Product Design & Development Engineer Apprentice
KING TRAILERS LIMITED
Market Harborough (LE16 7PX)
Closes in 28 days (Saturday 30 May 2026)
Posted on 1 May 2026
Contents
Summary
The King Group of Companies is looking for a motivated and ambitious Degree Apprentice Product Design & Development Engineer to join our engineering team in Market Harborough.
- Wage
-
Competitive
Competitive wage offered
- Training course
- Product design and development engineer (degree) (level 6)
- Hours
-
Typically, Monday - Friday, with exact hours to be agreed.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years 6 months
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
About the Role
As a Degree Apprentice Product Design & Development Engineer, you will support the design, development and improvement of products and engineered systems across the King Group. You will work as part of the engineering team on real projects, developing your knowledge and skills across the full product lifecycle.
Your responsibilities will develop over time, but are expected to include:
- Supporting engineering projects from initial customer or business requirement through concept generation, detailed design, build, test and implementation
- Assisting with the creation and revision of 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials and technical documentation
- Contributing to product design specifications by interpreting customer needs, technical requirements, relevant standards and operational feedback
- Supporting concept development, option evaluation and design reviews, considering performance, safety, quality, manufacturability, cost and serviceability
- Carrying out engineering calculations and structured technical analysis to support component, assembly and system design
- Supporting prototype, development and validation work, including fit-up reviews, inspections, testing, fault finding and design refinement
- Working closely with manufacturing, quality, purchasing and project teams to ensure designs are practical, robust and suitable for production
- Assisting with engineering change management, root cause analysis and product improvement activities
- Supporting the integration of mechanical, structural and, where relevant, electrical or control-related elements into product designs
- Presenting technical information clearly through reports, project updates and design documentation
- Completing a work-based project that delivers measurable business value while meeting the requirements of the apprenticeship and degree programme
Where you'll work
Riverside
Market Harborough
LE16 7PX
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
Training course
Product design and development engineer (degree) (level 6)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Translate conceptual ideas or technical requirements into developmental outcomes or operational designs or specifications for products, systems or components to solve engineering challenges such as compliance, technology, technical or physical challenges.
- Select, use and apply approved problem-solving methods to solve complex problems and determine appropriate solutions or actions such as Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, and Control (DMAIC), Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) or Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA).
- Collate and use a range of data sources and supporting documentation to support projects.
- Interpret and produce technical documentation such as schematic and circuit diagrams, engineering drawings or 3D CAD models, simulation models, project plans, engineering reports, test reports, fault reports or data analytics using company documentation systems and guidelines.
- Observe, record and draw accurate and auditable conclusions from data or developmental or test evidence.
- Manage assigned projects or programmes of work to meet the required specification, taking into account factors such as resource requirements, safety, quality, cost and performance or sustainability criteria. Apply processes for project or programme management including outcomes such as escalation, audit or risk management and risk mitigation.
- Comply with statutory and organisational safety standards and requirements, supporting safety risk assessments and mitigate any risks identified within the design, manufacture, development or test activity.
- Identify resources, such as digital tools or technologies, human, equipment, materials or data, to complete design and development projects or programmes of work.
- Create and manage a project or work programme plan and develop activities in a logical process embedding mechanisms for adapting to changing circumstances or requirements.
- Demonstrate leadership when undertaking product design, development, modification or update engineering activities.
- Identify and rectify faults, inaccuracies, discrepancies or unexpected results during the design or development process, which may impact the quality and reliability of the product, system or component.
- Ensure that all systems or equipment has been correctly configured and checked for safe operation before use.
- Evaluate engineering designs, development or modification options.
- Identify areas for improvement and lead continuous improvement activities in the operation and performance of the product, system or component.
- Complete project documentation checks throughout the activity and report non-conformances.
- Translate conceptual ideas or technical requirements into developmental outcomes or operational designs or specifications for products, systems or components to solve engineering challenges such as compliance, technology, technical or physical challenges.
