Our undergraduate programmes offer a direct pipeline to our graduate scheme, which is not eligible for sponsorship. Therefore, JLR will only accept applications for this programme from candidates who would have the right to work in the UK at the point that they would successfully convert to the graduate programme.
Achieve the exceptional
JLR’s graduate programme is where your ambition meets automotive innovation. Learn from visionary industry experts, build your network and gain invaluable industry insight. Become integral to our future and build the exceptional career you deserve. Arrive with potential. Grow with freedom.
Your career starts here.
Industrial operations: manufacturing undergraduate programme
At JLR, our Industrial Operations function is responsible for creating thousands of vehicles every day. The function unites our manufacturing, procurement and supply chain teams and together, they think beyond the challenges of today to build the cars of tomorrow.
This industry-leading undergraduate programme is an opportunity for you to shape the future of manufacturing. You’ll gain real-world experience, learning how to implement and manage a lean manufacturing operation, explore the digital engineering lifecycle of a vehicle and develop your core competencies in engineering.
During the year-long programme, you could work at either within our Halewood Plant team or within our Global Manufacturing Engineering (GME) function (also based at Halewood). Where you’re placed will depend on your personal preferences and business needs.
Explore the different teams you could be a part of below.
Halewood plant
Our Halewood Plant is a vehicle production facility with a long heritage of manufacturing. In fact, we’re extremely proud to have achieved our 60th year of manufacturing in 2023. What’s more, Halewood is home to the award-winning Evoque and the Discovery Sport and is now destined to become our first fully electric vehicle manufacturing facility.
This is an exciting time for us, with unprecedented levels of investment and the introduction of new technologies. We’re developing a new generation of electric cars set to launch in 2025, and if you join this team, you’ll play a key role in helping us deliver our innovative Electrical Modular Architecture (EMA) platform. Utilising a range of toolsets and benefiting from extensive on-the-job training, you’ll learn all about problem-solving and applying data analysis techniques, giving you the skills you need for a fast-moving manufacturing career.
Some of the areas you’ll focus on while in the Halewood Plant team include Paint, Trim and Final, Quality or Materials, Planning and Logistics.
Paint
The Halewood Paint Process Current Manufacturing Engineering (CME) team ensures that our manufacturing processes follow engineering guidelines, meet international standards, and maintain quality. They focus on analysing and solving problems, continuously improving processes, and using tools like pFMEA to control for all conditions in the production environment.
The paint shop offers a set of unique challenges starting with the pre-treatment & electrocoat process, sealer application, up to 5 layers of robot applied paint on interior and exterior panels followed by a waxing process. After each paint layer, there is an inspection and rectification process, the level of detail the team must work to is one of the highest in the plant. The engineering team are responsible for over 180 parameters that must be in spec and continually worked on to reduce variability across all areas.
Trim and Final
In Trim and Final, the Current Manufacturing Engineering (CME) team support the manufacturing team in producing our vehicles. They provide technical support to ensure the highest build quality, compliance with the Bill of Process (BOP), and help solve quality of production issues.
The team also support new model launches at Halewood such as our new electric vehicles. Trim and Final is where the painted bodyshells are transformed into fully function modern luxury vehicles. The role involves optimisation of jigs and fixtures, quality analysis, and the use of problem-solving tools to resolve major issues. As part of this role, you’ll also work with cross-functional teams and liaise between engineering departments to achieve the best outcomes for the business and the customer.
Quality
Our Quality team covers a wide range of disciplines, skills and technologies, including:
- Quality Systems: Ensures compliance with the Manufacturing Quality Operating System and IATF 16949 by conducting internal audits and managing non-conformance.
- Manufacturing Warranty Specialists (MWS): Links the plant with the dealer network to resolve customer issues and manage quality audit responses.
- Quality Systems Team: The Quality Systems Team ensures compliance with the Manufacturing Quality Operating System and IATF 16949 standards by conducting internal audits and managing non-conformance governance.
- Manufacturing Warranty Specialists (MWS): MWS act as the crucial link between the plant and the dealer network, providing immediate response and follow-up to customer issues, and managing responses to internal quality audits.
- Government & Regulatory Compliance (GRC): GRC ensures our vehicles meet all legal and regulatory standards across various markets. Key compliance areas include torque integrity, whole-body teardown, fluid testing, and label compliance.
