Level 3 – Engineering Technician

Core Occupational Profile

Engineering Technicians in the Aerospace, Aviation, Automotive, Maritime Defence and wider Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Sector are predominantly involved in highly skilled, complex work and must, as a minimum be able to:

  • Apply safe systems of working
  • Make a technical contribution to either the design, development, quality assurance, manufacture, installation, commissioning, decommissioning, operation or maintenance of products, equipment, systems, processes or services
  • Apply proven techniques and procedures to solve engineering/manufacturing problems
  • Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills in communicating both technical and non-technical information
  • Have a commitment to continued professional development

Engineering Technicians take responsibility for the quality and accuracy of the work they undertake within the limits of their personal authority. They also need to be able to demonstrate a core set of behaviours in order to be competent in their job role, complement wider business strategy and development. This will enable them to support their long term career development.

Engineered and manufactured products and systems that Engineering Technicians work on could involve mechanical, electrical, electronic, electromechanical and fluid power components/systems.

Core Knowledge & Skills

Engineering Technicians are able to demonstrate:

Knowledge:

  • understanding the importance of complying with statutory, quality, organisational and health and safety regulations
  • understanding of general engineering/manufacturing mathematical and scientific principles, methods, techniques, graphical expressions, symbols formulae and calculations used by engineering technicians
  • understanding the structure, properties and characteristics of common materials used in the sector
  • understanding the typical problems that may arise within their normal work activities/environment
  • understanding approved diagnostic methods and techniques used to help solve engineering/manufacturing problems
  • understanding the importance of only using current approved processes, procedures, documentation and the potential implications for the organisation if this is not adhered to
  • understanding and interpreting relevant engineering/manufacturing data and documentation in order to complete their job role
  • understanding the different roles and functions in the organisation and how they interact.
  • understanding why it is important for an organisation to continually review their processes and procedures

Skills

  • obtaining, checking and using the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation)
  • working safely at all times, complying with health, safety and environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements planning and where applicable obtaining all the resources required to undertake the work activity
  • undertaking the work activity using the correct processes, procedures and equipment
  • carrying out the required checks (such as quality, compliance or testing) using the correct procedures, processes and/or equipment
  • dealing promptly and effectively with engineering/manufacturing problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel
  • completing any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity
  • restoring the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location

Behaviours

The required behaviours are:
  1. Personal responsibility, resilience and ethics. Comply with health and safety guidance and procedures, be disciplined and have a responsible approach to risk, work diligently at all times, accept responsibility for managing time and workload and stay motivated and committed when facing challenges. Comply with any organisational policies/codes of conduct in relation to ethical compliance
  2. Work effectively in teams. Integrate with the team, support other people, consider implications of their actions on other people and the business
  3. Effective communication and interpersonal skills. open and honest communicator, communicating clearly using appropriate methods, listening to others and have a positive and respectful attitude
  4. Focus on quality and problem solving. Follow instructions and guidance, demonstrates attention to detail, follow a logical approach to problem solving and seek opportunities to improve quality, speed and efficiency
  5. Continuous personal development. Reflect on skills, knowledge and behaviours and seeks opportunities to develop, adapt to different situations, environments or technologies and have a positive attitude to feedback and advice

Entry Requirements

Individual employers will set the recruitment and selection criteria for their Apprenticeships. In order to optimise success, candidates will typically have 4 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or equivalent, including Mathematics, English and a Science.

Duration of Apprenticeship

Typically 42-48 months – timescales may vary depending on occupational role and/or prior relevant qualifications / experience and Assessment of Prior Learning and Knowledge (APL/K) opportunities.

