Mechanical engineering Jobs in the UK with a Sponsor Licence: 50 Open (Oct 2026)

Updated 15 Oct 2026

There are 50 mechanical engineering roles open at UK employers that hold a sponsor licence, including 5 graduate, internship and apprenticeship roles. This page helps you compare the work, skills, employers and sectors involved, then assess which adverts may fit your experience and visa plans.

Open roles at licensed employers: 50
Graduate, internship & apprenticeship: 5
Employers hiring: 33
Cities: 8

Roles first seen in the last 30 days and still open. Updated weekly.

Mechanical engineering graduate jobs, internships and apprenticeships open now

What kinds of mechanical engineering roles are open

Design and product engineering: 14 roles
Maintenance and reliability: 12 roles
Manufacturing and production: 11 roles
Other mechanical engineering roles: 10 roles
Stress, thermal and propulsion: 3 roles

What mechanical engineering graduates do in the UK

Mechanical engineering roles span design and product engineering, maintenance and reliability, manufacturing and production, other mechanical engineering work, and stress, thermal and propulsion. Day to day, this can mean turning engineering designs into manufacturable products, developing processes and tooling, analysing structures and components, maintaining production lines, or testing and improving equipment.

The role descriptions show a practical field. Engineers may work with drawings, manufacturing data, shop floor teams, prototypes, test rigs, production controls, maintenance standards or certification evidence. Some roles focus on aerospace and defence products, while others involve power systems, optical technology, building products, access technology or engineering and construction projects.

Design and product engineering: component design, product definition, integration and technical assurance.
Maintenance and reliability: planned maintenance, breakdown elimination, spare parts and reliability improvement.
Manufacturing and production: processes, tooling, assembly documentation, production testing and shop floor support.
Stress, thermal and propulsion: structural and stress analysis, lifing, durability, vibration and product integrity.

What employers ask for

The descriptions commonly ask for mechanical engineering knowledge applied to design, manufacturing, analysis or maintenance. Specific requirements include a mechanical or aerospace engineering degree, or equivalent experience, for some engineering roles. Experience in mechanical design, product development, stress, integrity, lifing or analytical engineering is requested in the more experienced positions.

Named tools and activities include CAD, 3D and 2D design, engineering drawings, mathematical modelling, analysis, metrology, calibration, soldering, test rig programming, component and assembly testing, report writing and presentation material. Other descriptions emphasise high quality code, live production problem solving, documented standard operating procedures, planned maintenance, KPI reporting, technical documentation, spare parts and breakdown elimination.

Technical strengths: structural mechanics, stress analysis, durability, fatigue, rotordynamics and systems integration.
Manufacturing strengths: process development, tooling, assembly documentation, shop floor controls and translating design intent into manufacturing data.
Evidence to prepare: project work, prototypes, testing, analysis, drawings, reports, code or practical maintenance experience, where relevant to the advert.

Which employers and sectors are hiring

Manufacturing is the largest sector in this search, with 21 roles, followed by engineering, research and design with 13. Technology and software has 5 roles, consulting and marketing has 4, and finance and insurance has 1. The spread shows that mechanical engineering graduates should look beyond job titles containing only mechanical design.

The employers with the most listed roles are Bridges Electrical Engineers, Marshalls PLC and Safran Engineering Services UK Limited, with 4 each. ZeroAvia has 3, while Rolls-Royce, Vertical Aerospace Group, BAE Systems, Universal Quantum, OLIX and Stonegate Farmers each have 2. The listed locations include London, Kemble, Pitstone, Derby, Bristol Office, Keele, Burton upon Trent and Haywards Heath.

Manufacturing: Bridges Electrical Engineers, ZeroAvia, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and Universal Quantum are among the named employers.
Engineering, research and design: Safran Engineering Services UK Limited and Vertical Aerospace Group are among the named employers.
Technology and software: OLIX is one of the named employers with roles in this sector.

Applying as an international student

Graduate roles are few in this search, so internships, year-long placements and apprenticeships matter. A strong graduate may also fit a role asking for a little experience if they can show relevant projects, practical work, analysis, testing, coding or manufacturing evidence. Match your application to the advert rather than relying on the degree title alone.

An employer holding a sponsor licence does not mean that every role will be sponsored. Read the advert and ask the employer whether the particular vacancy can support your situation. Check the Graduate visa route and Skilled Worker rules on GOV.UK, including the current requirements, before making decisions about applications or visa timing.

Highlight relevant university projects, laboratory or workshop work, CAD, testing, analysis and teamwork.
Check location and attendance expectations carefully, especially where the advert requires regular or full-time site attendance.
Use GOV.UK for the latest Graduate visa and Skilled Worker information.

Employers with a sponsor licence hiring for mechanical engineering

Employer	Sector	Open roles
Bridges Electrical Engineers	Manufacturing	4
Marshalls PLC	Consulting & marketing	4
Safran Engineering Services UK Limited	Engineering, research & design	4
ZeroAvia	Manufacturing	3
Rolls-Royce	Manufacturing	2
Vertical Aerospace Group	Engineering, research & design	2
BAE Systems	Manufacturing	2
Universal Quantum	Manufacturing	2
OLIX	Technology & software	2
Stonegate Farmers		2
Unilever	Manufacturing	1
Meta	Technology & software	1
IONATE	Engineering, research & design	1
Thorlabs	Manufacturing	1
Paxton Access	Manufacturing	1

Where the roles are

London: 8 roles
Kemble: 3 roles
Pitstone: 3 roles
Derby: 2 roles
Bristol Office: 2 roles
Keele: 2 roles
Burton upon Trent: 2 roles
Haywards Heath: 2 roles

Other open mechanical engineering roles worth a look

Not senior, at employers on the sponsor register; some ask for a few years' experience.

Frequently asked questions

How many graduate mechanical engineering jobs are available in the UK?

This search contains 50 roles at employers that hold a sponsor licence. Five are identified as graduate, internship or apprenticeship roles, so students and recent graduates should also review placements, apprenticeships and suitable non-senior vacancies.

Can a mechanical engineering graduate apply for roles asking for experience?

Yes, a role asking for some experience can still suit a strong graduate if you can show relevant projects, practical work, analysis, testing, coding or manufacturing evidence. Check the advert carefully and explain how your experience matches its specific requirements.

Which UK visa routes should international mechanical engineering graduates check?

Check the Graduate visa route and Skilled Worker rules on GOV.UK. The Home Office requirements can change, and eligibility depends on your circumstances and the particular job, so use current official guidance rather than assuming that a degree or employer licence is enough.

How to read this page

A sponsor licence means the employer is allowed to sponsor visas. It does not mean every role it advertises will be sponsored. Check the advert, and the salary rules for the Skilled Worker visa on GOV.UK, before you apply.

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