Engineering Graduate Programme

Description 🚀 Engineering Graduate Programme 📍 Crawley, West Sussex | 🕒 Full-time – 18-month fixed term programme October 2026 Start

Start your engineering career where theory meets reality. Want more from your first engineering role than sitting behind a desk? At Unum Aircraft Seating, you'll get hands-on experience, explore four different engineering disciplines and work on business class seats used by some of the world's leading airlines.

We're looking for graduates to join our 18-month Graduate Programme, with staggered start dates from October.

Your 18-month journey

Months 1–6 | Get hands-on Everyone starts on the shop floor as a Production Assembly Technician. You'll learn how our products are built from the ground up, working with hand and power tools, engineering drawings, jigs and fixtures, while developing your understanding of quality, manufacturing and aerospace standards. It's a chance to turn what you've learned at university into practical engineering experience.

Months 7–18 | Explore engineering You'll then spend three months in each of four engineering functions:

• 🔧 Production Support – solve problems and support our production teams
• ⚙️ Manufacturing Engineering – improve processes and how our products are manufactured
• ✅ Quality Engineering – understand quality, problem solving and aerospace standards
• ✏️ Design Engineering – contribute to product design and engineering development

By the end of the programme, you'll have gained experience across the production engineering lifecycle and a much clearer understanding of where you want your career to go.

Why join Unum?

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Gain valuable hands-on aerospace manufacturing experience
• Explore four different engineering disciplines
• Work alongside experienced engineers and manufacturing professionals
• Contribute to real products and engineering challenges
• Develop your technical, problem-solving and teamwork skills
• Build a strong foundation for your future engineering career

And as Unum continues to grow, your opportunities can grow with us.

What we're looking for

We're looking for curious, motivated graduates who want to get stuck in and learn. You'll ideally have:

• A degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Automotive, Electrical/Electronic Engineering or a related discipline
• Graduated recently or be due to graduate in 2026
• A genuine interest in engineering, manufacturing and problem solving
• A willingness to spend your first six months working hands-on on the shop floor
• Strong communication, teamwork and attention to detail
• A practical, can-do approach and a willingness to learn

Previous aerospace or manufacturing experience isn't essential — we're looking for potential, enthusiasm and the right attitude.

About Unum Aircraft Seating

We're redefining what premium air travel feels like through innovative, adaptable and lie-flat aircraft seating. Our products combine engineering, design, quality and manufacturing to deliver exceptional passenger comfort while meeting the highest standards of safety and performance.

And there's more — our benefits include:

• Competitive graduate salary
• 5 weeks' holiday + bank holidays
• Early finish on Fridays 🎉
• Flexible start and finish times
• Three attractive pension scheme options
• Electric car & cycle-to-work schemes
• Employee discounts and wellbeing platform

Recruitment process

We're recruiting graduates for our October intake. Successful applicants will be invited to an assessment day. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we may close the vacancy early if we receive enough suitable applications.

Ready to build what’s next? If you’re looking for your next challenge and want to be part of a team shaping the future of aircraft seating, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and tell us a little more about yourself.

Everyone belongs here

At Unum Aircraft Seating, we believe great ideas come from different perspectives and experiences. We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is valued, respected and able to do their best work. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background.

Your journey, your way

We want every candidate to have a great experience with us. If you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment or interview process, just let us know — we’re happy to help.

A quick note before you apply

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Proof of eligibility will be required before you start with us. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we may close a vacancy early if we receive enough suitable applications. If you’re interested, we recommend applying sooner rather than later.

And this is just the beginning Our roles aren’t set in stone. As Unum grows, our people and our opportunities grow with us. The role you join us for today may look different tomorrow.