Graduate Research Engineer - Industrial Transformation

Manufacturing Technology Centre; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing technology centre in the UK is offering an exciting Graduate Development Programme aimed at aspiring engineers. The 24-month programme provides hands-on experience in key departments while also supporting professional development. Applicants should hold an accredited bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM field and possess strong communication skills. The company promotes well-being with a flexible working pattern, generous benefits, and a commitment to diversity and inclusivity.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Generous pension scheme

Life assurance

Private healthcare

25 days paid annual leave

Qualifications

• Passionate about your STEM discipline.
• Demonstrable ability to communicate technical data to a non-technical audience.
• Enthusiasm for continued personal development.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the 24-month Industrial Transformation Graduate Programme.
• Work on innovative and exciting live projects.
• Engage with professional bodies towards Chartership.

Skills

Creative problem-solving

Strong communication skills

Team player

Enthusiasm for personal development

Education

Accredited bachelor’s degree (2:1 minimum) in a relevant STEM subject

Job description

Here at the MTC, our people are diverse and multi‑disciplinary. They are paramount to our progress and success. We understand that to realize our vision to create a strong, sustainable UK manufacturing industry, we must continue to place special emphasis on future skills and technologies and to offer best‑in‑class Graduate Development Programmes to support aspiring engineers to achieve their true potential.

Our 24‑month Industrial Transformation (ITG) Graduate Programme is structured to give you the experience, knowledge, and skills to become a competent and confident professional engineer. It represents a fantastic opportunity to take control of your future at a truly unique and inspiring company.

Our ITG Development Programme is specifically designed to build your experience and understanding across key departments, including Automation Transformation, Business Transformation, Digital Transformation, and Technology Transformation. Our mission is to guide UK manufacturers through digitalisation and sustainability, ensuring they remain globally competitive while contributing positively to society and the environment.

You will work with cutting‑edge technologies on innovative and exciting live projects from the start, alongside some of the best minds in the industry. You’ll learn first‑hand what it takes to build a successful and rewarding engineering career and we will support you every step of the way.

In addition, we offer the opportunity for our colleagues to engage with professional bodies and work towards Chartership (benefitting from our financial support). We'll also help you hone essential business, commercial, and personal leadership skills, including problem solving and creativity, financial awareness, and effective relationship building.

What we’re looking for

• Our values: One team together, Pursuit of the best, Insatiable curiosity, and Enterprising spirit.
• Passionate about your STEM discipline, a creative problem solver, innovative, and a real team player.
• Accredited bachelor’s degree (2:1 minimum) in a relevant STEM subject such as Robotics, Mechatronics, Autonomous Systems, Product Design, Material Science, Information Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Supply Chain Management, Business Strategy, Business Analytics, Accounting, Sustainability Finance or similar.
• Enthusiasm for continued personal development and learning new things.
• Strong communication skills, including a demonstrable ability to communicate technical data to a non‑technical audience clearly and confidently.

A more rewarding choice all around

Investing in your wellbeing is important to us. With this in mind, we’ve introduced a fully flexible working pattern where you can work the hours that suit your lifestyle, Monday to Friday. In addition, we also offer a generous pension scheme, life assurance and private healthcare, plus you can look forward to a healthy work/life balance with 25 days paid annual leave, plus bank holidays and the opportunity to buy or sell up to one weeks’ holiday per year.

So, are you inspired by the thought of impacting society and joining the MTC? If so, we look forward to hearing from you. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 23rd December; however, we will close earlier should we reach our target application numbers sooner.

The Recruitment Journey

1. Application Form – The first step is completing our online application form and attaching your CV. This is your opportunity to share your background, skills, and motivation for applying. Take your time to ensure your information is accurate and highlights your strengths.
2. Psychometric Assessments – Once your application is reviewed, you’ll be invited to complete online psychometric assessments via the SOVA platform. These may include numerical, verbal, or logical reasoning tests, as well as personality questionnaires. They help us understand your problem‑solving style and how you might fit with our team culture.
3. Telephone Interview – If successful in the assessments, you’ll be invited to a structured telephone interview. This is a chance to discuss your experiences, motivations, and suitability for the role. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask questions and learn more about us. We recommend finding a quiet space and having your CV nearby for reference.
4. Face‑to‑Face Assessment Centre – The final stage is an in‑person assessment centre at either our Coventry or Liverpool sites. Our recruitment team will host pre‑assessment centre briefing sessions to share more about the day and to set you at ease. Throughout the assessment centre you will meet members of our teams and get a real feel for our working environment. Thorough feedback will be shared with all attendees post‑assessment centre, regardless of outcome.
5. Offer stage and beyond – If you are successful in securing an offer on to our Graduate Programme, our recruitment team will notify you of this shortly after your assessment centre and talk you through the next steps. In addition, we also host regular sessions over the summer to best support your onboarding journey, ensuring you are set up for success from Day 1 in September 2026.

Support with your application

We are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the application process, e.g. additional reading time, access requirements etc. If you’d like to talk about how we can support your personal circumstances ahead of making an application, please reach out to our recruitment team.

Important information

We are committed to fostering a diverse and dynamic workforce where all individuals have the opportunity to excel. For transparency, it’s important to note that our company does not provide visa sponsorship for candidates participating in our early careers programmes (including support for graduate route visa holders). Those who possess the legal right to work in the UK are eligible for our roles. We encourage you to review the eligibility requirements specified in each early careers listing. If you meet these criteria and share our enthusiasm for professional growth and innovation, we happily welcome your application.