Graduate Associate Consultant

Salary: £45,000 + £2,000 joining bonus + performance bonus

Start: January or Autumn 2027

Location: UK, client-site based with some hybrid working

Many UK programmes stall between the working prototype and full production, leaving vital national capabilities and products not ready when they're needed. PDQ exists to close that gap, and we're currently hiring our first graduates to help.

About PDQ

PDQ is a data-driven consulting and delivery partner that helps complex engineering and industrial programmes move from ideas to measurable outcomes at speed. We work hands-on with primes, Tier 1s and scale-ups across aerospace, automotive, defence, energy and other regulated industries, solving problems at the coalface and improving data flows so clients can make fast, informed decisions.

PDQ was forged during Covid in a national-scale crisis programme. Before that, our founders helped build two of the UK's leading industrial consultancies. We drive change within the same quarter, not the same decade.

The role

Working on site and remotely alongside our senior consultants and founders, you'll make sure change happens in real operations, not just on paper. You'll...

• Gather and analyse engineering, production and supply chain data to find what's holding a programme back

• Map processes, and help design and implement better ways of working

• Build and use the dashboards and digital tools clients rely on, including digital twins and AI

• Support workshops and stakeholder meetings, and write clear, concise reports

• Help shape PDQ's methods and culture as one of our first hires

You'll take real ownership early, in engineering environments most graduates don't see for years.

Who we're looking for

You'll have a 2.1 or First in a STEM subject, and you'll also bring...

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to turn data into practical insight

• Clear writing and confident, professional communication with stakeholders

• Comfort with data, digital tools and emerging technology

• A collaborative, adaptable approach and a real interest in how things get made

• A willingness to be hands-on at client sites and take ownership of your work

Engineering or manufacturing knowledge or experience is a plus, not a requirement. If you meet most of this but not all of it, apply anyway.

Applicants must be eligible for UK security clearance. This typically means being a UK national or having lived in the UK continuously for at least five years.

We are excited to be a start-up - but it's not for everyone!

The people behind PDQ are experienced and respected across the industry, but the business itself is a start-up. Much of the structure larger firms offer is still being built, and you'll often be on client sites during the week. If you'd rather help build the ladder than climb one, we'd like to hear from you.