Degree Apprentice Nuclear Focussed Engineering in England

Location: Barrow-in-Furness (Cumbria)

Salary: Starting from £23,493 with annual progression through the scheme duration

What You’ll Be Doing

In the Platform Nuclear Engineering Department (PNED) you would be responsible for ensuring the nuclear reactor is safely designed, built and tested, providing the power the submarine needs to protect the nation. PNED engineers collaborate with diverse teams to deliver a reliable and secure reactor, necessitating strong communication skills and meticulous attention to detail. PNED directly impact the construction and commissioning of the reactor at the Barrow site by addressing emerging issues, reviewing formal documents, and facilitating site inspections. If you are seeking hands-on experiences beyond traditional office settings, PNED offers exciting opportunities to provide engineering support directly on submarines.

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing & lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Engineering Team

Engineering is at the heart of the Submarines business — so our Engineering Degree Apprentices progress into roles at the very forefront of technological advancement for the Royal Navy fleet.

The Submarines Team

Our Submarines business has been safely delivering world class submarines to the UK Royal Navy for more than a century. The Astute class will equip the Royal Navy with its largest and most capable generation of attack submarines. We are responsible for the design, build, test and commissioning of these state-of-the-art vessels. In total, seven boats will make up the fleet, each weighing a mighty 7,400 tonnes. Dreadnought is the successor to the Vanguard class of nuclear deterrent submarines. We will deliver four submarines to the Royal Navy, with the first submarine entering service in the early 2030s. Dreadnought is widely considered to be one of the world’s most complex engineering challenges.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Export Control/Security

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Qualification Requirements

• 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade 9-4/A*-C which must include Maths & English & a Science/Technical Subject AND 1 of the following:
• 3 A-levels (or equivalent) at grade C or above. 1 subject must be Maths and 1 subject must be in Engineering or a Science/Technical subject
• An equivalent level 3 vocational qualification (must be a STEM related subject that aligns to the scheme/area you are applying for and worth a minimum of 96 UCAS points)

Start date: 14/09/2026