Entry-Level Jobs in the Automotive Industry UK: Roles, Pay and Routes (2026)
Reviewed Checked on 29 October 2026
Pay, routes and entry requirements come from the National Careers Service. Employer details come from employer announcements and job listings and are labelled Reported. Most 2026 deadlines have passed, so use this page to plan for 2027.
Entry-level jobs in the UK automotive industry are mostly engineering roles, plus programme management, homologation, supply chain and IT roles on graduate schemes. This guide uses the National Careers Service for pay and routes, and employer announcements for who was recruiting in 2026.
Automotive engineers are not limited to automotive degrees. The National Careers Service says employers will often accept mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, design, software and sustainable automotive engineering.
Entry-level automotive jobs: at a glance
| Question | Answer | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Starter pay for an automotive engineer | £26,000 starter, up to £48,000 experienced | Official (National Careers Service) |
| Typical hours | 38 to 42 a week, sometimes evenings on shifts | Official |
| Routes in | University course or apprenticeship | Official |
| Degree needed | Often a related subject is accepted: manufacturing, mechanical, electrical or electronic, design, software or sustainable automotive engineering | Official |
| Usual entry requirements for a degree | 2 or 3 A levels or equivalent, including maths and a science | Official |
Source: National Careers Service, Automotive engineer, checked 29 October 2026.
Entry-level roles you can apply for
Automotive engineers design, test and build cars, vans, lorries, buses and motorbikes. The National Careers Service lists work on body, chassis and engine systems, electrical and electronic controls, aerodynamics and fluid mechanics, and zero emission fuel technologies. Graduate schemes add roles around the engineering.
| Role | What it involves | Where we saw it |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive engineer | Design, development or production work on vehicle systems | National Careers Service |
| Design Programme Management Graduate | Managing design programmes | Geely Auto UK and LEVC 2026 graduate scheme (Reported) |
| Engineering Project Graduate | Engineering project delivery | Geely Auto UK and LEVC 2026 graduate scheme (Reported) |
| Homologation Graduate | Vehicle approval and compliance | Geely Auto UK and LEVC 2026 graduate scheme (Reported) |
| IT Graduate | Technology roles inside a vehicle maker | Geely Auto UK and LEVC 2026 graduate scheme (Reported) |
| Manufacturing Engineer (Level 6 degree apprenticeship) | Improving production processes, learning on the job | National Careers Service |
| Product Design and Development Engineer (Level 6) | Design and development with a vehicle manufacturer | National Careers Service |
The Geely Auto UK and LEVC advert asks for a 2:1 or above and does not state a salary in the main listing. See the listing.
Who was recruiting for 2026, and what to do for 2027
These are employer announcements and listings we could open. Most 2026 windows have closed, so treat them as a guide to which employers run early careers programmes and check their sites for 2027.
| Employer | Programme | Detail | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguar Land Rover | Undergraduate engineering | Applications closed 25 January 2026 on the JLR page; check the page for the next cycle | Reported |
| Geely Auto UK and LEVC (Coventry) | 2026 graduate scheme | Design programme management, engineering project, homologation and IT roles; 2:1 or above | Reported |
| Bentley and Rolls-Royce | 2026 apprenticeship intake | Most apprenticeships begin in August 2026; see The Manufacturer and Bentley | Reported |
| Leyland Trucks | 2026 apprenticeships | 21 roles across eight disciplines for September 2026, including four-year degree apprenticeships in design engineering and supply chain; see Leyland Trucks | Reported |
Reported means taken from the employer announcement or job listing named, as seen on 29 October 2026. Deadlines and salaries change, so confirm on the employer site.
University, degree apprenticeship or postgraduate apprenticeship
| Route | What the National Careers Service says | Length |
|---|---|---|
| University | A foundation degree, HND or degree in automotive engineering or a related subject. A course with an internship or placement can help you join a graduate scheme. | Course dependent |
| Degree apprenticeship | Level 6 schemes with a vehicle manufacturer, such as Manufacturing Engineer or Product Design and Development Engineer, combining work with university study. | Around 4 to 5 years |
| Postgraduate apprenticeship | If you already hold a STEM degree you may be able to do a Postgraduate Engineer Level 7 Apprenticeship with an automotive employer. | Not stated |
Entry requirements for a degree apprenticeship are usually 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 plus A levels or equivalent, or a relevant degree for the Level 7 route.
Trends to mention in an application
The National Careers Service says keeping up with vehicle technology can help in applications and interviews. It names these trends:
- The shift to electric vehicles and research into alternative fuels.
- Digital design and manufacturing of parts by 3D printing.
- Research into semi-autonomous and self-driving vehicles.
- Connectivity within and between vehicles, and traffic management systems.
Show how a module, project or placement connects to one of these rather than listing buzzwords.
How to apply: five steps
- Pick a route: degree, degree apprenticeship or Level 7 postgraduate apprenticeship.
- Shortlist employers from the table above and the SMMT workforce of the future and IMI motor careers pages.
- Prepare for online tests: our online tests guide and logical reasoning guide.
- Practise for the assessment day with our assessment centre guide.
- Check pay expectations on the mechanical engineering salary and aerospace engineer salary pages, and browse the graduate scheme hub.
FAQ
What are entry-level jobs in the automotive industry?
Mostly engineering roles in design, development and production, plus graduate roles in programme management, homologation and IT on schemes such as the Geely Auto UK and LEVC 2026 scheme (Reported).
How much does an automotive engineer earn at the start?
The National Careers Service gives a starter salary of £26,000, rising to £48,000 for experienced engineers.
Do I need an automotive engineering degree?
No. The National Careers Service says employers will often accept related subjects such as mechanical, electrical or electronic, manufacturing, design and software engineering.
Can I get into the industry through an apprenticeship?
Yes. The National Careers Service lists Level 6 degree apprenticeships taking around 4 to 5 years, and a Level 7 postgraduate route if you already have a STEM degree. Employers such as Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Leyland Trucks announced 2026 apprenticeship intakes (Reported).
When do automotive graduate schemes open?
Dates vary by employer. Jaguar Land Rover undergraduate engineering applications closed on 25 January 2026, so plan for the early part of the year and check each employer page.
