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?
Our two-year Evolve graduate development scheme offers you an exciting opportunity to join our Engineering career pathway. Here you will use your skills, develop new ones and work with remarkable people, in unique facilities, on extraordinary products. You will have the chance to experience a variety of engineering roles where you will make a genuine contribution to keeping the UK safe and secure.
How Evolve will help accelerate your career
As a member of our Graduate Development community, you will be involved in activities linked to our current or future nuclear warheads, nuclear threat reduction, manufacturing solutions or our huge building and infrastructure programme that is delivering the facilities to enable the creation of new products.
You will develop a knowledge of precision components and systems which may cover some or all of: concept generation, design, manufacture and processing, assembly, safety and reliability, maintenance, testing & trials, commissioning.
Due to AWE’s critical role, further technical details of our work are classified. But rest assured, you will be doing remarkably interesting things as part of our expert engineering team!
Placements into real projects will be central to your development. The placement process is flexible to allow a specific focus in a particular technical area or a wide range of diverse project experiences - whichever you prefer. All graduates also receive a core programme of leadership, business and ‘soft skills’ training. You will be supported to start working towards your professional registration as a Chartered Engineer.
The behaviours and qualities you will need
- You are the sort of person who likes getting stuck into interesting problems.
- You are curious about what you see and eager to learn new things.
- You ask questions when you do not understand something and are resilient in the face of setbacks.
- You like working with others and you are dependable.
- You are comfortable working in a classified environment on defence projects.
- You welcome the chance to develop a work style that embraces AWE’s cultural behaviours:
- We connect with respect
- We keep our promises
- We are safe and secure
- We embrace simplicity
What AWE can offer you
- AWE has a highly inclusive culture. You will be supported by colleagues and management to bring your unique contribution to our work.
- You will undergo ‘DV’ security clearance to allow you to work on classified programmes.
- From Day 1 you will be collaborating with like-minded people on challenging problems, and you will encounter many professional and personal development opportunities.
- Depending on your specific placements, you may have the opportunity to interact with UK and overseas partners and customers.
- There is a vibrant early careers community at AWE. You will have the opportunity to socialise with other graduates and undergraduate placement students through organised events, the on-site Recreation Society, and ad-hoc activities.
- You can join any of our six staff-led Equity, Diversity and Inclusion working groups to help guide our supportive work culture.
- You will gain a strong feeling of satisfaction that you are making a real difference to yourself, to AWE and to the safety and security of the UK!
Entry requirements
- You are a recent graduate or will graduate by September 2025.
- You will graduate with a minimum of a 2:2 in your degree, ideally in any of these engineering subjects:
- Aerospace/Aeronautical, Chemical/Processing, Civil, Design, Electrical/Electronics, General, Integrated, Manufacturing, Structural, Systems , Mechtronics, Robotics, Materials, Nuclear , Mechanical, - If you are unsure your degree is suitable, reach out to us and we can help
- You must be able to join AWE in September 2025. We recruit on a rolling basis which means as soon as our positions have been filled, we will close.
- Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role.
- You are a UK national who has not lived overseas within the last 10 years
What you will get
A competitive total reward package including starting salary £31,000 per year and benefits including a market leading contributory pension scheme.
You will also get
- Generous holiday entitlement (270 hours of leave annually including bank holidays)
- Excellent work/life balance and a vibrant and welcoming grad social scene
- 9-day working fortnight (this means you will not work every other Friday!)
- A salary-sacrifice benefit scheme
- A welcome payment
- An option of an interest free loan of £1,000 as well as regular Graduate pay reviews
- A structured and supported career progression
- Discounts – Access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending across retail, hospitality and leisure
- Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
Alongside these benefits, you will get opportunity to learn from subject matter experts and to develop skills that are applicable across many industries.
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.
Any inclusion information you provide us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.
