bp is a global company that offers a world of opportunities for professionals as well as those starting out in their career. We’re guided by our purpose and ambition to become a net zero company by 2050 or sooner, and help the world get there too.

What does this mean for you? It means you can expect purposeful work, world-class training and the flexibility to realize your full potential. Not to mention the chance to join a company committed to delivering more sustainable energy for all. Ready to crack on? Your perfect job match awaits.

Early Careers Experience at bp

You’ll be based in one team throughout the duration of your internship, working on real projects that you’ll be able to manage through to completion. Throughout you’ll have the support of a dedicated line manager and a buddy from one of our early careers programs. Alongside your day-to-day responsibilities, you’ll have the opportunity to attend events and socials with other interns, take part in training sessions to help develop your interpersonal skills and network with leaders from across bp. The program is designed to help build your skills and technical knowledge whilst also allowing you to learn more about life at bp. 

Role and responsibilities

Within Technology, Applied Sciences, is a centralised scientific resource focussed on driving bp’s transition into an efficient, profitable, net zero company. Applied sciences is the home for bp’s scientists; our deep expertise is built on a foundation of world-class laboratory experimentation. Applied sciences is integrated with our customer groups, providing differentiated bp fuels & Castrol products to meet market needs.

Applied sciences leads the longer-term technology agenda, identifying emerging trends and innovating to develop energy pathways and platforms (e.g. innovative low carbon and bio process solutions) that will provide the future pipeline for our net zero transition.

The New Product Science team supports the Castrol business, providing research insights into future product needs and solutions for sustainable mobility, wind energy and manufacturing. It delivers strategic understanding, deep expertise, and embryonic product and services concepts to inform and support product development functions and the business.

The successful candidate will work as part of the team supporting key strategic projects within the research portfolio. This will include support and coaching from experienced team members while also offering the opportunity to lead specific workstreams with growing autonomy throughout the internship.

Current research topics include

  • Understanding the challenges faced by lubricants in Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) as electric range extends, in terms of both tribology, efficiency optimisation and chemical degradation of the oil. This includes test work conducted on Vehicles, Chassis Dynos, Engine test, Friction rigs and laboratory bench tests.
  • Understanding the challenges faced by lubricants in engines designed to run on future low carbon energy vectors such as Hydrogen or Ammonia and how to optimise future lubricant formulations for these engine types.
  • Cross-functional projects pursuing sustainable lubricant base oils, such as re-refined base stocks for circularity or technology to manufacture base oils derived from waste and/or biogenic feedstocks.

Requirements 

Master’s required - To apply for this role, you will ideally need to be in your penultimate (second to last) year of study or in your final year of an undergraduate degree but planning to do a Master’s degree in Mechanical, Automotive or Aeronautical engineering or Chemistry, Physics, or Material Science and on track for a 2:1 or above. Will will also consider candidates with 2 further years of study following the placement year.

We support our engineering graduates to get professional accreditation and become chartered engineers. Therefore, it’s essential that your degree is accredited to MEng (or equivalent) level. To find out if your degree is accredited, please visit the links below. If you don’t find your degree within the links and know it is accredited, then please continue to submit your application and we can confirm this for you. 

UK DEGREES ACCREDITED BY THE ENGINEERING COUNCIL 

INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING ALLIANCE

[only relevant for engineering subjects] 

For this role you are expected to have strong spoken and written English language skills, including business and technical English.  Language skills will be assessed throughout the recruitment process.

Location

Bp Pangbourne - Pangbourne Technology Centre, Whitchurch Hill, Pangbourne, Reading, RG8 7QR

Start date

23rd June

Please note: Our internships are full-time. If you will struggle to be available for these dates &/or may not be able to work full time, please flag this if you are invited to a technical interview, or earlier if possible.

Other information

Please note the following when applying:

  • You can only apply to one bp early careers opportunity globally per academic year – within this time, we will only process the first application you make. You will be withdrawn from any subsequent applications.  
  • Unless you apply to a role with a location explicitly stated, role locations are not guaranteed – where not stated, you will be placed in a location based on business need.
  • Accommodation – once confirmed, where you need or decide to move closer to your location, you are responsible for organising and funding this accommodation.

Adjustments

We are keen to make our recruitment process accessible to all. If you require any adjustments, to any stage of the recruitment process, please mention this in the allocated section on your initial application form. Someone will then be in touch to discuss or confirm the adjustments as appropriate for you. Alternatively, if you would like to discuss adjustments before applying, please get in touch:

T: +44 1635 584149

E: enquiry@bpgraduates.co.uk

Reward

Salary: £35,200 p.a.