Gaydon, Whitley

Hybrid working is potentially available, depending on the area and manager. JLR is a multi-site business and you’ll be required to spend time working with different departments at several locations.

Our undergraduate programmes offer a direct pipeline to our graduate scheme, which is not eligible for sponsorship. Therefore, JLR will only accept applications for this programme from candidates who would have the right to work in the UK at the point that they would successfully convert to the graduate programme.

ACHIEVE THE EXCEPTIONAL

Your placement year at university could not have come at a more exciting time. The undergraduate placement at JLR launches you into the heart of automotive innovation. Apply your learning, satisfy your curiosity and prepare for a long, successful career alongside industry experts. Arrive curious. Discover opportunity.

Your future starts here.

PRODUCT ENGINEERING: SOFTWARE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME 

At JLR, our vehicles feature some of the most advanced technology in the industry. Before drivers get in our cars, software identifies their key fob and unlocks the vehicle. During the journey, software supports their driving via stability and assistance systems and provides a welcoming and refined user experience through infotainment. Software is also crucial to our new electric propulsion systems. This means our software engineers get to work on some of the most innovative projects in the business, delivering the modern luxury vehicles of the future.

As an undergraduate, you’ll work alongside experienced engineers, supporting our software teams to deliver best quality, reliable features that delight our customers. Along the way, you’ll gain valuable insight into the design, implementation and advanced validation techniques of the tools and processes we work with every day.

During your placement year, you could work in one of the following teams: Engineering Propulsion (EP), Digital Product Platform (DPP), Vehicle Engineering (VE), Engineering Research (ER), Engineering Body Chassis (EBC) or Engineering Operations (EO).

Below you can find out more about the teams. The team you’re placed in will depend on your personal preferences and business needs.

ENGINEERING PROPULSION TEAM 

Propulsion engineering at JLR is changing - bringing power, performance and connectivity together to create the future of exceptional and environmentally friendly driving experiences. 

Our iconic brands are the foundation of exemplary British engineering, but now we’re using cutting-edge research and technology to develop the next generation of electric drive units, energy storage devices, engines, batteries, transmissions and drivelines. 

We’re a global team, with testing facilities and offices all around the world. With this kind of global presence and our £15bn investment in the electrification of our luxury brands, Propulsion is where modern luxury comes to life. 

We work with Tier 1 suppliers on vehicle software but we also write our own software in-house. Model Based Development with MATLAB/Simulink is the core of our software activity. This is complemented by developers working in Embedded-C and engineers who use a variety of languages, including Python, to build and maintain our DevOps software pipelines.

As a Software undergraduate, you won’t just be generating code, you can also get involved in defining, testing, calibrating and validating software.

As part of Propulsion, you’ll be key to securing JLRs future as a leading provider of premium and sustainable electrified vehicles, supporting JLRs commitment to Destination Zero by 2039. 

DIGITAL PRODUCT PLATFORM TEAM

Our Digital Product Platform team design, develop and shape the future of our electronics and complex systems. To do this, they harness a wealth of techniques including model-based software development and directly writing code.

As an undergraduate in this team, you’ll be key to ensuring our future vehicles have high-quality, reliable features that delight our drivers. This could be through robust design and implementation, advanced validation techniques or providing tools and processes to enable the engineering teams to work better. Your primary focus will be on low-level software development, ensuring our in-vehicle computer systems provide the very best performance, using boot charts, balancing processor core loading and refining fast-boot processes.

ENGINEERING BODY CHASSIS (EBC) TEAM 

The Engineering Body Chassis team are responsible for most of what you see and touch in our cars. We work closely with JLR’s creative studios to translate award-winning concepts into engineering reality while factoring in things like performance, manufacturability, sustainability, cost and weight.

We’re responsible for designing and developing software that runs both inside and outside the vehicle, supporting all the innovative and high-tech features a customer expects from a JLR product. We use iterative and concurrent engineering approaches to provide robust software innovation and integration into both Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles. We do this with model-based software development and directly writing code.

If you join this team, you’ll be responsible for developing real-world engineering solutions. You’ll learn how to use tools, engineering methodologies and techniques to create and optimise impressive engineering solutions – working on new products and enhancing our current ones. This role will raise your profile across the business as you collaborate with different stakeholders, accelerating your development as an engineer and preparing you for the engineering landscape of tomorrow. 

ENGINEERING OPERATIONS (EO) TEAM 

Engineering Operations underpins technical innovation and product delivery with modern tools and processes, and specialist technical services. We deliver world-class products thanks to our diverse team who work on everything from project management and data analytics through to building and testing prototypes. We’re involved at every stage of the engineering process, helping JLR to transform the way we engineer and deliver our products. 

As an undergraduate, you could find yourself supporting one of our Operations, Prototype Build or Test Teams working as a software engineer, software developer, data engineer or engineering delivery lead. You’ll become confident using coding languages such as C#, C++. MVC, MS SQL, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, MATLAB, React and Python.

Regardless of the project you work on, every role within the EO team is an opportunity to deliver future technology for business-critical projects. You’ll be using state-of-the-art software and equipment to help drive transformation, all with the support of a mentor from the team you’re working in.

YOUR DEVELOPMENT 

Our undergraduate programmes are designed to set you up for a lifetime of success, developing your curiosity and creativity over a period of 12 months.

From day one, you’ll be surrounded by an innovative and dedicated team that care about your development. You’ll build essential business skills, including resilience, personal branding, and self-care. Working alongside experienced professionals, you’ll gain valuable industry insights while bringing your academic knowledge to life. Shadowing opportunities will further deepen your understanding of our business and enhance your technical expertise. 

Throughout your journey, our Early Careers Delivery team will provide continuous support and guidance, ensuring you make the most of every opportunity. By the time you finish, you’ll be equipped to tackle the challenges of a rapidly changing industry and ready to make a meaningful impact. 

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

To join the Product Engineering: Software Undergraduate Programme, you’ll need to be on track to achieve at least a degree in software engineering, computer science, cyber engineering or a related discipline.

You should be a skilled problem-solver with a curiosity for understanding business challenges and a drive to deliver innovative solutions. Strong numerical and interpersonal skills, along with the confidence to champion new initiatives, are also essential.

Please note that our undergraduate placement opportunities are open only to penultimate-year students (those who will be returning to their final year of study or on an integrated master’s after their placement with us). All our undergraduate programmes have a fixed start date, commencing 7th July 2025.

REWARDS AND BENEFITS

Our 2025 undergraduate programme salary will be £23,434. You’ll also enjoy a generous holiday allowance, a discounted car purchase and lease scheme for you and your family, an excellent pension scheme and access to a wide range of deals and discounts from retailers and sports clubs.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At JLR, we’re passionate about our people. They are at the heart of our business. We’re committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive culture that is representative of the society in which we live; a culture in which every one of our employees can bring their authentic self to work and reach their full potential. 

JLR is committed to delivering equal opportunities for all. We understand candidates may require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Please discuss these with our recruitment team so we can accommodate your needs.

To learn more about diversity and inclusion at JLR, please visit our website. 

 
ARRIVE AS YOU ARE. ACHIEVE THE EXCEPTIONAL.  

You will channel your curiosity and creativity every day, sharpening your skills for a successful, transformative career. You own your development, and only you can make it happen. We’ll be there right by your side in your pursuit of exceptional, and we’ll provide all the encouragement and support you need for a long, fulfilling career. Your potential for impact starts here.

Please be aware that we may close our programmes at any point and at short notice based on the volume of applications received. To give yourself the best chance of being considered for a place on this programme, please apply early.

You can find out more about our undergraduates and how they play their part on: