to minimise downtime.
• Documentation & Traceability: Record calibration results and equipment history in engineering computer systems, maintaining full traceability and completing required quality documentation to meet aerospace standards.
• Team Collaboration: Provide detailed handovers to engineering colleagues, ensuring calibration status and equipment condition are clearly communicated.
• Safety Compliance: Adhere to health and safety procedures, maintain a safe working environment, and support initiatives to enhance safety culture — recognising that accurate calibration is itself a critical safety control.
• Continuous Improvement: Participate in process and cost improvements, refining calibration methods and engineering practices to enhance equipment reliability and plant performance.
• Regulatory Awareness: Stay updated on current calibration standards and regulatory requirements (e.g. traceability to national/international standards) within your area of expertise.

Qualifications/Requirements

Please ensure you have achieved or are predicted these grades or above as these are the minimum requirements to join this apprenticeship. Failure to meet these grades could mean you are not eligible to join the programme.

Essential

A successful candidate would have, or be expected to achieve by the start of the apprenticeship: 

• Achieved, or are predicted, 4x GCSE’s (or equivalent), including Maths and English at grades C/4 or above

Please note, any offer of employment is conditional on successfully passing an entry exam, which we will typically ask you to complete in advance of attending an assessment day with us.

GET set this exam to ensure learners are at the right level of competence to successfully progress through the apprenticeship. GE Aerospace has no influence over content or marking of this exam.

Desired Characteristics

• 3x A-Levels (or equivalent), including Maths or Engineering, at grades C or above
• Level 3 qualification (BTEC, T-Level or equivalent) in Engineering / Manufacturing
• Ability to Problem Solve

• Take pride in your work
• Attention to detail
• Good communication skills
• PC literate
• Methodical and logical approach
• Self-motivated

• Previous engineering skills
• Able to roll up your sleeves and get involved in projects 
• Organised & able to work towards deadlines 
• Inspired and curious to learn 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills 
• Able to take ownership for projects 
• Analytical and problem-solving skills 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 
• Able to work as part of a team 

Recruitment Process 

As part of our recruitment process, you will be required to submit an initial CV application. After this, the stages include a video interview and assessment centre. Our recruitment team will be in touch with you at every stage to keep you updated and understand what is next in the process.

If you require any adjustments to the process to enable you to be at your best, please email the team via [email protected].

Please only submit one application. If you submit multiple applications, we will progress the most suitable one. If in future you are deemed to be suitable for other opportunities, we will automatically consider you for these too. 

Please note our applications will close on Sunday 1st November but may close earlier dependant on application volumes. We would encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. 

Total Reward

At GE Aerospace we understand the importance of Total Reward. Our flexible benefits plan, called FlexChoice, gives you freedom, choice, and flexibility in the way you receive your benefits, as well as giving you the opportunity to make savings where possible.    

As a new joiner to GE, we are pleased to be able to offer you the following as default in your benefit fund, which you then can tailor to meet your individual needs.    

• Non-contributory Pension               
• Life Assurance    
• Group income protection                 
• Private medical cover         
• Holiday Hourly equivalent of 26 days, with flexible option to buy or sell    

Security Clearance 

Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance is required and must be maintained for this role. Please note that in the event that BPSS clearance cannot be obtained, you may not be eligible for the role and/or any offer of employment may be withdrawn on grounds of national security. Please see the link below for further details regarding the requirements for BPSS clearance: BPSS   

Right to Work 

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. However, under the applicable UK immigration rules as may be in place from time to time, it may be that candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be appointed to a post if a suitably qualified, experienced and skilled candidate who does not require sponsorship is available to take up the post.

Further, sponsorship is not available for our Early Careers opportunities. For further information please visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Whether we are manufacturing components for our engines, driving innovation in fuel and noise reduction, or unlocking new opportunities to grow and deliver more productivity, our GE Aerospace teams are dedicated and making a global impact. Join us and help move the aerospace industry forward.

Additional Information