Engineering Early Careers Manager – Engineering Graduates (Software, Systems, and Hardware)

Location: Belfast, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

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.

Job Title: Engineering Early Careers Manager – Engineering Graduates (Software, Systems, and Hardware)

Location: Templecombe / Belfast

Department: Engineering

Reports to: Head of Engineering Operations

Role Overview:

Thales is seeking a dynamic and experienced Engineering Early Careers Manager to lead and develop our engineering graduates and apprentices across Software, Systems, and Hardware disciplines. This pivotal role is responsible for the functional management of our early careers professionals, ensuring they receive the support, guidance, and development opportunities necessary to thrive within the Thales graduate scheme and progress confidently through their engineering careers.

Working closely with the Head of Hardware, Head of Software, Head of Systems, and the Engineering Resource Manager, the Engineering Early Careers Manager will oversee the placement, development, and performance management of our junior engineering talent. This role is essential to nurturing the next generation of engineering leaders and ensuring the continued technical excellence and innovation of the Thales business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the early careers engineering population (graduates and apprentices) across Software, Systems, and Hardware disciplines throughout their scheme duration.
• Facilitate regular check-ins, performance reviews, and annual appraisals tailored to early careers individuals.
• Collaborate with the Head of Hardware, Head of Software, Head of Systems, and Engineering Resource Manager to ensure appropriate placement of early careers engineers aligning with business needs and personal development goals.
• Develop and implement structured development and upskilling plans to enrich technical and professional skills.
• Act as the main point of contact and advocate for early careers engineers, ensuring they feel supported and engaged.
• Monitor progress and provide timely feedback, coaching, and mentoring to help individuals overcome challenges and maximize their potential.
• Coordinate with HR and Learning & Development teams to deliver training, rotational assignments, and career development initiatives.
• Support recruitment activities for engineering graduates and apprentices, contributing to talent acquisition strategies.
• Maintain comprehensive records of early careers development activities, performance outcomes, and career progression.
• Keep abreast of emerging trends and best practices in engineering education and career development to continuously enhance the graduate scheme.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, inclusivity, and innovation within the early careers cohort.

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

• Proven experience managing early careers engineers, graduates, or apprentices in an engineering environment.
• Broad understanding of the engineering lifecycle with practical exposure or knowledge spanning Software, Systems, and Hardware engineering disciplines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to support and motivate early careers individuals.
• Demonstrable experience conducting performance reviews, appraisals, and delivering constructive feedback.
• Experience working collaboratively with senior engineering leaders and HR functions.
• Passion for talent development and mentoring.
• Ability to balance strategic workforce planning with hands-on people management.
• Degree or relevant qualification in Engineering, Technology, or a related field.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience within a technology-driven or defence/aerospace sector.
• Project management or organizational skills related to managing development programs.
• Familiarity with competency frameworks and career pathways in engineering.
• Knowledge of relevant engineering software tools or platforms.

LIFE AS A THALES ENGINEERING COACHING ROLE
As an Engineering Coaching Role within Thales, you will:
Define the scope and goals of coaching with managers and teams
Train teams in Agile methodologies according to their context
Introduce Agile to new teams, facilitating practices that are context relevant and situation specific
Drive teams process by facilitating events/ceremonies and Agile workshops to become self-organised teams
Set up environment where trust and transparency are key pillars
YOUR CAREER AT THALES
Future opportunities will allow you to discover other domains or sites. You will be able to evolve and grow your competencies in different areas:
Room and attention to personal development
Build your talents in another domain of Thales Group, discovering new products, new customers, new country or go to a more complex Solution
Choose between a technical expertise or a leadership path
Build an international career within a leading Engineering Group

Connect with Fiona Tal, Talent Acquisition Partner #LI-FT1 who is eager to explore together with you this exciting opportunity.

This role will require SC Clearance. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant will undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance. 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.

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!