Product Engineer (Software) Review
at JLR
Graduate Job
Software Engineering
Manchester
Review Submitted: August 2026
Overall Rating
4.9 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
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Overview of the Role
4.8/5
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Experience & Company Culture
5/5
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Recommendations & Advice
Overview of the Role
Overall, how would you describe your experience at JLR?
The JLR graduate programme is perfect for those graduates who want variety. The programme offers graduates to work in rotations (generally 6 months in each role), to gain more skills, try different roles, and discover what best aligns with your skills and interests. Plus, it is a brilliant way to meet and work with other grads outside your department through all the development opportunities.
What are the main responsibilities of the role and which elements of the role do you enjoy the most?
Across the rotations I've completed in software development, solutions architecture, and product ownership... my work has involved tackling software product engineering tasks, tracking progress on feature delivery, and working closely with cross-functional software teams. The reason why I love working on production-based work, is because it fulfills me to know that the software I produce will be used by our customers in their modern-luxury cars. I am able to develop, test, and witness first-hand my work release to the market and that gives me a lot of pride.
To what extent does your role give you the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and feel valued by your team?
5/5
Right from day one, you aren't just treated like a standard grad, you are given genuine ownership over features and tasks. Your team and managers actually listen to your input and trust you to deliver real work, which makes you feel valued and lets you see the direct impact of what you're doing.
How does your compensation package - including perks & benefits - fairly remunerate you for the work you do?
5/5
The pay is good and offers a generous rise from the first to second year of the program. It definitely feels fair for the level of responsibility and technical work you are expected to handle. We also have discounts scheme, which offers many discounts to hundreds of popular shops and restaurants.
How well do you feel the role is preparing you for your future career?
5/5
It prepares you massively. Moving through different rotations means you get a proper look at how the whole business works, from software and product ownership to manufacturing and sustainability, which I'd say builds a solid foundation for whatever comes next.
How would you rate the extent to which you were developing new or existing skills through formal training and your day-to-day role?
5/5
JLR provides graduates with so many development opportunities throughout the two years, offering a Core Skills Program, a Graduate Innovation Challenge, Manufacturing Experience Week, and additional optional experience weeks. These provide a great way of meeting other graduates outside your department, and broadening your skill set. These opportunities also gave me a great appreciation for other parts of the business, as I was able to experience making our cars, working with graduates from diverse backgrounds, and understanding the importance of sustainability at JLR.
Experience & Company Culture
How is the support you receive?
4/5
The support network is strong. Your mentors genuinely want to help you figure out your path and settle into each rotation, and HR keeps everything ticking along. Because everyone knows you're a grad, people are usually very patient and willing to help you learn, which makes moving into new teams every six months a lot less daunting. The support you receieve from Early Careers is great, but from your line-manager... that completely depends. But you always have the option to reach out to Early Careers if you have doubts.
How is your work-life balance?
5/5
It's generally really good and supports your wellbeing well. Depending on what team or rotation you're in, there's often good flexibility, though it's worth noting that hybrid/remote working options are very role-dependent. For instance, if you're working directly on manufacturing-based tasks or shop-floor stuff, that flexibility looks a bit different compared to office-based tech roles. My role offered a great balance and allowed me to come into the office whenever I want.
What is the organisational culture, values and general atmosphere like?
5/5
The atmosphere is super positive and welcoming. People are genuinely passionate about what they do and the cars we make. For my hybrid-based role, the atmosphere can sometimes feel quiet on days that aren't as popular with office presence, but I think that's the case with most hybrid jobs these days.
How would you rate JLR initiatives when it comes to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility?
5/5
There's a big focus on creating an inclusive environment and getting people involved. Initiatives like the workplace network groups and community activities really help foster a culture where everyone feels welcome.
How would you rate JLR CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives?
5/5
JLR does loads on the CSR front, which you really get to see firsthand through things like Manufacturing Experience Week and sustainability initiatives. Being able to take part in community events and 2 volunteering days per year shows that the company genuinely cares about its impact outside of just building cars.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend JLR to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I'd recommend JLR to a friend because it's an ideal place to kick off your career, especially if you want variety. Moving through rotations means you never get stuck doing just one thing, and you actually get to see your work go straight into modern-luxury cars that customers use every day. Plus, the grad community is amazing, the pay is good, and you get so many opportunities to learn, travel around the business, and meet brilliant people.
How well did the role match your expectations based on the recruitment process?
5/5
It matched pretty much spot-on. During the recruitment process, they are really transparent about what the grad scheme involves... the rotation structure, the pace, and the kind of hands-on projects you'll be getting into. Once you actually start, it lives up to that promise because you genuinely get the variety and ownership they talk about from day one.
When considering the recruitment & onboarding process, have you any specific tips or advice you would give to others applying to JLR?
My main tip would be to really lean into your problem-solving mindset and show a genuine passion for the modern luxury and automotive engineering during the assessment stages. Also, don't worry about having every single technical skill memorised before you start, they are looking for people who are adaptable, eager to learn and have a customer-focused mindset.
