Apprentice Platform Engineer

Job description

Technology Apprentice (Platform Engineering)

We are seeking a highly motivated, curious, and resilient Technology Apprentice to join our Platform Engineering teams. This is a fantastic opportunity to kick-start a dynamic career in platform or cloud engineering by blending formal education with hands-on, practical coding experience.

Depending on your current qualifications, this role will involve the completion of a Level 4 Software Developer Apprenticeship (with potential to progress to a degree) or direct entry into a BSc (Hons) Applied Software Engineering Integrated Degree Apprenticeship (Level 6).

The Role: Technology Apprentice (Platform Engineering)

The Technology Apprentice will leverage a strong passion for learning and technology, and will contribute directly to our platform development lifecycle. You will successfully balance formal apprenticeship studies with hands-on infrastructure as code, testing, and platform design tasks. Working closely with experienced engineers and technical mentors, you will help build, secure, and support platforms to host software applications that drive our business forward. 

This role follows a hybrid working model that requires 2–3 days per week on-site at our Northampton office. Additionally, travel to training locations and other TP Group sites may be necessary, so you must hold a full uk drivers licence and occasional work outside of standard hours may be required.

Your Learning Journey & Accountabilities:

• Continuous Learning & Apprenticeship: Dedicate the required off-the-job training time to your formal apprenticeship studies. Successfully blend academic learning with practical coding application, taking ownership of your professional development and applying newly learned skills, tools, and engineering techniques to your day-to-day work.

• Platform Development & Delivery: Work to agile principles to write, test, and deploy clean, maintainable Infrastructure As Code. Actively participate in team ceremonies (such as daily stand-ups and sprint planning) and collaborate with the team to deliver high-quality platform capabilities.

• Debugging & Problem Solving: Investigate software bugs and technical challenges logically. Work alongside senior engineers to debug code, identify root causes, consider alternative approaches, and implement effective, simple solutions.

• Secure Coding & DevSecOps Practices: Adopt an engineering mindset that prioritises security and reliability. Learn to apply secure coding practices, gain exposure to automated delivery pipelines (CI/CD), and assist with the support and incident management of live platforms services.

• Customer Focus & Teamwork: Develop a strong customer-centric mindset, ensuring that the platform capabilities you build and support prioritise the needs and experiences of our internal customers. Work effectively both independently and as part of a diverse development squad.

• Code & Technical Documentation: Assist in creating and maintaining clear technical documentation for codebases and platform configurations to ensure they are easily understood and supported by the engineering and support teams.

• Adaptability & Resilience: Adapt to a fast-moving landscape, keeping pace with the latest cloud and software trends to comfortably transition between different technical challenges, whether modernising legacy systems or building new features.

What You’ll Bring:

• A Levels, or equivalent Level 3 qualification/industry experience

• A demonstrated practical interest in Public Cloud and platform development (e.g., through school computer science projects, building personal websites, basic coding/scripting hobbies, or self-directed tech learning) and an eagerness to continuously improve.

• Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and experience working collaboratively as part of a team.

Commitment to Inclusion: We are dedicated to fostering a truly inclusive employment environment where all colleagues feel safe, respected, and empowered to be their authentic selves. If you meet the essential qualifications and have a genuine passion for technology, we strongly encourage you to apply—we value diverse perspectives and potential just as much as prior professional experience. 

Professional Growth: You’ll be supported by some fantastic training and development and have the opportunity to learn, grow and develop across the Travis Perkins Group.

Additionally, we provide a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, designed to grow with your tenure:

• Competitive base salary plus an annual bonus linked to business performance

• Generous pension scheme with matched contributions (based on length of service)

• Save as you earn and share schemes that let you share in the Group's success.

• Colleague discount across Travis Perkins Group brands.

About Travis Perkins

Travis Perkins is the UK’s largest distributor of building materials, with a legacy spanning over 200 years of contributing to national infrastructure. The Group operates over 5 businesses, employing 16,000 colleagues across more than 1,200 branches, stores, and sites throughout the UK. We are committed to fostering a challenging and rewarding work environment where dedicated professionals collaborate to deliver outstanding results.