Leading Automotive Recruitment
ATA Recruitment is a trusted and experienced automotive recruitment company delivering high-performing engineering and technical talent into the heart of the UK automotive sector. With more than 60 years of experience supporting the evolving needs of manufacturing, we understand the pace, precision, and quality demands unique to automotive.
Automotive is not just a sector, it’s a national engine of innovation and productivity. With over 182,000 people employed and £67 billion generated annually for the UK economy, the industry plays a vital role in global trade and technological advancement. The pressure to meet quality, sustainability, and safety expectations is intense, making the quality of recruitment a mission-critical factor.
At ATA, we are more than just recruiters, we are strategic partners. Whether you're a Tier 1 supplier needing a specialist Quality Engineer or an OEM looking for long-term leadership talent, we have the networks, industry insight, and recruitment frameworks to help you compete and grow.
ATA's Consultative Approach to Automotive Recruitment
Our success is built on a consultative approach. We don’t believe in generic CVs or keyword matches, we invest time in understanding your business, culture, and technical challenges. That includes site visits, process shadowing, market benchmarking, and feedback loops.
For our clients, this means less time wasted on misaligned candidates, and more focus on onboarding people who deliver from day one. For candidates, it means receiving opportunities that match their career goals, skillsets, and values.
Supporting Automotive Candidates
We provide automotive professionals with access to exclusive roles, career advice, and onboarding support. Many of our candidates return to us when they’re ready for their next challenge, a testament to the trust we build. Whether you’re seeking career progression or a new direction in automotive, we help you get there faster.
OUR AREAS OF EXPERTISE
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Permanent Recruitment
Maintenance Engineer
Maintenance Manager
Project Engineer
Programme Manager
Design Engineer
Continuous Improvement Engineer
Health and Safety
Quality Engineer
Production Engineer
NPI Engineer
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Contract Recruitment
Maintenance Engineer
Maintenance Team Leader
Project Engineer
Design Engineer
Continuous Improvement
Health and Safety
Quality Engineer
Quality Inspector
NPI Engineer
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Interim Recruitment
Project Manager
Programme Manager
Maintenance Manager
Engineering Manager
Plant Manager
Operations Manager
Engineering Director
Technical Director
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ATA Search
Engineering Manager
Operations Manager
Quality Manager
Production Manager
Plant Manager
General Manager
Engineering Director
Technical Director
Operations Director
Managing Director
Latest Jobs In Automotive
Bodywork Prepper
£38000 - 40000 per year
Daventry
Bodywork Prepper Location: Daventry Shift: Monday to Wednesday, 20:00–06:00 | Thursday, 20:00–05:00 Salary: £38,000 – £40,000 per annum Are you an experienced vehicle prepper, technician, or bodywork specialist who takes real pride in producing flawless results? We’re looking for a skilled professional to join a company with over 50 years of expertise in precision paintwork — trusted by Formula 1, Formula 3, GT racing, and classic restoration teams alike. This is a fantastic opportunity to work on some of the most iconic and prestigious vehicles in the world. If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you! Key Responsibilities: Prepare a range of materials including Fibreglass, Carbon Fibre, Aluminium, Steel, and Plastics. Carry out edge-to-edge filler work, ensuring smooth, seamless finishes. Work on high-end projects such as Porsche, Ferrari, Lotus, and Jaguar Replica refinishing and restorations. Undertake detailed race car restorations, including complex accident repairs (for example, reconstructing a 50-year-old race car wing). Prepare all surfaces for primer and topcoat applications to the highest standards. Essential Skills & Experience: Solid background in bodywork preparation across fibreglass, carbon fibre, aluminium, steel, and plastics. Skilled in edge-to-edge filler work with an eye for precision and quality. Previous experience in motorsport, automotive engineering, aerospace, or a similar high-performance environment. Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to producing first-class results in a fast-paced setting. Benefits: Competitive salary with overtime available. The chance to work on rare and cutting-edge vehicles. 20 shifts per year plus bank holidays. If you’re passionate about working on high-end, detailed projects and have the skills to match, we want to hear from you. To apply: Contact Fred O'Reilly at Fred.oreilly@ata-recruitment.co.uk or call 07827 918324. Don’t miss this opportunity to join a team that works on some of the world’s most extraordinary vehicles. By applying you accept the terms of our Privacy Notice which can be found on our website. ATA Recruitment specialise in Technical and Electrical Engineering, so if this role is not for you, please do have a look on our website for further potential opportunities which may suit your skills and experience better - If you have the skill, we have the recruitment knowledge and together we can find you your perfect job! - You must be eligible to live and work within the UK. Sponsorship is not provided. Please note: You must be eligible to live and work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available. ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
