Composites Technician
Manufacture, repair, and inspect components from carbon fibre, fibreglass, and advanced composite materials for aerospace, wind energy, marine, motorsport, and defence applications.
Moderate
Low
3 years via Level 3 apprenticeship; some employers offer direct on-the-job training for motivated candidates without a formal apprenticeship
Level 3 Advanced Composite Structures Engineer apprenticeship standard; or equivalent EAL/IMechE composites qualification. Autoclave, hand lay-up, resin infusion, and vacuum bagging process skills are developed through structured employer training.
possible
What you do
Composites technicians manufacture structural and non-structural components from advanced composite materials — primarily carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP). Processes include wet lay-up, prepreg lamination, resin infusion (VARTM), autoclave curing, filament winding, and pultrusion. You read and work from engineering layup schedules and manufacturing work orders, cut and orientate composite plies to specification, apply vacuum bagging and cure the part in an oven or autoclave, then trim, drill, and finish the cured component to drawing tolerances. Quality inspection involves visual checks, non-destructive testing (NDT) methods such as ultrasonic testing (UT) and tap testing, and dimensional measurement. Repair work — particularly in aerospace MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) and wind turbine blade maintenance — is a growing specialisation. Industries employing composites technicians include aerospace, wind energy, marine, motorsport, defence, and civil engineering.
Why this career is resilient
Advanced composites are the material of choice for aerospace (every new commercial aircraft uses substantial quantities of CFRP), wind turbine blades (each blade is a large composite structure requiring regular inspection and periodic repair), and lightweight structural components in defence, automotive, and marine. UK aerospace is a strategic industry with long-term government support, and the offshore wind sector is expanding significantly. Composites processing requires hands-on skill that cannot be automated at the complex and varied end of the market — while automation handles simple, repetitive layups in high-volume production, complex and repair work remains firmly hands-on. IAQG AS9100 aerospace quality standards and strict material handling requirements maintain entry barriers.
A typical day
Morning in an aerospace composites shop: cut prepreg carbon fibre plies to a layup schedule for a structural aircraft panel. Layup plies in sequence in the mould, apply vacuum bagging film and connections, and load the assembly into the autoclave for the overnight cure cycle. Check autoclave cure parameters and log the batch record. Afternoon: remove and inspect a cured fuselage panel — carry out a tap test for delaminations, take ultrasonic thickness readings, and mark any indications for engineering review. Trim and drill a completed panel using templates and carbide tooling.
Routes in
Apprenticeship
Earn while you learn: work with an employer and study part-time, leading to a nationally recognised qualification. Typically funded by the government and your employer.
Employer-funded training
Some employers — particularly the NHS, emergency services, and larger care providers — run their own funded training programmes. You apply for a job and train as you work.
Pay and costs
Earning potential: Apprentice composites technician: £18,000–£22,000. Qualified technician: £28,000–£40,000. Experienced technician in aerospace or wind energy: £38,000–£50,000. NDT-qualified composites inspectors command additional premiums.
Training costs: Level 3 Advanced Composite Structures Engineer apprenticeship: no upfront cost (employer-funded via levy). Some manufacturers provide direct composites training. Composites UK is the industry trade body for sector information and training provider listings.