Trainee Health Physicist 2025

AWE is currently recruiting for a Trainee Health Physicist for the Radiation Protection and Dosimetry Group. 

The Radiation Protection and Dosimetry Group are part of the Science function at AWE. We are responsible for providing legal and technical advice to a range of internal and external customers regarding health and safety in relation to working with radioactive materials and other sources of ionising radiation.

No other organisation in the UK provides radiation protection and dosimetry advise across the same range of applications and customers. Our work covers everything from nuclear manufacturing facilities to forensic laboratories, new build facilities to decommissioning old ones and working on national security operations. Each present their own unique set of challenges meaning that every day is different.

The role

We are looking to recruit Trainee Health Physicists (radiation protection scientists) to join our team. A career in radiation protection is an excellent choice for someone who wishes to continue to use their practical, scientific and technical knowledge and skills in a multi-disciplinary environment that involves both office-based and practical elements and where the ability to communicate with people from a wide range of backgrounds is essential. Every day is different!

About you

The successful candidate will have either operational experience in health physics, dosimetry, environment, radioactive waste management, health and safety (ESH) or other associated fields, or have a degree in a science, technology or engineering discipline and will be ready and able to apply their experiences, knowledge, skills and qualifications to learning how to be a radiation protection professional.

Our two-year health physicist training scheme is industry-leading, combining training modules that cover the full range of knowledge required with placements around the business to ensure that we develop world class professionals. Once the training scheme is completed, we encourage all our staff to continue to work towards professional accreditation as a Radiation Protection Adviser and chartered status with the Radiation Protection Council.

You’ll need to have the ability to work calmly and constructively in a priority changing environment and be able to manage your own workload. You will also have initiative, enthusiasm, a flexible approach, and ability to work to tight deadlines.

Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people don’t always ‘tick every box’. That’s why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you don’t meet every point below, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we’d love to receive your application.

Some reasons we think you’ll love it here

AWE has wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• 9-day working fortnight – meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
• Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.

Important things you need to know

• You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.
• We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process.
• Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.
• All candidates must live within one hour travel of Aldermaston site to support emergency response capabilities following completion of the training scheme.

Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.

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.