Apply now
Vehicle Technician
£38000 - 40000 per year
Daventry
Vehicle Technician – Night Shift Location: Daventry Shift: Monday to Wednesday 20:00-06:00, Thursday 20:00 - 05:00 Salary: £38,000 - £40,000 per annum Are you a skilled vehicle prepper, technician, or bodywork specialist who takes pride in flawless results? We’re looking for an experienced professional to become part of a company with over 50 years of excellence in precision paintwork — trusted across Formula 1, Formula 3, GT racing, classic restorations, and more. This is your chance to work on some of the most iconic vehicles in the world, apply now if you think this opportunity is for you! Key Responsibilities: Prepare a variety of materials including Fibreglass, Carbon Fibre, Aluminium, Steel, and Plastics. Edge-to-edge filler work, ensuring seamless, high-quality repairs and restorations. Work on high-value projects such as Porsche, Ferrari, Lotus, and Jaguar Replica refinishing and restoration. Specialised race car restoration, including intricate accident repairs (e.g., recreating a 50-year-old race car wing). Ensuring surfaces are ready for primer and topcoat applications. Essential Skills & Experience: Proven experience in bodywork preparation, including fibreglass, carbon fibre, aluminium, steel, and plastics. Expertise in edge-to-edge filler work, achieving flawless, precise finishes. Experience in motorsport, automotive engineering, aerospace, or similar high-performance sectors is essential. High attention to detail and ability to deliver top-tier results in fast-paced environments. Benefits: Competitive salary with overtime opportunities. Opportunity to work on rare and state-of-the-art cars. 20 shifts + bank holidays. If you have the expertise and passion for working on high-end, intricate projects, we want to hear from you! Apply now by contacting Fred O'Reilly at Fred.oreilly@ata-recruitment.co.uk or call 07827918324. Don’t miss the chance to be part of a team that works on some of the world’s most prestigious vehicles. By applying you accept the terms of our Privacy Notice which can be found on our website. ATA Recruitment specialise in Technical and Electrical Engineering, so if this role is not for you, please do have a look on our website for further potential opportunities which may suit your skills and experience better - If you have the skill, we have the recruitment knowledge and together we can find you your perfect job! - You must be eligible to live and work within the UK. Sponsorship is not provided. ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
Apply now
Maintenance Engineer
£50480 - 50480 per year paid overtime, annual bonus, up to 18% pension, 33 days holiday
Derby
Maintenance engineer, £50,480, Derby, 3 shift pattern Package – (Put all the package details) Excellent benefits – Enjoy paid overtime, annual bonus, up to 18% pension, 33 days holiday, and discounted car finance. Why join? Be part of a team at the forefront of world-class automotive production! Cutting-edge facilities – Work at one of the UK’s leading automotive manufacturing plants. Major investment – Over £2.75 billion spent on technology and innovation since opening. Top-tier training – Our on-site training academy develops engineers into fully multiskilled professionals. Career growth – With 60+ internal promotions in the last two years, there’s real opportunity to progress. A respected employer – One of the largest employers in the East Midlands, renowned for quality, innovation, and employee support. Toyota Motor Manufacturing is a world-leading automotive company, recognised for its commitment to quality, innovation, and continuous improvement. Over the past three decades, TMUK has built more than five million vehicles. The company is widely recognised as a leader in the automotive sector and were pioneeres within hybrid vehicle technology, driving forward Toyota’s commitment to cleaner, more efficient mobility. TMUK operates two manufacturing plants (vehicle at Burniston, Derbyshire; engine at Deeside, North Wales) with a total investment of approximately £2.75 billion and an annual turnover was €2,224 million. They are now looking to add maintenance engineers to their growing term. About You? To be considered for a maintenance engineer position you should have/be the following: Previous experience working in a manufacturing or production environment, ideally high‑volume, within roles involving breakdowns, preventive maintenance, fault‑finding and production support. TMUK are happy to consider engineers who are both electrical and mechanical biased. Excellent problem‑solving skills, analytical mindset and ability to work under pressure to minimise downtime and disruption. Good communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to liaise across disciplines (Production, Engineering, Maintenance). Recognised level 3 engineering qualification About the role As a maintenance engineer you will be Maintaining a variety of PLC’s equipment which could include injection moulding machines, conveyors, robotics, Press houses, plus more. Further responsibilities include: Maintaining and servicing production equipment to ensure maximum efficiency, reliability, and Safety. Fault-finding and troubleshooting complex equipment issues to minimise downtime. Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) and routine inspections to ensure equipment reliability. Reactive and breakdown maintenance, responding quickly to unplanned equipment failures. Root cause analysis to prevent recurring issues and improve overall equipment performance. Supporting continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to optimise equipment performance and reliability. Working safely and in compliance with all health & safety regulations, risk assessments, and company procedures. Collaborating with production and engineering teams to plan maintenance activities around manufacturing schedules. Keeping accurate records of maintenance activities, inspections, and repairs using the company’s maintenance management systems. Participating in continuous improvement networks, sharing best practices and contributing to efficiency and quality enhancements across the plant. If you are ready to take the next step in your engineering career and join a world-class manufacturing team as a maintenance engineer, we would love to hear from you. Please press apply, call Rio Justin on 0788081804 or email your cv to rio.justin@ata-recruitment.co.uk ATA Recruitment specialises in Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Civil, Transportation and general Engineering recruitment on both a permanent and contract basis – for more opportunities like this one, visit our website ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
Apply now
Prepper
£34354 - 34354 per year
Daventry
Prepper – Night Shift Location: Daventry Shift: Monday to Wednesday 20:00-06:00, Thursday 20:00 - 05:00 Salary: £34,354 per annum Are you a skilled vehicle prepper, technician, or bodywork specialist who takes pride in flawless results? We’re looking for an experienced professional to become part of a company with over 50 years of excellence in precision paintwork — trusted across Formula 1, Formula 3, GT racing, classic restorations, and more. This is your chance to work on some of the most iconic vehicles in the world, apply now if you think this opportunity is for you! Key Responsibilities: Prepare a variety of materials including Fibreglass, Carbon Fibre, Aluminium, Steel, and Plastics. Edge-to-edge filler work, ensuring seamless, high-quality repairs and restorations. Work on high-value projects such as Porsche, Ferrari, Lotus, and Jaguar Replica refinishing and restoration. Specialised race car restoration, including intricate accident repairs (e.g., recreating a 50-year-old race car wing). Ensuring surfaces are ready for primer and topcoat applications. Essential Skills & Experience: Proven experience in bodywork preparation, including fibreglass, carbon fibre, aluminium, steel, and plastics. Expertise in edge-to-edge filler work, achieving flawless, precise finishes. Experience in motorsport, automotive engineering, aerospace, or similar high-performance sectors is essential. High attention to detail and ability to deliver top-tier results in fast-paced environments. Benefits: Competitive salary with overtime opportunities. Opportunity to work on rare and state-of-the-art cars. 20 shifts + bank holidays. If you have the expertise and passion for working on high-end, intricate projects, we want to hear from you! Apply now by contacting Fred O'Reilly at Fred.oreilly@ata-recruitment.co.uk or call 07827918324. Don’t miss the chance to be part of a team that works on some of the world’s most prestigious vehicles. By applying you accept the terms of our Privacy Notice which can be found on our website. ATA Recruitment specialise in Technical and Electrical Engineering, so if this role is not for you, please do have a look on our website for further potential opportunities which may suit your skills and experience better - If you have the skill, we have the recruitment knowledge and together we can find you your perfect job! - You must be eligible to live and work within the UK. Sponsorship is not provided. ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
Apply now
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
"In the past we have struggled to recruit for critical roles in our engineering team and over time have worked with a number of agencies unsuccessfully. The team at ATA have been very different, they have tried to deeply understand our business, spending time on the shop floor, meeting managers and members of the team, which has enabled them to really understand our culture, the nature of the roles and the required skills.
This means they only provide candidates aligned to our needs. They provide data and advice enabling us to position ourselves better in the market and give us feedback on the experiences of the candidates we interview and hire supporting retention. They have really considered how they advertise and invest to do this well.
2023 has been our best year for recruitment. ATA Recruitment now genuinely feel like part of our team, not a supplier and we now work exclusively with them for technical recruitment."
Dan Jones, Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK
"IMKA continually return to using ATA because of the professional manner and results that are achieved. The correct calibre candidates are always shortlisted, removing hours of time from exploratory interviews and ensuring that the selection and recruitment process is efficient and sustainable with the candidates provided.
When there is an assignment, ATA Search conducts a full and concise review of the role, understanding what individual skills / traits / behaviours are needed to make recruitment as smooth and efficient as possible. With their knowledge of the culture and scope of our business, ATA Search then creates a shortlist of candidates which meet the criteria of the role and are ready to fit / work straight away into the organisation.
IMKA will continue to work directly with ATA Search for this professional, cost effective and dynamic recruitment process."
Operations Director, IMKA Automotive Ltd