Quality & Sustainability Graduate - 2026

Sustainability and tackling climate change are at the forefront of our business and we need forward-thinking socially responsible individuals to support our global sustainability strategy.

Delivering quality and delighting our customers with zero-defect products and services is critical to maintaining our position as market leader. We’re looking for individuals with a keen eye for detail and an appreciation for process-driven approaches to help build our quality culture.

In this exciting Graduate opportunity, you will be supporting and influencing our business to develop, implement and maintain effective quality and sustainability programmes across our engineering and customer facing operations. 

A Place Where Innovation Thrives

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 primary technology partner and supplier of vacuum and environmental solutions that support our customers productivity and environmental targets.  Our solutions are integral to manufacturing processes for semiconductors, flat panel displays, LEDs and solar cells.  Our caring culture and cutting-edge technology enable us to innovate for quality and a sustainable future, and we believe that passionate people make it happen. 

Edwards is one of our key brands within the Vacuum Technique Business Area (VTBA) and is part of the Atlas Copco group.  The Quality and Sustainability Functions cover multiple focus areas and operate as a centrally managed enabling function supporting our six Divisions within VTBA.  With around 12,000 employees worldwide across VTBA, we are proud of our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Europe, Asia and North America.  One of our greatest strengths is the diversity of our workforce with people of all educational and cultural backgrounds working together.  We believe that talent and diversity is the key to success and that everybody should feel valued and able to reach their full potential, both in their development and their contribution to the business.  

About our Graduate Programme

The Quality and Sustainability programme covers multiple aspects of quality, compliance, social responsibility and environmental regulations.  You will support the development of our quality and sustainability strategies and cultures to ensure the highest levels of quality and environmental operating practices in our manufacturing sites and customer centers.

The team’s mission will see VTBA operating to local, national and company standards of quality and environmental management; reducing costs of poor quality, improving efficiencies, driving down our absolute greenhouse gas emissions from all aspects of our business over the lifecycle of our products, guided by science. Additionally building a culture of organisational and personal responsibility for operational excellence and reducing our impact on the climate; applying technology, processes, products and services that deliver right first time; preserve the environment for future generations; and implementing a lifecycle perspective, focused on resource efficiency and reducing pollution to a minimum.

You will be actively involved in:

• developing presentations and communications for the business area;
• reviewing and benchmarking industry good practices;
• working within/towards accreditations and frameworks;
• defining best examples and influencing key stakeholders.

As a Graduate you will work at a strategic level as part of our truly global team. You will undertake several rotational placements over a two-year period – this could include an overseas placement and an out-of-function rotation in the business itself.  During the programme, you will gain an in-depth appreciation of our business mission and operational practices. 

Here you’re empowered to explore opportunities and drive your professional development.  As a Graduate you will have access to all the training, learning and assistance you need to become a specialist in your area of expertise.

Location

You will be based in our Vacuum Technique Business Headquarters in Burgess Hill (Sussex), a short journey from the vibrant seaside city of Brighton and Hove.  You could also find yourself undertaking a placement at one of our other global sites.

To succeed you will need: 

• To hold (or be predicted to achieve) a minimum 2:1 in a related subject, e.g. Sustainability, Engineering, Business etc.
• To demonstrate passion for quality, sustainability and the environment.
• The ability to absorb detailed complex information and identify key messages to produce executive summaries.
• To be highly motivated and able to build relationships with key stakeholders internally and externally.
• The ability to influence individuals and teams to achieve desired goals and objectives.
• The ability to work on own initiative with a proactive approach to overcoming obstacles.
• Effective, accurate and professional communication skills, both written and verbal.
• To be highly computer literate with good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages.
• Highly effective team working skills.
• To have commercial awareness and clear business acumen.
• The willingness to undertake national and international business travel during and beyond the graduate programme, including the possibility of overseas placements

In return we offer:

• A competitive starting salary of £32,000, discretionary bonus, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, health cash plan, competitive pension, ride-to-work scheme, electric car scheme, Employee Assistance Programme.
• A robust career development plan, including online learning modules and on the job practical training.
• Early Careers Community forum and a global network.
• Mentoring programme.
• Health and wellbeing initiatives including football, badminton and wellbeing webinars.
• Diversity and inclusion initiatives, including Diversity & Inclusion forum, Neurodiversity and LGBTQ+ employee groups.
• Paid volunteering leave days.
• Continuous support and coaching.

If you want to work in a truly global business and have a desire to make a difference through influencing others, we’d love to hear from you! 

Selection process

The closing date for this role is midnight, Friday 30th January 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 in Burgess Hill.

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.