Chemical Engineering Placement Student UK 2026

Overview

Cargill's size and scale allows us to make a positive impact in the world. Our purpose is to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Cargill is a family company providing food, ingredients, agricultural solutions and industrial products that are vital for living. We connect farmers with markets so they can prosper. We connect customers with ingredients so they can make meals people love. We connect families with daily essentials - from eggs to edible oils, salt to skincare, feed to alternative fuel. Our 160,000 colleagues, operating in 70 countries, make essential products that touch billions of lives each day. Join us and reach your higher purpose at Cargill. This position is in Cargill's food and bioindustrial business, where manufacturers, retailers, and foodservice companies rely on us to consistently deliver the products and services they need, and use our technical expertise and market knowledge to develop innovative products.

Location and date

Location: Manchester

Start date: July 2026

Salary: £23,000 per year plus benefits

Placement purpose

Are you looking for a placement at the end of your second or third year and are you studying a Chemical Engineering degree? Cargill offers a superb opportunity to gain valuable work experience on our 13-month Undergraduate programme. During your placement you will spend time at one of our sites in the UK.

What you will do

You will be responsible for small projects from initial design to completion. This includes justification of projects, design, liaising with contractors to obtain the best possible solution, installation and commissioning. Tasks may include modification of pipework and implementing changes in the process. You will participate in day-to-day manufacturing operations and this could include shift work. The Engineering Placement programme is a great pathway to the EMEA Graduate Program.

What you will be doing

• Comprehensive induction to Cargill including full safety training
• Spend time working on-shift to learn our processes and support site production management
• Play an active part in running our process and supporting our business
• Support and lead small continuous improvement processes, delivering improvements around safety, food safety, product yield and process efficiency
• Be given direct responsibility for capital projects, including the design, installation and commissioning to help develop project management skills
• Responsible for running regular site project update meetings and maintaining budget information for all site projects on Cargill's project monitoring software
• Coordinate input from engineering disciplines and subject matter experts to ensure engineering designs meet the specific needs of the business
• Learn soft skills that will be transferable in your future career
• Gain an excellent working knowledge of unit operations with hands-on practical experience
• Develop the ability to work with a variety of colleagues in operations including operators, supervisors, supply chain, finance, health & safety and food quality
• Be involved in citizenship activities within local communities

What we are looking for

• Currently studying for an undergraduate Chemical Engineering Degree (BEng or MEng) with an expected grade of 2:1 or above
• Strong ownership, hands-on learning mindset, curiosity and strong communication skills
• Good technical understanding of a process environment
• Ability to learn to use new engineering and management software swiftly and proficiently
• A strong interest in our business and in particular the position
• Fluency in English

Application process

• The first stage is an interview with a recruiter to assess motivation and experience. If successful, you will be invited to participate in an assessment centre at a facility.
• Prior to attendance, you will be invited to complete online testing at home.
• The assessment includes activities, a site tour, learning about unit operations and meeting current placement students. Reasonable adjustments can be requested.
• We consider location preferences where possible, but placement students should be flexible in location and may be placed at any production facility.

Our Offer

We provide a fast-paced, stimulating international environment, which will stretch your abilities and channel your talents. We offer competitive salary and benefits combined with career development opportunities in one of the world's largest and most solid private companies.

Next steps

Interested? Send your CV and cover letter in English. Follow us on LinkedIn: this information is provided in the original posting but is not reproduced here in clickable form. Cargill is committed to being an inclusive employer. Learn more about our inclusion and diversity programs on our careers site.