Hillarys
Graduate Production Engineer

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Graduate Production Engineer
At Hillarys, part of the global Hunter Douglas group, we're looking for a motivated and ambitious Graduate Production Engineer to join our Technical and Quality team. This is an exciting opportunity for an engineering graduate to kick start their career within a market leading manufacturing environment, gaining hands on experience while contributing to continuous improvement and innovation across our production operations.
As a Graduate Production Engineer, you'll work closely with colleagues across Technical, Quality, Manufacturing, Maintenance, Procurement and R&D teams, helping to drive efficiency, quality, automation and process improvements. This role offers excellent exposure to manufacturing engineering principles and the opportunity to make a real impact from day one.
Key Responsibilities
- Analyse and improve production processes to enhance efficiency, productivity and cost effectiveness.
- Apply Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to reduce waste and drive continuous improvement.
- Support investigations into quality defects and implement corrective and preventative actions.
- Lead New Product Introductions (NPI) into manufacturing, ensuring smooth implementation and production readiness.
- Provide technical support and training to production operatives and Team Leaders.
- Develop, maintain and enhance product technical and quality specifications.
- Collaborate with R&D, Quality Control and Production Management teams to support effective manufacturing operations.
- Identify and resolve technical issues within the production environment.
- Provide technical support to both internal and external customers when required.
- Support automation initiatives and utilise digital tools, including AI and machine learning technologies, to improve processes and data analysis.
- Create and maintain internal Bills of Materials (BOMs) for product ranges.
- Monitor production performance and contribute ideas that improve quality, efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What We Are Looking For
- A degree in Production Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- Knowledge of process improvement methodologies such as Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills, with the ability to think critically and identify practical solutions.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to build relationships across multiple teams.
- A high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- A proactive approach and willingness to take ownership of projects and initiatives.
- Experience of CAD systems and automation software, including AI tools, would be advantageous but is not essential.


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Why join us?
At Hillarys, part of Hunter Douglas, you'll join a market-leading manufacturer committed to innovation, continuous improvement and developing future talent. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands on experience, work on meaningful projects and build your engineering career within a supportive and collaborative environment.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to be their authentic self. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we'll be happy to support you.
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