Undergraduate Placement - Nuclear Safety Assessment Specialist

Nuclear Safety Assessment Specialist AWE Placement Programme

About AWE

We are AWE. We're a team of remarkable people achieving an extraordinary mission: keeping the nation safe and secure.

Our work is critical. We are responsible for delivering the next warhead for the UK's nuclear deterrent; working at the forefront of nuclear technologies that keep the nation safe.

AWEs support for the governments strategy takes many facets: from supporting the weapon programme for the nuclear deterrent, supporting the UKs counter terrorist programme, identifying where there may be nuclear tests taking place around the world, and building an expert group of individuals in order to give the UK real depth in nuclear science and technology.

Start an extraordinary career at AWE; grow your skills, learn from industry experts and become part of a community at one of the most unique companies in the UK.

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.
• Continuously develop an understanding of current health and safety legislation, the ONR licensing regime and the fundamental application of the ALARP principle.
• Whilst supervised, contribute to the production and review of safety assessments, justifications.

The Behaviours you will bring to the team

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

Location

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

The Benefits

You will have the opportunity to learn from subject matter experts and to develop skills that are applicable across many industries. Successful candidates will receive:

• 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

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.

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