Undergraduate Placement Nuclear Materials Trainee Aldermaston 2025

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

We have an exciting new position created to offer students the chance to complete a Year in Industry placement within the Operations Function.

Operations supports AWE’s mission by taking the demand from our customer programmes to deliver the products and services they need to fulfil the needs of the Defence Nuclear Organisation (Ministry of Defence) in maintaining our national security.

We have a diverse range of products across Operations from a technical report, to experimental tests, to a fully assembled nuclear warhead. Operations is also responsible for keeping our sites open, safe and secure.

The role will be within Nuclear Material Operations:

• This group provides the Company Policy & Training to support the Accountancy & Control of Strategic Materials (Accountable Nuclear Materials and Other Special Materials).
• They deliver the Company Annual Accounts to the Defence Nuclear Organisation for these materials and undertake independent Auditing and Verification of Strategic materials in our facilities at AWE(A) & AWE(B).
• They provide Suitably Qualified & Experienced Personnel Nuclear Material Inventory Control staff in facilities to oversee material moves and processing. They Maintain & Develop the Fissile Material Control System used in our Production Facilities to support Criticality Safety, Movement Control & Accountancy.
• Working in an operational facility with Nuclear Materials and undertaking respirator operations.
• Gaining an understanding of a how a Nuclear facility operates including:- planning, production processes , safety case, criticality safety, training and generating & complying with regulation, policy & local work instructions.
• Opportunity to visit various facilities and undertake Physical Verification and Audits of Nuclear Materials and Processes.
• Opportunity to gain an appreciation of the challenges in transitioning to new facilities and providing SME knowledge into projects.
• Gaining an appreciation of the legislative Nuclear material & accountancy requirements, generation of accounts and how these support our Licensed Conditions, Defence Nuclear Security, National Audit Office, Environmental Permits and our Strategic Materials Strategy.
• Interactions with various stakeholders including our DNO customer.

Candidates must be medically fit and able to wear a respirator when working in the materials area of operations as and when required as PPE during their placement. You will be fully trained and undergo a thorough induction process when working in the operations function.

The behaviours you will bring to the team

You will possess the following traits and qualities:

• 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.
• Respond to customer requests in a polite and helpful manner maintaining professionalism at all times as expected within the employee blueprint.
• Adopt a ‘See It, Own It, Solve It’ mind-set, by identifying obstacles to success and taking ownership to find solutions to those problems.

What disciplines may fit this role best?

Those studying nuclear science, nuclear engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, systems engineering and chemistry may find themselves best suited and interested in these positions.

However all Engineering and Sciences will be considered.

The benefits

The opportunity to learn from subject matter experts and to develop skills that are applicable across many industries.

• 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 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, please avoid taking leave during this period if you are successful. This role is offered on a 12-month contract.

Application process

If eligible you will be invited to complete online testing against various numerical, verbal, logical and cognitive reasoning tests, you will be given access to practice ahead of completing them.

Those successful at testing will be invited to our virtual assessment centres running throughout the period 14th October to 14th December 2024, and early into January 2025.

We recruit on a rolling basis which means as soon as our positions have been filled, the scheme will close to new applications. So, please apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out!

Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. Please note that you must be a British National 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.

Contact us

If you have questions during the application process, please reach out to the Early Careers Team at EarlyCareers@awe.co.uk

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.