Graduate R&D Engineer in Knutsford

Energy Jobline ZR; Knutsford; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary annual bonus

31 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Employee benefits platform

Job summary

Oliver Valves in Knutsford is seeking a Graduate R&D Engineer to join our team at the Parkgate Industrial Estate. You will assist with assembly and testing of prototype valves and contribute to new product design reviews.

The role is Monday to Friday, 8:30am–5pm, offering hands-on development in a fast-growing, family-owned valve manufacturer recognized for quality and industry awards. Candidates should have a Level 3 qualification in Engineering and be proficient with SolidWorks or AutoCAD,

Qualifications

• Level 3 engineering qualification (BTEC/NVQ) or equivalent.
• Practical, hands-on approach with test data handling.
• Proficient in SolidWorks/AutoCAD and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Assemble and test prototype valves and components.
• Maintain test data and reports to Oliver standards.
• Contribute to new product design reviews and testing.
• Coordinate workload on development projects.
• Develop automated testing of products and optimize facilities.

Skills

Hands-on

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Level 3 Engineering qualification (BTEC/NVQ)

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

Excel (advanced)

Job description

Job Description

Role: Graduate R&D Engineer

Location: Knutsford, Parkgate Industrial Estate

Working Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am till 5pm. 40 hours per week

We’re on the lookout for a Graduate R&D Engineer e to join our team in Knutsford.

It’s a really exciting time to join us as a Graduate R&D Engineer, as we continue to grow as one of the UK’s leading family‑owned valve manufacturers.

About Us

With over 45 years of valve technology innovations, Oliver Valves is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and supply of high-quality valves and valve systems, serving industries such as oil and gas, petrochemical, and other critical sectors. We have won recognised awards for Export, Manufacturing and Growth – as well as the coveted Queens Award and more recently Kings Award for Industry. We’re a profitable, privately owned, and fast-moving company looking for talented individuals to join our team and deliver our strategic objectives.

What You’ll Be Doing as a Graduate R&D Engineer

• Assembly and testing of prototype valves


• Maintaining the Oliver Standard of Quality for test data and reports


• Contribution to new product design reviews


• FMECA Work


• Co-ordinating workload of larger development projects


• Developing automated testing of products


• Ensuring test facilities and equipment are utilized efficiently.

What You’ll Bring

• Practical and hands on


• Excellent attention to detail.


• Good communication skills.


• Strong problem-solving abilities.


• Level 3 qualification in Engineering (e.g. BTEC, NVQ, or equivalent) ; candidates with relevant practical experience also considered


• Solidworks/ACAD proficient


• Experience with Microsoft Office Software


• Advance level in Excel desirable

What’s On Offer?

Here’s what you can expect as a maintenance operative with us:

• Depending on experiance + discretionary annual bonus


• Annual leave starting at 31 days a year (includes bank holidays)


• Great benefits including: pension (you put in 5%, we put in 4%), cash plan to reimburse you for medical expenses (dental, optical, physio and more), retailer discount platform, Life Assurance (\"Death in Service\"), long service awards, and Employee Assistance Programme


• Training opportunities including apprenticeships and college courses available