Manufacturing Engineering Graduate

The Opportunity - Manufacturing Engineering Graduate

Start Date - September 2026, typically for 24 months

Starting Salary - Circa £31,500

Minimum Entry Criteria - You’ll need to be near to, or have completed, an appropriate bachelor’s or master’s degrees and be on track to achieve a 2:1 or higher.

Unfortuantly, JCB is unable to offer visa sponsorship or immigration support for its Early Careers Schemes, either now or in the future. This includes individuals currently on sponsored visas.

This will be suited to you if…

You’re ready to kick-start your career in manufacturing engineering and work on cutting-edge projects, and shape the future of advanced manufacturing. If you have strong problem-solving and analytical skills with a passion for innovation and process improvement, this is the career for you.

What does the Manufacturing Engineering Graduate Scheme involve day to day?

The JCB Manufacturing Engineering Graduate Scheme is a 24-month programme based at our Heavy Products business unit. The scheme is designed to develop future leaders in advanced manufacturing and production engineering, and focuses on delivering world-class manufacturing processes, driving efficiency, and supporting innovation across JCB’s global operations. You’ll see the implementation of innovative technologies, streamline processes through designing on CAD new tooling and equipment to ensure ultimate efficiency.

What could I be doing?

• Work on live projects to improve production processes, automation, and lean manufacturing practices.
• Support the design and implementation of efficient manufacturing systems and layouts.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including design, quality, and operations to solve engineering challenges.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reduce waste, and improve product quality.
• Gain exposure to cutting-edge technologies such as robotics, Industry 4.0, and digital manufacturing tools.

What comes next?

1. We’ll be reviewing applications against the essential criteria then shortlisting and sending out links to our online assessments in November 2025 - January 2026 (we’d recommend you keep a look out for emails at this point as you’ll hear from us either way).
2. Once you’ve fully completed your online assessment, we’ll review it and provide you with an update within a few weeks. Please note, if you’ve not completed your online assessment then we won’t take your application further (we’ll send you a few reminders to make sure you don’t forget). If you've been progressed, you’ll be sent an invite to attend one of our in-person Assessment Centres.
3. In-person Assessment Centres will take place from January to April 2026 (we’ll send you all the details you need).
4. Following your Assessment Centre, whether you’ve been successful or not, our promise to you is that you’ll receive a call with feedback.
5. If successful, congratulations! We’ll now take you through the onboarding process, which will include a familiarisation day.
6. Welcome to JCB – our Early Careers cohorts ordinarily start in early September.

What’s in it for you?

This is your chance to join a company that’s not only picking up awards for its Early Careers schemes but also opens up opportunities for the long term. On a JCB Early Careers Scheme you’ll join a company that’s known for developing its people, and somewhere that offers a career for life. As standard, you’ll get 33 days’ holiday, and access to our stakeholder pension scheme, you can also opt into our Private Medical scheme with Bupa.  Not only that, but you’ll also benefit from access to our onsite gym, in-house doctor and dentist. There’s also a JCB Rewards Hub, which gives you discounts at many high street fashion and food retailers. And if you feel like biking to work? There’s our Cycle to Work Scheme. As part of your scheme, you’ll be involved in a professional outdoor development programme in the Lake District. We also encourage our cohorts to network and get involved in our “NextGen” society.

We value diversity and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We’re committed to ensuring our recruitment process is fair and inclusive. If you face any accessibility challenges with your online application and require additional support, you have the option of speaking to a member of our Resourcing team who can support you to complete an application in an alternative format. If you would benefit from this support, please email recruitment@jcb.com, and a member of the team will be in touch.