Year in Industry- Nuclear Materials Management (Operations) - Aldermaston

Year in Industry- Nuclear Materials Management (Operations) – Aldermaston, Berkshire, RG7 4PR

Job Type: Full-TimeSalary: Negotiable

Nuclear Materials Year in Industry Programme 2026

Starting salary £23,500 + plus benefits and welcome bonus | Office based in Aldermaston, nr Reading, Berkshire.

PLEASE NOTE WE CAN ONLY ACCEPT ONE APPLICATION PER CANDIDATE PER YEAR. ANY DUPLICATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE WITHDRAWN.

We are offering a rewarding and exciting one-year placement as an Undergraduate Nuclear Materials Trainee at AWE – a role where you will make a genuine contribution to keeping the UK safe and secure.

About AWE

We\’re a team of remarkable people, united by one extraordinary mission: keeping the UK safe and secure. The UK\’s independent nuclear deterrent has existed for 75 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, helping to guarantee our safety, and that of our NATO allies.

Our work is critical. We\’re delivering Astraea, the next warhead for the UK\’s nuclear deterrent and pushing the boundaries of nuclear science and technology. But that\’s just part of the story.

We support the UK government in a range of vital areas – from counter-terrorism to global nuclear test monitoring to building a world-class community of experts in nuclear science. This is work that protects lives and strengthens national security.

At AWE, you\’ll find more than just a job. You\’ll find purpose, growth, and a community like no other. Whether you\’re just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, this is your chance to learn from the best, develop your skills, and be part of something truly unique.

Be extraordinary at AWE.

Entry Requirements

We are interested in applications from candidates working towards a degree in:

• 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.

• PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A LAB BASED ROLE.

• Before starting with the business, you will need to be able to provide evidence that you have attained a minimum of a 2:2 in your degree so far by August 2026.

• You must be able to Join AWE in August 2026. We recruit on a rolling basis which means as soon as our positions have been filled, we will close.

• Be graduating in 2028 or 2029 and taking a placement year as part of your degree from summer 2026 to summer 2027.

What to Expect on the Programme

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 and is NOT a lab based role.

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.

Benefits:

• £23,500 salary

• Holiday entitlement of 270 hours of leave annually including bank holidays

• Excellent work/life balance and a vibrant and welcoming grad social scene

• 9-day working fortnight – so every other Friday off

• A salary-sacrifice benefit scheme

• A welcome payment

• Potential to secure a Graduate role for when you finish university, subject to availability

• Access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending across retail, hospitality and leisure

• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

• Access to our Occupational Health Services

The Application Process

We want you to shine in your application process which is designed to be fair and transparent. So we\’ve kept it simple with a three step process.

Online application: Apply for one pathway; take your time to explore the options and choose the one that best matches your interests and goals.

Online test: If successful, you will be invited to complete our online assessment stage . These include online testing against numerical, verbal, logical and cognitive reasoning tests. Don\’t be intimidated: practice assessments will be available so you will be fully equipped with the knowledge of what to expect.

Virtual assessment: Those successful at testing will be invited to our virtual assessment centres . These run throughout November into January 2026 – we\’ll confirm the exact dates in an email. We run pre-assessment centre webinars to guide you on what to expect.

You must be able to Join AWE in August 2026. Applications close on Friday 24 th October, but will close earlier if we receive enough applications. So apply sooner rather than later!

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.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Our aim is to make you feel confident and informed throughout your journey with us: we\’re not trying to catch you out. Our ambition is to create a workplace where differences are recognised and celebrated. Our mission relies on the diversity and our people being able to bring their energy to work and perform their best.

We encourage diverse applicants and we\’re here to support you all the way. We encourage you to let us know if you need any adjustments on your application. 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. Learn about how we handle your data.

Why us?

Build your career as future leader

Our focus lies on a number of key themes such as: \’self and team awareness\’ – providing an opportunity to better understand your own strengths and how these could contribute effectively to collaborative situations.

Create your network

AWE\’s early careers community is full of energy, connection, and opportunity. You\’ll find plenty of ways to get involved through events organised by our ERG s , spontaneous activities and the Recreation Society. It\’s a space where you can build relationships, share experiences, and enjoy life beyond your role.

Continual support to grow

You will be supported by a dedicated line manager and Evolve pathway lead who will help your transition into the business, provide pastoral support and work with you on your development journey. You will be aligned to a \’buddy\’, who will normally be a fellow graduate from an earlier cohort.

Who We\’re Looking For:

We\’re looking for people who are naturally curious, enjoy solving complex problems, and aren\’t afraid to ask questions when things don\’t quite make sense. You\’ll bring a dependable, team-focused mindset and a willingness to learn because in a unique, classified environment like ours, trust and integrity are key.

You\’ll thrive at AWE if you\’re resilient, eager to grow and excited to apply your skills to real-world challenges. You\’ll embrace our behaviours: connecting with respect, keeping our promises, staying safe and secure, and embracing simplicity.

Contact us

If you have questions during the application process, please reach out to the Early Careers Team at