Graduate Automated Vehicles Test Engineer

Government Recruitment Service; Nuneaton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer pension contribution 28.97%

25 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays

Flexible working options

Job summary

Government Recruitment Service is advertising a Graduate Automated Vehicles Test Engineer role as part of the Vehicle Certification Agency and Department for Transport graduate scheme. The successful candidate will engage in broad vehicle testing, certification, and regulatory activities, with rotations across VCA and potential placements with partner organisations.

The programme supports progression toward Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status through IMechE MPDS or IET Career Manager

Qualifications

• Graduate scheme with rotations across VCA and potential placements
• Travel within the UK and overseas expected
• Support toward incorporated or chartered engineer status

Responsibilities

• Work towards CEng or IEng by engaging with IMechE MPDS or IET Career Manager frameworks
• Produce quarterly and annual development reports and ensure these are approved and submitted on time
• Maintain disciplined record-keeping, tracking objectives, evidence, and progress
• Develop and support technical knowledge in vehicle systems, components, and associated technology
• Follow agency procedures and quality requirements
• Work to support and update GB national regulations to ensure vehicles stay safe, secure and environmentally friendly throughout their lifetime
• Engagement with mentor and line manager by attending regular meetings to review your goals, report progress, and set development goals
• Objective setting and self-management
• Support the coordination of connected and automated vehicle test activities across the UK and international locations as required
• Utilise training and development to build practical capability and automated vehicle systems, including sensors, connectivity, automation, and regulatory compliance
• Contribute to the safe, efficient, and high-quality execution of connected and automated vehicle test programmes within the Operations team

Job description

Graduate Automated Vehicles Test Engineer

Are you a graduate looking for a new adventure and an exciting opportunity to make a real difference?

Interested in shaping the future of connected and automated vehicles?

Would you like to apply your engineering skills to the testing, assessment and regulation of advanced vehicle technologies?

Do you want a tailored graduate programme that supports your professional development and progression towards professional status?

If you are looking for the next step in your career and professional development, our Graduate Scheme could be for you.

About Us

Our work is focused on improving vehicle safety and environmental protection by providing robust testing and certification to national and internationally recognised standards. We are a part of the Department of Transport as the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval Authority. With more than 40 years’ experience, we have become one of the largest and well-respected approval bodies around. This position has been built on a reputation for technical expertise and quality, which is at the heart of everything we do, and what you could be a part of.

Want to know more? Hear from Lucy-Adele Fone, Graduate Scheme Programme Lead, and explore our Candidate Pack and Role Profile attached.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LwXtBo-AhHQ?si=xrqkvVynm98E__qX

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensionshere
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays aprivilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at Vehicle Certification Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Please note that this vacancy is being advertised alongside two other similar roles 484802 and 484846 within VCA. Applicants are welcome to apply to all three positions. Please note that the sift and interview approach for all three campaigns is identical, as a result, if successful at sift candidates will be invited to attend one interview, which will be used to assess their suitability across all roles applied to. Candidates may therefore be considered for one or more of the vacancies, with appointment decisions made on merit following assessment against the advertised criteria.

Joining the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) and wider Department for Transport (DfT) Graduate Scheme as a permanent member of staff will open the door to a wide range of professional development opportunities. Collaborating with vehicle manufacturers, testing organisations and technical specialists across the automotive sector, you will aid the evolution, testing and approval of some of the world's most advanced vehicle technologies.

As a Graduate Automated Vehicle Test Engineer, you will spend your first two years developing a broad understanding of vehicle testing, certification and regulatory compliance through a combination of on-the-job experience, structured learning and placements. You will undertake rotations across VCA and may have opportunities to gain experience with organisations such as the Department for Transport, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.

Extensive travel within the UK and overseas is an essential part of the scheme, with potential opportunities to work alongside VCA's international offices in Japan and North America.

Following your initial training period, you will progress into a substantive Higher Executive Officer role within VCA's International Operations Division. Here, you will work closely with manufacturers, laboratories and test facilities to assess vehicles and systems against UK and international regulatory requirements, while developing expertise in connected and automated vehicle technologies.

Throughout the scheme, you will receive support from a dedicated mentor and professional network, with encouragement and guidance to work towards Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status through the IMechE MPDS or IET Career Manager frameworks.

Your main duties will include but will not be limited to:

• Work towards CEng or IEng by engaging with the IMechE MPDS or IET Career Manager frameworks
• Produce quarterly and annual development reports and ensure these are approved and submitted on time
• Maintain disciplined record-keeping, tracking objectives, evidence, and progress
• Develop and support technical knowledge in vehicle systems, components, and associated technology
• Follow agency procedures and quality requirements
• Work to support and update GB national regulations to ensure vehicles stay safe, secure and environmentally friendly throughout their lifetime
• Engagement with mentor and line manager by attending regular meetings to review your goals, report progress, and set development goals. Activley seeks feedback from mentor, line manager and subject matter experts
• Objective setting and self-management
• Support the coordination of connected and automated vehicle test activities across the UK and international locations as required
• Utilise training and development to build practical capability and automated vehicle systems, including sensors, connectivity, automation, and regulatory compliance
• Contribute to the safe, efficient, and high-quality execution of connected and automated vehicle test programmes within the Operations team

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

To learn more about how VCA is supporting the development of connected and automated vehicles and helping shape the future of transport, visit Connected and Automated Vehicles - Vehicle Certification Agency.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

Company: Government Recruitment Service Salary: £33,477 to £33,477 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Nuneaton Job type: Permanent Posting date: 30 Oct 2026 Closing date: 12 Nov 2026