Undergraduate Placement

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?

For nearly 70 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK’s ultimate deterrent - Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.

It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?

About the Year in Industry:
This is a new position specifically created for university students undertaking a 12-month placement, who will join our Nuclear Safety assessment area.

As a nuclear safety case assessor, you will work as part of a team to assess the risk and consequences of design, engineering, and operational failures. This will include modelling accident scenarios and identifying controls to prevent them.

The role offers the opportunity to work across the whole project lifecycle including the design of new facilities, large modifications of existing facilities, production facilities, research & development facilities, and decommissioning facilities as part of a structured two-year development programme. The role also provides the opportunity to develop an understanding of how AWE interacts with its regulators.

You will be engaged in technical problem-solving, preparing detailed reports to argue and justify the tolerability of nuclear, radiological, environmental, and conventional hazards, whilst liaising with a diverse group of people at many levels within the company, including operators, facility management, engineers, and regulators.

The role is designed to help you:

- Develop skills in major hazard assessment and support the analysis and assessment of nuclear, radiological, chemical, explosives and other major hazards associated with actual, planned and/or decommissioned facilities, plant, equipment, or product.
- Gain experience in the development of safety assessments and justifications (e.g., Safety Cases) in line with relevant legislation, industry standards and AWE's policies, procedures and guidance.
- Whilst supervised, contribute to the production and review of safety assessments, justifications.

The Behaviours you will bring to the team
- Growth Mindset; You’re full of grit and determination. Clear where you are going and how you will get there.
- Curious; you’re a person who loves to think outside the box. (You’re a person who loves to take the box apart).
- Innovative; you’re open to learning about new technologies and ground-breaking ideas.
- Resilience; you’re an advocate of ‘speaking up’ for yourself and others openly and constructively.
- Team Worker; you’re dependable and reliable. You’re interested in collaborating with and supporting others.

Location

You will be based at Aldermaston, nr. Reading, Berkshire

The Benefits
- A salary of £22,250
- A market leading contributory pension scheme. We will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your own contribution.
- Every second Friday off. We do this by working a 41-hour week followed by a 33-hour week.
- 270 hours of annual leave a year, that includes an allowance for bank holidays.
- Access to the employee discounts portal - everyday savings on retail, hospitality and leisure.

Start Date

Undergraduate Placement Induction start date will be August 2025, so please avoid taking leave during this period if you are successful. This role is offered on a 12-month contract.

Recruitment Process

Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants.

Contact us