Graduate R&D Engineer

SF Partners; Tyseley; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

SF Partners partners with a UK technology start-up to develop an AI-enabled consumer product, moving from development into production in Birmingham and targeting international markets. This Graduate R&D Engineer role offers hands-on exposure across mechanical and electronics engineering with guidance from senior engineers.

You'll progress from CAD and electronics through to prototyping, testing, certification and eventual production, supporting a product moving toward scale with experienced

Qualifications

• Hands-on engineering mindset with problem solving.
• Experience with CAD design and prototyping projects.
• Understanding electronics schematics and testing basics.
• Strong record-keeping and organized approach.
• Placement year or project work in related field.

Responsibilities

• Deliver design tasks in CAD, including parts, sub-assemblies and drawings, reviewed by senior engineers.
• Support electronics development, including schematics, board bring-up and bench testing.
• Build and test prototypes hands-on, supporting jigs, fixtures and assembly trials.
• Support structured test campaigns, including instrumentation, data capture and results.
• Learn what it takes to change a certified product - and why engineering discipline matters.
• Work closely with experienced engineers and contribute to a product that is moving from development into production and scale.

Skills

Hands-on engineering

CAD drafting

Electronics basics

Prototyping

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical/electronics/mechatronics

Tools

Oscilloscope

DMM

Soldering

Job description

Graduate R&D Engineer

We're partnering with an exciting, entrepreneurial UK technology start-up developing an innovative, AI-enabled consumer product combining advanced mechanical, electrical and smart technology.

Founded by two ambitious entrepreneurs and recently backed by significant US investment, the business is now moving from product development into production, international growth and scale.

This is an opportunity to join that journey at an exciting stage - helping turn innovative engineering into a real product, built and tested in Birmingham and ready for international markets.

The Role includes:

We are hiring Graduate R&D Engineers to join the development team, working across both mechanical and electronics engineering, with guidance from the senior engineers who own each area.

You'll get hands-on exposure to the full product development journey - from CAD and electronics through to prototyping, testing, certification and production.

What you'll be doing:

• Deliver design tasks in CAD, including parts, sub-assemblies and drawings, reviewed by senior engineers.
• Support electronics development, including schematics, board bring-up and bench testing.
• Build and test prototypes hands-on, supporting jigs, fixtures and assembly trials.
• Support structured test campaigns, including instrumentation, data capture and results.
• Learn what it takes to change a certified product - and why engineering discipline matters.
• Work closely with experienced engineers and contribute to a product that is moving from development into production and scale.

Knowledge & Experience you'll bring:

We're looking for engineers who genuinely enjoy building things, solving problems and getting hands-on.

You’ll ideally have:

• A strong degree (2:1 or above) in mechanical, electronics, mechatronics or a related engineering discipline.
• Hands-on project experience - whether through a placement year, Formula Student, robotics or a similar project.
• 3D CAD fundamentals using any major package.
• Electronics fundamentals, including schematics, oscilloscope/DMM use and basic soldering.
• Practical ability and the drive to build things properly.
• Clear, structured record keeping and an organised approach to engineering.

Desirable background will include:

• A placement year, Formula Student, robotics or another substantial hands‑on project.
• Experience with 3D printing and rapid prototyping.
• Basic Python or C/C++ scripting.

Why choose this opportunity?

This isn't a graduate role where you'll spend your first few years watching from the sidelines.

You'll be joining a growing technology business at the point where engineering becomes reality - helping develop, test, refine and ultimately scale a physical product.

You'll work alongside experienced engineers, get your hands on real hardware and see your work move from CAD and prototypes into production.

If you're an ambitious graduate engineer who wants to help build something from the ground up, we'd love to hear from you