- Finished Vehicle Audit: The Finished Vehicle Audit team verifies that our vehicles meet engineering standards by conducting static, dynamic, and Hydropuls tests, along with air and water leakage tests and body panel audits. They also assist in problem-solving across all aspects of finished vehicle quality.
- Quality Operations: Quality Operations ensure that all safety and quality-critical characteristics of the vehicle are verified during the Standardised Inspection Process. Any defects are documented and managed through fault-logging software, with follow-up actions implemented as needed.
Material Planning and Logistics (MP&L)
MP&L ensures the right parts are delivered at the right time to build our vehicles. We manage the build schedule and oversee the supply chain, handling thousands of parts from 400 global suppliers, and we use Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to manage the flow of parts through the factory. Whether office-based or on the plant floor, you’ll be involved in planning, analysis, project management, and problem-solving, contributing to JLR’s electrified future.
Whether you focus on Paint, Trim and Final, Quality or MP&L, you’ll get to experience the full journey of vehicle production at JLR.
Global manufacturing engineering (GME)
Our GME team are responsible for designing, installing and commissioning the manufacturing facilities that build the modern luxury vehicles of the future. If you join this team, you’ll be responsible for ensuring our manufacturing plant teams have the resources they need to produce the right number of vehicles, all meeting the highest standard of quality. Some of the areas you’ll focus on while in the GME team include:
- Process and industrial engineering: Focuses on planning and implementing efficient processes to ensure our plants meet production targets and maintain quality standards.
- Dimensional systems engineering: Ensures vehicle designs and features align with customer expectations, including monitoring and reporting on body quality progress.
- Facilities engineering: Responsible for ensuring parts are delivered to production lines on time and meet quality specifications, playing a critical role in the manufacturing process.
- Vehicle Configuration Acceptance Testing (VCAT): Evaluates software and electrical systems to verify their functionality and performance before delivery.
Along the way, you will learn problem-solving skills and gain expertise in project management and data analytics.
Your development
Our undergraduate programmes are designed to set you up for a lifetime of success, developing your curiosity and creativity over a period of 12 months.
From day one, you’ll be surrounded by an innovative and dedicated team that care about your development. You’ll build essential business skills, including resilience, personal branding, and self-care. Working alongside experienced professionals, you’ll gain valuable industry insights while bringing your academic knowledge to life. Shadowing opportunities will further deepen your understanding of our business and enhance your technical expertise.
Throughout your journey, our Early Careers Delivery team will provide continuous support and guidance, ensuring you make the most of every opportunity. By the time you finish, you’ll be equipped to tackle the challenges of a rapidly changing industry and ready to make a meaningful impact.
What you’ll need
To join the Industrial Operations: Manufacturing Undergraduate programme, you’ll need to be on track to achieve at least a 2.2 degree in manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, material engineering, or aeronautical or automotive engineering if you have a strong interest in manufacturing.
You should be a skilled problem-solver with a curiosity for understanding business challenges and a drive to deliver innovative solutions. Strong numerical and interpersonal skills, along with the confidence to champion new initiatives, are also essential.
Please note that our undergraduate placement opportunities are open only to penultimate-year students (those who will be returning to their final year of study or on an integrated master’s after their placement with us). All our undergraduate programmes have a fixed start date, commencing 7th July 2025.
Rewards and benefits
Our 2025 undergraduate programme salary will be £23,434. You’ll also enjoy a generous holiday allowance, a discounted car purchase and lease scheme for you and your family, an excellent pension scheme and access to a wide range of deals and discounts from retailers and sports clubs.
Diversity and inclusion
At JLR, we’re passionate about our people. They are at the heart of our business. We’re committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive culture that is representative of the society in which we live; a culture in which every one of our employees can bring their authentic self to work and reach their full potential.
JLR is committed to delivering equal opportunities for all. We understand candidates may require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Please discuss these with our recruitment team so we can accommodate your needs.
To learn more about diversity and inclusion at JLR, please visit our website.
Arrive as you are. Achieve the exceptional.
You will channel your curiosity and creativity every day, sharpening your skills for a successful, transformative career. You own your development, and only you can make it happen. We’ll be there right by your side in your pursuit of exceptional, and we’ll provide all the encouragement and support you need for a long, fulfilling career. Your potential for impact starts here.
Please be aware that we may close our programmes at any point and at short notice based on the volume of applications received. To give yourself the best chance of being considered for a place on this programme, please apply early.