Qualifications and Development
All apprentices will be required to achieve as  a minimum:
  • An employer approved Level 2 Foundation Competence qualification
  • An employer approved Level 3 Development Competence qualification
  • An employer approved Level 3 Development Technical Knowledge qualification
  • Apprentices without Level 2 English and Maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking end point assessment

See section Employer Specific Requirements of this Standard for further details on the specific mandatory qualifications required for each job role

All of the qualification requirements in the foundation and development phases are mandatory outcomes for the completion and final certification of the Apprenticeship Standard. Each qualification has a core and options approach and employers will select the most applicable pathway and unit options to meet their organisational requirements.
There will be an end point assessment during the final phase of the Apprenticeship where the apprentice will need to demonstrate to the employer how they have achieved full occupational  competence against, skills, knowledge and behaviours, set out in the Standard On successful completion of the End Point assessment and employer endorsement phase (final sign off) apprentices will be then be put forward to be awarded their Apprenticeship completion certificate.

Professional Recognition

Completion of the Apprenticeship is designed to be recognised by relevant Professional Engineering Institutions at the appropriate level of professional registration (EngTech). In the case of the Military specific pathway in the Aircraft Maintenance Fitter/Technician Standard, professional competence will be recognised by the Military Independent Assessment Authority (MIAA).

Role Profile

Technical Support Technicians, work as part of a team to provide technical support and expertise for all areas of the Engineering and Manufacturing function including communications software, test, analysis tools, measurement, off line programming, process control, performance and continuous improvement solutions, capacity planning, production scheduling/planning, product technical applications and capability, technical sales and marketing support, product development and innovation, engineering drawing, purchasing and/or supply of goods or services for engineering activities, quality control, inspection and e-commerce technologies as required. The requirements are designed to offer stretch and progression. They will be able to work with minimum supervision, taking responsibility for the quality, accuracy and timely delivery of the work they undertake. They will be proactive in finding solutions to problems and identifying areas for improving the business.

Specific Specialist Knowledge and Skills

Specific Specialist Knowledge:
  • understand mathematical techniques, formula and calculations used in a technical support environment
  • understand the methods and techniques used to evaluate technical data and documentation
  • understand how to identify that the data and documentation being used is current and up to date
  • understand the procedure to be used for making changes to issued documentation
  • understand where and how to source other areas of technical expertise/information to help solve technical problems
  • understand the requirements of the customer (internal/external) and support using the appropriate tools, equipment and processes
Specific Specialist Skills:
  • produce technical documentation that contains all the relevant and necessary data
    and information required for the technical support activity being carried out
  • present the technical documentation in the required format
  • ensure that codes, symbols and other references used in the technical documentation follows agreed uk/international conventions
  • save and store technical documentation in the correct format, location in accordance with organisational and/or customer requirements
  • make any changes/amendments to the technical documentation using agreed quality
  • assurance control procedures
  • develop effective business and/or customer relationships
  • provide technical advice and guidance to others
  • contribute to the business by identifying possible opportunities for improving working practices, processes and/or procedures
Plus one of the following:
  • produce engineering/manufacturing production plans
  • obtain resources for engineering/manufacturing activities
  • obtain and control materials used in engineering/manufacturing environments
  • implement quality control/assurance systems and procedures in an engineering/manufacturing environment
  • provide technical support services on products or services to internal and/or external customers
  • produce documentation to supply or procure goods or services
  • produce off line programs for computer numerical controlled machines
  • produce programs for scanning/digitizing or co-ordinate measuring machines
  • produce programs for programmable logic control equipment
  • produce programs for industrial robot applications
  • produce engineering software tools/programs for analysis, quality, configuration management, safety assessments, system security applications
  • produce engineering drawings/models using computer aided design techniques (such as mechanical, electrical, fabrication, fluid power, integrated systems or services)
  • undertake complex fault diagnostic and/or condition monitoring activities on equipment, plant or services
  • carry out inspection activities on equipment/components/systems (such as mechanical, electrical, electronic, welded and fabricated.
  • check and calibrate control and test equipment used in an engineering and/or manufacturing environment

Mandatory Qualifications

After a period of foundation skills and technical knowledge development all apprentices will be required to achieve the following qualifications:
  • Level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Foundation Competence)
After a further period of skills and technical knowledge development all apprentices will be required to achieve the following qualifications:
  • Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Competence) – Technical Support
  • Level 3 Diploma or Extended Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Knowledge)