Graduate Project Engineer
| Posting date: | 19 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | Up to £32,000 |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 21 March 2026 |
| Location: | Portsmouth, PO3 5GF |
| Company: | Unipart Group |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 1940 |
Summary
Job Advert
We are seeking a high-calibre Graduate Project Engineer to join our engineering team!
Overall Purpose Of Job
This role will support the transition of complex components from initial design through to series production. This role offers
unique exposure to dual manufacturing streams: high-volume plastic injection moulding and high-performance carbon fibre
composites, for mainly the Automotive sector. This role has direct involvement in high-profile projects (e.g. Hypercars and EV
platforms), hands-on experience with cutting-edge materials and manufacturing technology, and structured career progression within
a growing engineering firm.
Responsibilities:
* Project Coordination: Assist in managing the "New Product Introduction" (NPI) process, ensuring milestones are met on time and
within budget.
* Technical Support: Work alongside senior engineers to develop tooling specifications, laminating patterns, and assembly
processes.
* Process Optimisation: Support trials for new injection moulding tools and composite layup techniques to maximise yield and
quality.
* CAD & Documentation: Maintain technical drawings, Create Bill of Materials (BOMs), and develop standard operating procedures
(SOPs).
* Supplier & Client Liaison: Communicate with toolmakers and customers to resolve technical queries and design-for-manufacture
(DFM) issues.
Competencies & Experience:
* Mindset: A proactive problem-solver with strong communication skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
* Risk Management: Experience identifying potential bottlenecks in a project timeline.
* Commercial Awareness: Understanding how technical decisions impact the BOM (Bill of Materials) and overall project margins.
* Stakeholder Management: The ability to translate "engineer speak" into "customer speak" when dealing with high-profile Hypercar
clients.
* Adaptability: Specifically, the ability to switch mindset between the high-speed world of high-volume plastics and the artisan,
precision-heavy world of composites
Experience:
* Education: A degree (BEng/BSc) in Mechanical, Automotive, or Manufacturing Engineering (or a related discipline).
* Technical Interest: A genuine passion for advanced materials (Composites) and high-precision manufacturing.
* Software: Proficiency in 3D CAD (Catia, SolidWorks, or NX) and Microsoft Office
* Industry work experience: Placement experience during degree study would be an advantage.
About Unipart
Unipart’s ambition is to be the driving force behind efficient, resilient and sustainable supply chains.
We design, make, move and improve components in our customers’ supply chains, keeping their operations and assets moving and
working better, for longer. Through our commitment to continuously driving operational efficiencies, we improve performance -
saving time, cost and carbon.
We have 50 years of experience transforming global supply chains, and more than 12,000 colleagues operating in 22 countries and
seven sectors.
We are empowered to deliver real difference from day one with every customer, driving success far beyond contract delivery. It’s
more than just our culture - The Unipart Way is in our DNA. It empowers every single colleague across Unipart to deliver supply
chain performance improvement for our customers through a relentless drive for continual improvement and optimisation, every day.
The Unipart Way supports our People, Performance and Customers, shaping the way we think, work and behave.
The Way We Think
Encouraging our people to have a Growth Mindset
* Healthy dissatisfaction with the status quo
* Small steps each day to learn, develop and grow
* Embrace challenges, solve problems and drive continuous improvement
* Bias to action and welcome feedback
The Way We Work
The four systems of the Unipart Way
* Employee Engagement
* Organisational Capability
* Operational Excellence
* Customer Engagement
The Way We Behave
Using the framework to CARE for our colleagues, community and environment
* Continually improve and innovate
* Always deliver excellence
* Respectful ways of working
* Encouraging and inclusive
We are seeking a high-calibre Graduate Project Engineer to join our engineering team!
Overall Purpose Of Job
This role will support the transition of complex components from initial design through to series production. This role offers
unique exposure to dual manufacturing streams: high-volume plastic injection moulding and high-performance carbon fibre
composites, for mainly the Automotive sector. This role has direct involvement in high-profile projects (e.g. Hypercars and EV
platforms), hands-on experience with cutting-edge materials and manufacturing technology, and structured career progression within
a growing engineering firm.
Responsibilities:
* Project Coordination: Assist in managing the "New Product Introduction" (NPI) process, ensuring milestones are met on time and
within budget.
* Technical Support: Work alongside senior engineers to develop tooling specifications, laminating patterns, and assembly
processes.
* Process Optimisation: Support trials for new injection moulding tools and composite layup techniques to maximise yield and
quality.
* CAD & Documentation: Maintain technical drawings, Create Bill of Materials (BOMs), and develop standard operating procedures
(SOPs).
* Supplier & Client Liaison: Communicate with toolmakers and customers to resolve technical queries and design-for-manufacture
(DFM) issues.
Competencies & Experience:
* Mindset: A proactive problem-solver with strong communication skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
* Risk Management: Experience identifying potential bottlenecks in a project timeline.
* Commercial Awareness: Understanding how technical decisions impact the BOM (Bill of Materials) and overall project margins.
* Stakeholder Management: The ability to translate "engineer speak" into "customer speak" when dealing with high-profile Hypercar
clients.
* Adaptability: Specifically, the ability to switch mindset between the high-speed world of high-volume plastics and the artisan,
precision-heavy world of composites
Experience:
* Education: A degree (BEng/BSc) in Mechanical, Automotive, or Manufacturing Engineering (or a related discipline).
* Technical Interest: A genuine passion for advanced materials (Composites) and high-precision manufacturing.
* Software: Proficiency in 3D CAD (Catia, SolidWorks, or NX) and Microsoft Office
* Industry work experience: Placement experience during degree study would be an advantage.
About Unipart
Unipart’s ambition is to be the driving force behind efficient, resilient and sustainable supply chains.
We design, make, move and improve components in our customers’ supply chains, keeping their operations and assets moving and
working better, for longer. Through our commitment to continuously driving operational efficiencies, we improve performance -
saving time, cost and carbon.
We have 50 years of experience transforming global supply chains, and more than 12,000 colleagues operating in 22 countries and
seven sectors.
We are empowered to deliver real difference from day one with every customer, driving success far beyond contract delivery. It’s
more than just our culture - The Unipart Way is in our DNA. It empowers every single colleague across Unipart to deliver supply
chain performance improvement for our customers through a relentless drive for continual improvement and optimisation, every day.
The Unipart Way supports our People, Performance and Customers, shaping the way we think, work and behave.
The Way We Think
Encouraging our people to have a Growth Mindset
* Healthy dissatisfaction with the status quo
* Small steps each day to learn, develop and grow
* Embrace challenges, solve problems and drive continuous improvement
* Bias to action and welcome feedback
The Way We Work
The four systems of the Unipart Way
* Employee Engagement
* Organisational Capability
* Operational Excellence
* Customer Engagement
The Way We Behave
Using the framework to CARE for our colleagues, community and environment
* Continually improve and innovate
* Always deliver excellence
* Respectful ways of working
* Encouraging and inclusive