Leicestershire is a hotspot for engineering jobs, thanks to the strength of the local manufacturing and construction industries. The two sectors employ around 21% of the county's workforce, with many staff in highly-skilled technical roles.
The best known employer in the area is PepsiCo-owned Walkers, which needs production engineers and maintenance staff for its huge crisp factory. There are also employment opportunities for automotive specialists, with Triumph Motorcycles, Noble Cars and Caterpillar all having manufacturing facilities in Leicestershire.
Other major engineering-focused companies in the county include Babcock International, construction equipment manufacturer Parker Plant, train designer Brush Traction, precision machine tool maker Jones & Shipman and signage company Infotec. Many of the employers recruit apprentices and run graduate training schemes, but they also need experienced staff.
There is demand for civil engineers in Leicestershire, thanks to the large number of construction projects planned for the county. Galliford Try and Interserve Construction are among the largest employers in the sector, but there are also many smaller contractors that require qualified staff.
Most of the engineering jobs in Leicestershire are permanent, but recruitment agencies also supply temporary workers for design and installation projects. Salaries are typically slightly higher than the national average, with manufacturing engineers paid £30,000 to £40,000 a year and maintenance technicians earning between £23,000 and £30,000.