ENGINEERING General Technician (Workshops)

As a General Technician (Workshops) you will manufacture and repair parts for aircraft, vehicles and specialist equipment. You will be working in specially equipped workshops and aircraft maintenance hangars.

Learn more about this role

Pay During First Six Months £16,840+ + Benefits

Pay Until Completion Of Phase Two Training* £21,420+ + Benefits

Is this for you?

APPLICANTS MUST:

  • Be aged 16 – 47 years old (Must attest before 48th birthday)
  • GCSE Grade C/Grade 4 or SCE Standard Grades at Grade 2/Scottish National 5 (Grade A – C) in English, Maths & Science/Tech based subject
  • Be a citizen of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, holder of dual UK/other nationality or have been a Commonwealth citizen since birth
  • Commit to minimum 3 years post Phase Two Training
  • Pass the Defence Aptitude Assessment
  • Pass a Fitness test - Details below

GREAT FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN:

  • Building and Problem solving
  • Aircraft
  • Transport & Vehicles

VIEW ALL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

TYPICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Use manual and computer-operated machinery like drilling, milling, cutting and forming equipment
  • Manufacture or modify aircraft parts to strict standards
  • Consult with Aircraft Technicians on the best methods of component removal and fitting

General Technician (Workshops) are specialist production engineering technicians that manufacture and repair aircraft components and parts for other equipment essential to the smooth running of the RAF and ensures that aircraft can take off and complete their mission.

Working in specially equipped workshops, you will make and repair components for aircraft, specialist equipment, vehicles; all in support of your station’s mission. Your specialist skills could even be called upon to repair or manufacture nonstandard parts of equipment where replacement parts are no longer available. Some of the machinery you will use will be manually operated, and other machines will be computer controlled. You will learn how to use equipment such as centre lathes; machines for drilling, milling, metal cutting and forming, pipe-bending; and, various types of welding equipment, CNC lathes, Machining Centres and digitising software. With experience, and after a period of advanced training, you will handle more complex tasks. You could be tasked with the manufacture or modification of aircraft parts to very strict
tolerances.

WHY JOIN THE RAF?

Thanks to subsidised food, travel, accommodation and free gym you get more money in your pocket.

Salary
Benefits Salary
Civilian Role
RAF Role
  • Rent from £75p/m
  • Free gym
  • Subsidised food
  • Health care
  • World travel
  • 6 weeks holiday

See All Benefits

TRAINING AND CAREERS

TRAINING YOU'LL RECEIVE

Your career will start with 10 weeks of basic recruit training at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. The course is designed to help you adjust to military life. As well as fitness and military training, you will also learn about the RAF lifestyle.

SPECIALIST TRAINING

The next step is a specialist training course, currently at MOD St Athan, near Cardiff, which lasts approximately 53 training weeks but is likely to reduce in the future. You will be enrolled on an Advanced Apprenticeship and a team of RAF and civilian instructors will teach you production engineering principles. You will then put the theory into practice when learning the 3 main disciplines of sheet metalwork, welding and machining. On successful completion of the training course, you will receive your first posting. For courses starting from Jan 21, your specialist training, along with the experience you gain on the job, should lead to the award of a Metal Fabricator Advanced Apprenticeship Level 3 at the 3-year point.

More Details +

ONGOING TRAINING/DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

As your career progresses, you will develop your production engineering techniques and we will continue to train you in new skills. You will learn many processes and use a much wider range of equipment than you might come across outside the RAF. You will receive advanced training in
welding, turning, milling and sheet metalwork using computer numerical controlled applications. There are also opportunities to gain a degree with the foundation degree BEng program in either General Engineering or Engineering Management and also opportunities for management and
leadership training; in addition, the qualifications and experience you will gain in your RAF career can be used to meet the joining criteria for civilian professional associations to attain EngTech, IEng or CEng.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

Following the completion of the NVQ Level 3 in Engineering Production, and on gaining experience in your new trade, opportunities will arise, through additional courses, to gain further qualifications in advanced Milling, Welding and Advanced Turning.

YOUR FIRST TOUR

For your first tour, you will probably be posted to an RAF base, where you will be involved in production engineering and the repair and manufacture of equipment essential to the support of RAF activities; you will have a key role in supporting the station’s mission and you will form part of a professional team.

YOUR FUTURE CAREER PROSPECTS AND PROGRESSION

After completing one year’s total service, you will be eligible for promotion to Senior Aircraftman, providing you pass a Trade Ability Test and Basic Trade Training. Further promotion to the rank of Corporal and beyond is by competitive selection. As you gain experience and complete your
Advanced Apprenticeship, you will achieve Technician status. As you advance through the ranks, you will have the increased opportunity to lead and direct people, managing resources and manpower within your area of work to deliver the required outputs whilst maintaining and
instilling the highest standards expected within the RAF.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

The qualifications, experience and skill-sets that you develop as a specialist Workshops Technician are recognised and are as highly regarded in civilian industry as they are in the RAF, which means that should you ever decide to pursue a career outside the RAF, you will be well placed to find employment.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

ALL APPLICANTS MUST:

Be a citizen of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, holder of dual UK/other nationality or have been a Commonwealth citizen since birth (with ‘right to work’ immigration status).

