Quality & Compliance Year in Industry 2026/27
Empowering people and enabling solutions for a more sustainable future
If you’re passionate about quality and compliance and want to get a head start in your career, then a Year in Industry placement at Edwards and the Atlas Copco Group could be for you! We’re looking for outstanding students with curiosity and commitment to make a real difference. Our world of technology is full of opportunities, and we can’t wait to explore it with you.
We create some of the purest vacuum environments on earth for widescale use in industry and research. We take pride in our globally recognised position as the number one technology partner and supplier of vacuum process solutions in support of our customers’ environmental and productivity targets.
Our caring culture and cutting-edge technology enable us to innovate for a sustainable future, and we believe that passionate people make it happen. One of our greatest strengths is the diversity of our workforce - we believe this is key to success and that everybody should feel valued and able to reach their full potential.
What is our Year in Industry programme all about?
Vacuum is one of the hidden secrets behind many of the products you rely on every day. Our products enable scientific research, food preservation the manufacture of smart devices and electric vehicles, as well as preventing the release of greenhouse gases into the environment. It’s a fast-moving market with new applications emerging all the time, so we’re looking for bright, innovative and forward-thinking people to join us.
The Compliance Team is part of the Quality Team which is responsible for ensuring the quality, safety and sustainability of Vacuum Techniques products, processes, quality systems and services. During this Year in Industry Placement, the engineer will act to increase the support that the team can provide to product development. This includes reducing environmental impact of new (and existing) products, materials compliance, safe use of our products and department roles and responsibilities.
It’s an amazing insight into life inside an organisation that is growing and developing at an incredible rate. The paid placement lasts for 12 months and is an exciting development opportunity in the field of Quality and Compliance.
As part of our team, you'll be:
- Growing skills and experience in a compliance environment
- Gaining valuable business knowledge of the materials compliance requirements
- Learning more about products and sustainability, disposal and service
- Developing a good understanding of the product compliance legislation and process
- Experiencing working within a truly global multidisciplinary organisation.
- Supporting our Engineering and Science Technology function with testing and concept development activities
- Taking ownership and responsibility for your own learning and development.
- Contributing to our early careers outreach or marketing initiatives to develop essential workplace requirements including teamwork, planning and communication skills.
Location
You will be based at our Vacuum Technique Business Headquarters in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, a short journey from the vibrant and diverse seaside city of Brighton and Hove.
To succeed, you will need
- You will be in your penultimate year of an undergraduate degree, achieving an average of 2.1 or above, in a STEM, Business or a related discipline.
- A genuine passion for working in a quality/compliance environment.
- To be highly motivated and able to build relationships with key stakeholders
- Curiosity, creativity and commitment.
- Good communication skills, with the ability to work effectively as part of a specialist team.
- The ability to make productive contributions to the team and identify opportunities for improvement
An annual salary of £25,500.00 on a fixed term contract of 12 months, starting on 7 September 2026. This is a development opportunity where you will have access to online learning modules and on the job technical and business training. Our Early Careers Community provides you with a network of peers in a similar stage of their careers and on-site we offer various health and wellbeing initiatives along with continuous support and coaching.
The closing date for this role is Thursday 6 August 2026. However, if we receive a high volume of applications we may close for applications sooner. If you’re successful in progressing to the next stage, you’ll be asked to complete an online competency assessment. The final stage of the process will be an in-person selection day to be held on Thursday 20 August at our Headquarters in Burgess Hill, West Sussex.
We’re looking for outstanding students with curiosity and commitment to make a real difference. Our world of technology is full of opportunities, and we can’t wait to explore it with you!
About Edwards
Edwards is a leading developer and manufacturer of sophisticated vacuum products, exhaust management systems and related value-added services. Edwards solutions are integral to manufacturing processes for semiconductors, flat panel displays, LEDs and solar cells. They are also used within an increasingly diverse range of industrial processes including power, glass and other coating applications; steel and other metallurgy; pharmaceutical and chemical; and for scientific instruments in a wide range of R&D applications.
Edwards has over 4,000 employees worldwide engaged in the design, manufacture and support of high technology vacuum and exhaust management equipment. Edwards has state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Europe, Asia and North America.
Uniting curious minds
Behind every innovative solution, there are people working together to transform the future. With careers sparked by initiative and lifelong learning, we unite curious minds, and you could be one of them.