Innovation Engineer (Hybrid)

The Role

Shape the Future of Innovation with Imperial Brands

Are you ready to push the boundaries of what's possible in front end product innovation? Imperial Brands, a dynamic and inclusive global FMCG powerhouse with 25,000 talented employees worldwide, is on the lookout for a forward-thinking Innovation Engineer to join our cutting-edge Device Innovation Team in Liverpool.

In this pivotal role, you’ll be at the forefront of our Discovery pillar- exploring breakthrough technologies and shaping the future of our next-generation products. Working closely with internal teams and external partners, you’ll help craft our technology strategy, drive upstream innovation, and ensure our intellectual property is protected and future-ready.

Principal Accountabilities

• Drive Innovation: Lead investigations into emerging technologies and develop creative engineering solutions, from concept to prototype.
• Protect and Navigate IP (Intellectual Property): Document new ideas, collaborate with the IP team on submissions, analyse competitor IP, and ideate to design around existing patents.
• Prototype Development: Manage the design, iteration, and testing of prototypes, including liaising with suppliers and partners for production and innovation input.
• Technical Expertise: Apply CAD knowledge to review and interpret technical drawings across disciplines; design and build test rigs to evaluate performance.
• Experimental Rigor: Conduct structured experiments to optimise device functionality and validate new technologies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Sensory and Consumer Science teams to test and analyse device performance and user experience.

Skills and Experience Required

• Degree-qualified with a BEng/MEng in Science or Engineering (or equivalent).
• Strong research mindset, comfortable working with incomplete information and managing investigations.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Experience in product or technology development, including innovative concept creation and engineering problem-solving.
• Understanding of intellectual property, including patent comprehension and IP generation to support legal protection.
• Skilled in R&D project planning, including risk mitigation and strategic execution.

What We Offer

In return for playing your part in building our future, you will receive a comprehensive compensation package with salary, bonus scheme and further benefits as well inspiring places to work and collaborate with purpose. Here at Imperial we will give you the opportunity to grow and learn, innovate at pace and be a part of our purpose to forge a path to a healthier future for moments of relaxation and pleasure for our consumers.

Everyone Belongs

Everyone belongs in Imperial. We are proud of being a truly inclusive organisation. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, disabilities, sexual orientation, religions or beliefs and of neuro divergence. We give fair and equal consideration to all our applicants. Please contact us at recruitment@impbrands.com to let us know if we can provide support in helping you complete an application and/or attend an interview.

About Us

We're a truly international company, fourth largest in our industry and operating across 120 markets. An inclusive, innovative global FMCG business supported by 25,000 employees. As we embrace a new era of growth, we are transforming. Our ways of working and culture are driven by a challenger mindset, constantly questioning the status quo where people can bring their best selves to work. Our agility and collaboration are driving our ambitions, innovation and success all supported by our award-winning development programmes that creates exciting and rewarding career opportunities for all.  Encouraging inclusion at local levels and supporting a developing and robust diversity agenda globally, we’re fully committed to creating and maintaining an environment that celebrates and respects difference.

As a matter of policy, Imperial Tobacco or its subsidiaries never requests or requires payment as part of any recruitment process.