Placement

Manufacturing Engineering (12 Month Placement Scheme)

£26,000

Desford

Expected closing date: Tuesday, 8 December 2026

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TL;DR

Key Takeaways

Undertake a 12-month Manufacturing Engineering placement at Caterpillar's Desford facility.
Earn a salary of £26,000 per year, with additional benefits including a share scheme, pension, and flexible working.
Gain experience in supporting manufacturing improvement projects, working with advanced technologies, and utilising CAD software.
Must be on target for a 2:1 degree in a relevant engineering discipline and in your penultimate year of study.
Placement starts 5th July 2027, with applications closing 7th December 2026.

This is a 12-month industrial placement within Manufacturing Engineering at Caterpillar's Desford facility.

As a Manufacturing Engineering Placement student, you will:

Support manufacturing improvement projects on Electric and Combustion powered vehicles, focusing on Safety, Quality, Velocity & Cost using 6 Sigma Methodologies.
Work with advanced Manufacturing Engineering Technologies to introduce new products, evaluating design for assembly & automation feasibility, and generating manufacturing processes and documentation.
Utilise CAD software for designing new equipment, conducting virtual builds, and developing facility layouts according to Caterpillar's Production System.
Implement new equipment and tooling into production, including design, budgeting, evaluation, procurement, implementation, training, and sign-off.
Create and review process risk documentation (PFMEA, Control Plans, SFMEA's) to enhance safety in new and current processes.
Engage with Additive Manufacturing, Robotics & Automation, AI, Digital Twins, Measurement Analysis & Machine Validation Equipment.
Conduct root cause analysis for quality improvement opportunities and implement robust process containment measures.
Support and implement sustainability projects within the manufacturing process, aligning with Caterpillar’s environmental commitments.
Adhere to the company's Health and Safety policy and safe working practices.
Uphold Caterpillar's Values in Action: Integrity, Commitment, Excellence, Teamwork, & Sustainability.

You must be on target to achieve a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in one of the following disciplines:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Mechatronics/Robotics
- Automation and Control Engineering
- Systems Engineering
- Automotive Engineering
You should be in your penultimate year of study (unless enrolled in an integrated master’s program) to be eligible for a placement commencing July 2027.
We are looking for open-minded, excellent problem solvers with a quick learning ability, who are motivated, hard-working, and embrace change.

A 12-month industrial placement scheme.
Salary of £26,000 per year.
Share Scheme and Pension.
Flexible working options.
27 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
A workplace mentor for professional development and skill-building.
Opportunity to work on diverse projects and collaborate globally.
Potential for fast-track to the Graduate Development Scheme for high-performing students (conditional on graduate role availability and achieving a minimum 2:1).