Test and Validation Graduate Engineer

Career Area: Students and Graduates

Test & Validation Graduate Engineer

Location: Desford, UK

Salary: £35,833 plus £1,500 Sign on Bonus, Annual Bonus, Share Scheme, Pension and 27 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays).

When you join Caterpillar, you become part of a global team that cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are makers, problem solvers and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don’t just talk about progress and innovation – we make it happen with our customers, where we work and live.

Together, we are building a better world.

We are the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel, natural gas and hydrogen engines, industrial gas turbines and locomotives. In 2020 our globally respected company and brand invested $1.4B into research and development, leveraging cutting‑edge technology and decades of expertise to improve our products and services. Our core values – Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, Commitment and Sustainability – drive our success.

Every employee moves the company forward, piece by piece, part by part, person by person.

Caterpillar Leicester is part of the Building Construction Products (BCP) division, manufacturing a range of world‑class Backhoe Loaders, Wheel Loaders and Telehandlers. It is a full product development centre with global responsibility for its products. The Test & Validation team is a vital part of the product development process, completing instrumentation and testing to ensure our machines meet reliability, durability and productivity goals and comply with all relevant laws and regulations.

• Management of instrumentation and test equipment.
• Troubleshoot instrumentation and setups.
• Calibration verification.
• Rig development for verification.
• Database management.
• Assist in the research and adoption of new technologies and processes (automation, wireless, etc.).
• Plan and improve testing procedures and methods.
• Monitor results, machine and process capabilities and performance reliability.
• Instrumentation programming (e.g., LabVIEW, PLC, etc.).

Working within our Test & Validation team means delivering a quality product to satisfied customers. The department is a critical link between our product development teams, manufacturing and our customers.

We leverage our people’s experiences, backgrounds and cultures in an inclusive environment that enables every individual to achieve their full potential, which drives business success. We are proud to be named in the Forbes list of Best Employers for Diversity (2024), Best Employers for Women (2025) and to be the employer of one of the Women’s Engineering Society top 50 Women in Engineering (WE50 2021).

Caterpillar is an equal‑opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.

New graduates are critical to the success of our Research & Development engineering teams. From day one you will engage in challenging work, solving real‑world engineering problems through collaboration with a global team.

You will begin your time at Caterpillar in a home department that acts as a touchpoint throughout the graduate scheme. After six months in your home department, you will complete three further six‑month placements in other departments, with rotations tailored to give you a broad understanding of our engineering processes and to build the foundations of a successful career. You will receive support, guidance and training to excel at Caterpillar.

• Machine Product Engineering – design, analyse and improve components and systems on the products built in the Leicester facility.
• Engineering System Teams (Engine, Hydraulics, Structures, Electrical, Powertrain, Cabs) – support the development of specialised systems or components to meet customer‑driven performance targets.
• Test & Development – design tests, develop test rigs, run test programs and analyse data to validate product robustness and compliance.
• Manufacturing…