Graduate – Fuels Technology – Downstream R&D – UK

Entity:

Technology

Job Family Group:

Research & Technology Group

Job Description:

About bp

bp operates at the heart of the global energy system, helping countries meet their energy needs and serving millions of customers every day. With world-class assets, technology, trading capability and partnerships, we deliver energy at scale today while investing with discipline in the energy transition.

About the team

The Downstream R&D team brings together scientists, engineers and technologists who develop, test and deploy solutions for bp’s fuels, refining and bioenergy businesses. Its work includes refinery and supply-chain assurance, differentiated customer offers, lower-carbon fuels, digital science, modelling and external research partnerships.

About the role
As part of the graduate programme, you will complete placements across the wider Downstream R&D team, helping you build breadth of experience alongside technical depth in fuels technology.

This graduate role will help you build technical depth, commercial awareness and delivery capability in fuels technology. You will contribute to projects that develop, evaluate and launch differentiated fuel offers, while learning how technology supports the safe, reliable and lower-carbon evolution of downstream products.

Working with experienced technologists, laboratories, test centres, project teams and business stakeholders, you will help generate robust technical evidence through activities such as fuel formulation, vehicle and engine testing, claims substantiation, data analysis and digital modelling.

Alongside your core focus on fuels technology, you will gain exposure to a range of related technology areas across Downstream R&D, helping you build broader technical and commercial understanding.

What you will do

• Support technology projects that develop and substantiate new fuel products, performance claims and differentiated customer offers.

• Analyse data from laboratory, vehicle and engine testing to understand fuel performance and identify clear, evidence-based conclusions.

• Help plan and deliver experimental work with bp laboratories, external test houses and technical partners.

• Use modelling, digital tools and structured data analysis to complement physical testing and improve project efficiency.

• Contribute to project teams by preparing technical summaries, reviewing results and supporting decisions through the project lifecycle.

• Work with regional fuels businesses, marketing teams and technology colleagues to understand how technical evidence supports compliant customer offers and commercial decision-making.

• Complete placements across the wider downstream R&D team to build broader understanding of refining, fuel quality, low-carbon fuels, feedstock processing, product performance and applied research.

• Develop strong safety, quality and technical assurance behaviours, including clear documentation, peer review and disciplined management of experimental data.

What you will learn

• How fuels are designed, tested, assured and deployed across different markets and supply chains.

• How customer-facing fuels claims are developed, substantiated and governed using robust technical evidence.

• How downstream R&D supports bp’s fuels, refining and low carbon products agenda.

• How to combine experimental testing, data analysis and modelling to solve applied technology challenges.

• How to communicate technical findings clearly to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

• How to operate safely and effectively in multidisciplinary project teams.

Development and support

You will be supported by technical mentors, project leaders and placement managers as you build experience across fuels technology and the wider Downstream R&D team. The role is intended to provide a broad foundation in applied technology, with opportunities to take increasing ownership as capability develops. You will be encouraged to ask questions, build networks, develop technical judgement and contribute fresh thinking to bp’s downstream technology agenda.

Requirements

To apply for this role, you must be in your final year of study and on track to achieve a minimum 2:1 degree, or have already achieved a 2:1 degree, in chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, automotive engineering or another closely related technical discipline with significant content in fuels, combustion, thermodynamics or energy systems.

While your studies may still be in progress when you apply, you will be required to provide proof that you have achieved a 2:1 degree classification (or equivalent), as well as all other stated qualification requirements, prior to starting with us.

What you will need to be successful

• An interest in fuels, engines, refining, product technology, low-carbon energy and applied R&D.

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data, identify patterns and explain conclusions clearly.

• A practical approach to problem solving, including attention to detail, technical rigour and willingness to learn from experiments.

• Good communication skills, including the ability to write concise technical summaries and present findings to project teams.

• Collaborative behaviours and an interest in working across functions, geographies and technical disciplines.

• Awareness of safe working practices and a commitment to high standards of quality, integrity and documentation.

You are also expected to have strong spoken and written English language skills, including business and technical English.  Language skills will be assessed throughout the recruitment process.

Please note: We value individuals who take initiative, are committed to excellence, and can adapt positively to change and challenges in a supportive environment.

Location

This role will be based at the following UK office:

Sunbury* – ICBT (International Centre for Business & Technology), Chertsey Road, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, TW16 7LN

*From Q4 2027 – Q1 2028, roles based at Sunbury and St James’s Square will move to Timber Square (Ink Building, 25 Lavington Street, London, SE1 0NZ). Individual move dates will vary by role and will be shared nearer the time.

Start date

Monday 6 September 2027

Other information

Please note the following when applying:

• You can only apply to one bp early careers opportunity globally per academic year – within this time, we will only process the first application you make. You will be withdrawn from any subsequent applications. 

• We recruit on a rolling basis – this means roles may close once positions are filled or we have enough applications. If you’re interested in a role, we strongly recommend applying as soon as possible while applications remain open.

• Exploration Days are a key part of the assessment process and will be in person – bp will cover reasonable travel and accommodation costs, in line with the travel policy which will be shared with you. Please ensure you will be available to attend in person.

• Unless you apply to a role with a location explicitly stated, role locations are not guaranteed – where not stated, you will be placed in a location based on business need.

• Accommodation – once confirmed, where you need or decide to move closer to your location, you are responsible for organising and funding this accommodation.

• Hybrid working – please note, bp operates a 60:40 hybrid working policy for most office-based roles, normally requiring three days per week in the office.

Adjustments

We are keen to make our recruitment process accessible to all. If you require any adjustments/accommodations, to any stage of the recruitment process, please mention this in the allocated section on your initial application form. Someone will then be in touch to discuss or confirm the adjustments/accommodations as appropriate for you. Alternatively, if you would like to discuss adjustments before applying, please get in touch:

https://careers.bp.com/contact-us

Reward

Starting salary: £39,100 per annum, plus a discretionary, performance-related annual bonus.

Sign-on bonus: £5,000 one-off payment, subject to tax and National Insurance.

Holiday allowance: 28 days, flexible bank holidays and two wellbeing or duvet days.

Wellbeing allowance: Claim up to £1,500 each calendar year, subject to tax and National Insurance, for products and services that support physical, mental, financial and social wellbeing.

Private Medical Insurance: We’ll pay for private healthcare, and you only pay an income tax charge.

bp share plans: You can choose to take part in our share plan and buy bp shares every month.

Travel Requirement

No travel is expected with this role

Relocation Assistance:

This role is not eligible for relocation

Remote Type:

This position is a hybrid of office/remote working

Skills:

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Future Location Notice: This role will start in Sunbury, London. bp has announced a planned office move to Timber Square, London, with all positions currently advertised in Sunbury, including this one, expected to relocate around Q4 2027-Q1 2028. This presents an exciting opportunity for all employees and leaders to come together in one London location. The specific date of the move will be confirmed closer to the time.

Legal Disclaimer:

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics like race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us.

If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.

About Us

We’re an international energy company with global scale, ambitious plans and a team of brilliant people delivering energy to the world, today and tomorrow.