Graduate Engineer
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Position Overview & Specifications
Job Description
Job Title
Graduate Engineer (24-month with rotations)
Reports to
Engineering/Manufacturing/Quality Manager
Department
Engineering, Manufacturing & Quality
Location
Kettering & Coventry
Job Function
Defines key purpose. (Note: In addition to these functions, employees are required to carry out other duties as may reasonably be required):
- To undertake an engineering graduate programme rotating around Engineering, Manufacturing & Quality. At the end of the 24-month rotation programme, a home department will be agreed.
- To work with the customer and internal stakeholders to design & develop products from conception to Job 1+90 that meets the expectations of the customer & plant.
- Supporting with the design, development, validation and launch of products and processes which meet the requirements of cost, quality, time, and wider project objectives.
- Supporting with Continuous Improvement & Change Management activities on current production.
Principal Accountabilities
Defines Who and What:
- Is directly accountable to the department head for product delivery within IMK Automotive.
- Supporting internal business departments for product launch activities.
- Supporting internal business departments for Business as Usual activities.
Principal Responsibilities
Defines the principal activities to deliver and meet the Principal Accountabilities:
- Supporting with the CAD Development of New Products
- Supporting with BOM’s and MPR interface
- Supporting with DFMEA’s, PFMEA’s, Control Plans & Process Flows
- Supporting with DVP&R and other product validation requirements
- Supporting with BOM & Assembly Tooling Manufacture and Tooling Maturation
- Supporting with material selection, mechanical design, GD&T & fixing methods
- Supporting the Customer with Cost, Quality, Time, and Safety elements of the product
- Supporting with APQP & PPAP requirements
- Supporting with Tooling/BOM Asset RFQ’s from a technical aspect
- Supporting the business with RFQ’s, 8D’s and Continuous Improvements
- Supporting with the product assembly process and bottleneck planning
- Supporting with Work Instructions, Standard Procedures & Quality Alerts
- Supporting with RFT’s, Cost of Quality, Audits, Calibration and QMS Document Control
- Supporting with creation and presentation of reports to internal and external stakeholders
- Supporting with Design and Development workshops on-site and at customer facilities
Preferred Education, Experiences & Qualifications
Defines level of education and experiences:
- Bachelor’s or Master's Degree in Engineering or equivalent experience (essential)
- Industry Placement experience (desirable)
- Good Knowledge of MS PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Teams (essential)
- Good Knowledge of Manufacturing Processes (desirable)
- Good Knowledge of CAD (desirable)
- Good Knowledge of Mechanical Design Principles & GD&T (desirable)
- Good Knowledge of Process Improvement Tools and Techniques (desirable)
- Good Knowledge of Problem-Solving Techniques (desirable)
Traits and Competences
Defines the traits, abilities and core skills required:
- The ability to work independently, to be self-driven and able to set and monitor own goals
- The ability to work in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams
- The ability to participate in technical discussions with suppliers, customers, and internal teams
- The ability to communicate effectively on all levels to the customer and internally
Essential Traits
Takes Initiative – perceiving what is necessary to be achieved and proceeding on one’s own.
Proactive – reaching out to stakeholders to progress team and individual day-to-day actions.
Persistent – adopting an unwavering approach to work and overcoming obstacles.
Scrutinising – identifying the risks and potential challenges in a plan or strategy.
Enthusiastic – eagerly approaches challenges with a willingness to attempt difficult tasks.
Collaborative – involving and encouraging others throughout the project.
Organised – maintaining a structured order of work and preparing ahead of time.
Systematic – carefully and methodically thinking through steps.
Analytical – logically examining facts and situations.
Pragmatic – dealing with things rationally and offering realistic solutions to concerns.
Highly Desirable Traits
Authoritative – willingness to take on decision making responsibility.
Handling conflict – navigating difficult situations to dispel conflicts and ensure collaboration
Influencing – deliberate effort to persuade decision making in the interest of the objectives
Numerical – calculating or analysing quantities using maths or other scientific methods.
Optimistic – maintaining a positive outlook and upbeat attitude to work.
Tolerant – showing a high tolerance for pressure when working under deadlines.
Driven – seeking out opportunities to improve the knowledge and skills of the team.
Creative Thinking – thinking outside the box when overcoming obstacles
Other factors
Defines other aspects of the role that may be important:
- The IMK Automotive site in Kettering will serve as the main place of work but you may be required to frequently visit the other production facility in Coventry where required
- You may also be expected to travel to suppliers and customers as and when necessary
Departmental KPI’s:
Defines some of the KPI’s used to measure performance:
- Adherence to Programme Timeline, Deliverables & Budgets
- Manufacturing and Quality KPI’s
- Hoshin Business Improvement metrics
Critical Success Factors:
Defines some success factors critical to the role. See also Traits and Competences section:
- Safety considerations – supporting a culture of Safety First
- Quality considerations – promoting an ethos of design and process for “Built in Quality”
- Financial considerations – Reducing our costs to serve and elimination of waste
- Good relationship with the customer and Internal Teams
- A robust engineering product design, materials & manufacturing process knowledge
- A strong ability to communicate clearly and concisely at all levels
Job Types: Full-time, Graduate
Salary: £28,000.00-£30,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free flu jabs
- Free parking
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Weekley Wood Avenue: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person
Candidate Selection & Onboarding Process
Application & Resume Screening
Submit your tailored CV/Resume directly to the talent acquisition portal.
Technical & Competency Interviews
Virtual interviews with the hiring manager and multidisciplinary team.
Formal Offer & Benefits Negotiation
Written agreement outlining compensation, equity, retirement vesting, and relocation allowances.
Onboarding & Corporate Integration
Equipment provisioning, team orientation, and commencement of duties.
United Kingdom Right to Work & Skilled Worker Visa Guide
Employment in the United Kingdom requires legal Right to Work verified under the Home Office Points-Based Immigration System:
Sponsoring employers must hold an active Home Office A-rated Sponsor License and assign a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Role must meet the general minimum salary threshold (£38,700) or occupation going rate.
Continuous employment under Skilled Worker status establishes eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 continuous years, leading to British Citizenship.
Candidate Preparation Blueprint: General
Based on transatlantic hiring benchmarks for Graduate Engineer roles across IMKAutomotive's corporate sector, successful applicants typically excel across three core dimensions:
Demonstrated portfolio evidence, architecture/system design case studies, or validated professional certifications directly applicable to General.
STAR method competency responses highlighting cross-functional leadership, conflict resolution, and delivering measurable enterprise ROI under tight timelines.
Total compensation expectation aligned within the benchmarked £28,000 - £30,000 bracket, including retirement vesting and health parity.
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