Graduate Engineer - Manufacturing

Overview

Role: Graduate Engineer – Manufacturing

Location: Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex

Start Date: 7th September 2026

Role :

About Ricardo

Ricardo is a trusted engineering partner specialising in complex propulsion, driveline, and energy systems. We collaborate with customers globally to deliver end-to-end solutions from initial design through to full production.

Our manufacturing business has world-class expertise in niche volume, high quality manufacturing and assembly programmes, complex supply chain management, industrialising innovation, and niche new product introduction. This expertise is developed over decades of experience in the most demanding automotive, motor sport, defence, and aerospace sectors.

Do you want to use your passion for engineering to create innovative solutions to some of the world’s most complex challenges?

The successful candidate will be rewarded with the opportunity to be a key member of a team within the Ricardo Manufacturing, with a broad remit to support New Product Introduction (NPI) projects across a wide range of niche products to many premium brand customers.

Global Graduate Scheme

This is a permanent role in our NPI team starting with our 2-year accelerated development programme including technical and soft skills development in a consultancy environment. Our scheme is accredited with the IMechE and the IET and we encourage progress to CEng/IEng; we provide an in‑house mentor and cover professional fees. As a Graduate Process Engineer, you will be responsible for supporting Processes and Procedures associated with assembly from concept to series production.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, development, and maintenance of manufacturing processes for current and future Programmes.
• Development, implementation, and operation of manufacturing process documentation (DFA, DFM, Build Process, Process Control plan, PFMEA’s, Risk Assessments/Safety Systems & Launch Readiness).
• Support specification and design of equipment layouts and material flows.
• Requisition ing (including specification, procurement, commissioning, installation, and validation) of new and modified tooling and equipment required for assembly (DAT, FAT & SAT).
• Support the production team during Industrialisation phases to improve production quality and efficiency.
• Support of Prototype builds in line with project delivery requirements, including early validation of production processes and tooling.
• Development of assembly work standards to support both Prototype phase (build books) and the transfer to standard work instructions for Production.
• Continuous improvement of the manufacturing processes to deliver to cost, quality and delivery performance targets.
• To achieve quality standards in a series production environment.

Key Competencies and Experience

• Initiative and people skills are required in this customer facing role as are strong written communication and reporting/presentation skills.
• Technical task management of technical projects.
• Able to apply logical fault‑finding skills using industry standard Tools and techniques, often under time pressure.
• Organised, with an ability to multi‑task – able to assess, prioritise and respond with absolute urgency to serious issues, should they arise.
• An awareness of a range of Manufacturing techniques and Assembly equipment.
• An awareness of manufacturing process and documentation including: DFA/DFM, DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, 8D, CAD, Engineering Drawings/GD&T and build Instructions.
• Broad engineering knowledge of Manufacturing and Propulsion Systems components & Assembly techniques.

Desirable Competencies and Experience

• A master’s degree in an engineering or manufacturing.
• A placement or university module in manufacturing.
• Relevant work experience.
• Interest in a mechanical or electrical engineering hobby such as motor sport, restoration projects, and/or formula student.

What we can offer you

• A 2-year accelerated graduate development programme with a focus on developing technical and consultancy skills in a manufacturing environment.
• Meaningful and fulfilling engineering projects across a range of market sectors.
• Opportunity to continue your professional development and work towards your…