Be aged 16 – 47 years old (Must attest before 48th birthday)

*Until at least you have completed one year of service and successfully completed Professional Workplace Assessments on first posting.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Have these minimum grades:

  GCSE GCSE 2017 SNE
Mathematics C Grade 4 Grade 5
English Language C Grade 4 Grade 5
Science or Technology C Grade 4 Grade 5

find a list of the approved subjects here

You can see what the RAF accepts in lieu of GCSEs & A Levels here.

NATIONALITY & RESIDENCY

You must be a citizen of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, holder of dual UK/other nationality or have been a Commonwealth citizen since birth (with ‘right to work’ immigration status).

Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should have resided there for the 5 years immediately preceding your application. However, candidates with a minimum of 3 years will be considered.

FITNESS REQUIREMENTS

You must be physically fit to complete both initial and specialist training, and to do your role effectively. To check your fitness levels, we put every candidate through at least two separate fitness tests as part of the application process.

The first of these is the Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT) which takes place at a fitness centre local to you. This consists of the following:

  • 2.4km (1.5m) run on a treadmill (set to zero incline)
  • Achieve the required number of press-ups - within 60 seconds
  • Achieve the required number of sit-ups - within 60 seconds

The second fitness test will take place at RAF Halton on day one of your initial training. This consists of the following:

  • Achieving the required score on the Multi-Stage Fitness Test (MSFT or Bleep test)
  • Achieve the required number of press-ups - within 60 seconds
  • Achieve the required number of sit-ups - within 60 seconds

How fit you need to be to pass these tests can vary depending on role, age and gender. The requirements are listed on the charts below (Male and Female).

MALES - 100% pass rates:
AGE 2.4 Km Run Multi-Stage Fitness Test Press-ups Sit-ups
  (Mins) (Score) (No.) (No.)
15-16 11.39 9.03 20 35
17-29 11.11 9.10 20 35
30-34 11.36 9.04 19 32
35-39 12 8.09 18 29
40-44 12.26 8.03 17 26
45-47 12.54 7.07 16 23

 

FEMALES - 100% pass rates:
AGE 2.4 Km Run Multi-Stage Fitness Test Press-ups Sit-ups
  (Mins) (Score) (No.) (No.)
15-16 13.54 6.07 10 32
17-29 13.23 7.02 10 32
30-34 13.47 6.08 9 29
35-39 14.13 6.04 8 26
40-44 14.48 5.08 7 23
45-47 15.19 5.04 6 20

You can see the protocols for Press Ups & Sit Ups here:

PJFT/PRFV Protocols

You can download an MP3 file of the Multi-Stage Fitness Test below, listen to the introduction file first:

RAF MSFT: Intro

RAF MSFT: Bleep Test

You can see a video demonstration of the PRFV Fitness Test here:

RAF PRFV Fitness Test

A 12-week fitness plan with detailed information to help you get ready for all of the fitness tests can be downloaded here.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

BEFORE YOUR APPLICATION:

There are health requirements that must be met by all applicants:

  • Body Mass Index requirements:

Age

Male and female minimum

Male and female maximum

Male maximum with additional assessment

Female maximum with additional assessment

18 +

18

28

32

30

16 to < 18

17

27

27

27

  • Eyesight requirements vary for different roles. A requirement to wear glasses or contact lenses may be allowed for aircrew.

Get in touch if you have any questions about the health criteria, or would like to find out if any additional health requirements apply to your role of interest.

DURING YOUR APPLICATION:

The Medical Risk Assessment that all candidates undergo is there to make sure that you are healthy enough for the intense training required by the RAF. Your application will be rejected if you fail to meet the minimum acceptable medical standard for entry. Your medical history is confidential and is not disclosed to those not authorised to hold this information.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

YOU MUST:

  • Declare any previous spent and unspent convictions
  • Check if you qualify under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 through this summary
  • Have a basic background check to get Security Check level clearance

DISQUALIFYING FACTORS

YOU CAN'T APPLY FOR THE RAF IF YOU:

  • Have been or are a member of a group that stirs up racial hatred and violence
  • Are waiting to appear in court, or have unspent convictions. You may also have to declare spent convictions for certain roles
  • Misuse drugs, solvents and anabolic steroids. But each case is considered upon its own merits
  • Have tattoos, brands or bead implants that are obscene or offensive. 
    Any permanent or temporary tattoos, whether ordinarily visible or not, must not be obscene or offensive (eg, racist, anti-religion or belief, crude, overtly sexist, homophobic, drug related or of an extreme political nature). Tattoos may be worn on the side and back of the neck but tattoos on the back of the neck must not extend above the natural hairline (scalp tattoos are not permitted). In addition, tattoos must not be visible below the sleeve cuff while wearing uniform, although a single finger (not thumb) tattoo that could be covered by a ring may be permitted
  • Have body piercing which causes holes that do not close up
  • Declare yourself to be an 'undischarged' bankrupt

Beard Policy: A revised facial hair policy has been agreed by the Air Force Board which will allow serving personnel to wear a smart, neatly-trimmed, full-set beard whilst maintaining high standards of appearance. The length of acceptable beards is between Grade 1 (2.5mm) and Grade 8 (25.5mm). The wearing of beards during Phase 1 and Phase 2 training is currently under consideration and details will be advised when available

If you don’t have any of the above, you might still be able to apply. For more information contact your local AFCO.

GOT WHAT IT TAKES?

Start your application here.

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