- Select, use and apply approved problem-solving methods to solve complex problems and determine appropriate solutions or actions such as Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, and Control (DMAIC), Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) or Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA).
- Collate and use a range of data sources and supporting documentation to support projects.
- Interpret and produce technical documentation such as schematic and circuit diagrams, engineering drawings or 3D CAD models, simulation models, project plans, engineering reports, test reports, fault reports or data analytics using company documentation systems and guidelines.
- Observe, record and draw accurate and auditable conclusions from data or developmental or test evidence.
- Manage assigned projects or programmes of work to meet the required specification, taking into account factors such as resource requirements, safety, quality, cost and performance or sustainability criteria. Apply processes for project or programme management including outcomes such as escalation, audit or risk management and risk mitigation.
- Comply with statutory and organisational safety standards and requirements, supporting safety risk assessments and mitigate any risks identified within the design, manufacture, development or test activity.
- Identify resources, such as digital tools or technologies, human, equipment, materials or data, to complete design and development projects or programmes of work.
- Create and manage a project or work programme plan and develop activities in a logical process embedding mechanisms for adapting to changing circumstances or requirements.
- Demonstrate leadership when undertaking product design, development, modification or update engineering activities.
- Identify and rectify faults, inaccuracies, discrepancies or unexpected results during the design or development process, which may impact the quality and reliability of the product, system or component.
- Ensure that all systems or equipment has been correctly configured and checked for safe operation before use.
- Evaluate engineering designs, development or modification options.
- Identify areas for improvement and lead continuous improvement activities in the operation and performance of the product, system or component.
- Complete project documentation checks throughout the activity and report non-conformances.
Training schedule
Training will take place both in the workplace and at Warwick University.
More training information
What You Will Learn At Kings
This role is intended to give the successful candidate broad and meaningful exposure to real product development activity. Depending on the projects live at the time, this may include:
- Concept and detailed design of trailers, specialist transport equipment, vehicle-related systems, engineered structures and fabricated assemblies
- Design for manufacture and assembly, linking engineering decisions to fabrication, machining, bought-out components, finishing and final build
- Material and process selection, including consideration of structural performance, durability, joining methods and service conditions
- Verification and validation activity, including testing, inspection feedback and design iteration
- Quality and compliance support, including technical records, design review inputs and controlled engineering change;
- Cross-functional project delivery in a real manufacturing environment
What we are looking for:
We are seeking someone who is genuinely interested in engineering design and development and who wants to build a long-term career creating and improving real products.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- Additional STEM Subject (grade C/4)
- English (grade C/4)
- Mathematics (grade C/4)
A Level in:
- Engineering or a relevant STEM Subject (grade B)
- Mathematics (grade B)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Patience
Other requirements
Entry Requirements
Applicants must meet the entry requirements for the University of Warwick degree apprenticeship programme. As a minimum, this includes:
- 112 UCAS tariff points
- GCSE Maths, English and an additional STEM subject at grade C / 4 or above
- Post-GCSE study in Engineering or a relevant STEM subject, with Physics recommended
- A Level Maths at Grade B
About this employer
The King Group of Companies designs and manufactures specialist engineered products and systems for demanding applications in transport, defence, nuclear and energy blue-chip customers. Our work involves solving real-world engineering challenges through practical design, technical problem solving, robust manufacture and continuous improvement. This makes King an excellent environment for an apprentice developing in product design and development, with exposure to the full engineering lifecycle from concept through to operational delivery.
https://king.uk.com/king-trailers/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Employee Assistance
- Programme and Death in Service
After this apprenticeship
This vacancy is designed for an individual who wants to develop as a professional engineer through a combination of university study and practical industry experience. If you are motivated by design, development, technical problem solving and seeing ideas become real engineered products, we would like to hear from you.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000029398.
Apply now
Closes in 28 days (Saturday 30 May 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.