The Company

Harwin plc is a Portsmouth-based, family-owned precision engineering company on an ambitious global growth journey. With a strong international presence and a well-established partner network, the organisation has built a reputation over decades for quality, reliability, and long-term thinking.

As an employer, Harwin offers a distinctive environment shaped by its heritage and forward-looking mindset. The business is currently investing significantly in technology, digital transformation, and ways of working, alongside the development of a new headquarters and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Portsmouth.

This is a period of meaningful growth and evolution, with a clear ambition to scale capabilities and strengthen its global impact. At the same time, the values associated with family ownership remain central — fostering a culture that emphasises collaboration, accountability, and sustained success.

For those looking to develop their careers, Harwin provides the opportunity to contribute to a growing organisation while being part of a team that values both innovation and long-term perspective.

The Opportunity

We’re offering a year-long placement for a student who’s curious about automation and wants to see how it’s done in the real world. You’ll be part of our Automation Software team, helping improve the software that runs our robotic assembly systems. You won’t just be watching - you’ll be writing code, solving problems, and learning how industrial machines are made to work reliably, all day, every day.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development, testing, and maintenance of software for automated machinery.

• Assist in making improvements to existing systems to boost performance and reliability.

• Learn to work with industrial tech like Mitsubishi PLCs and robots, Keyence vision systems, as well as servos, RFIDs and inverters.

• Help document your work clearly and follow our internal development processes.

• Get involved in team problem-solving and support activities on the shop floor.

What We’re Looking For

• An individual currently studying Engineering, Computer Science, or a related subject.

• Genuine interest in automation, robotics, and control systems.

• Basic understanding of programming (any language — even better if you’ve looked at ladder logic or structured text).

• Keen to learn new systems and tools on the job.

• Good attention to detail and a hands-on approach to solving problems.

• Comfortable working as part of a team and communicating ideas clearly.

Nice to Have (But Not Essential)

• Any experience or coursework involving PLCs, HMIs, or industrial automation.

• Familiarity with Mitsubishi iQ-R, Keyence vision, or ladder programming.

What You’ll Get

• Competitive placement salary.

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and festive closure days.

• Company pension scheme.

• Life insurance (3x salary).

• Company bonus scheme.

• Employee Assistance Programme.

• On-the-job training and support from a friendly, experienced team.

As an equal opportunities’ employer, Harwin is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Harwin.