Graduate Roles - Engineer / Materials Scientist / Engineering Project Manager (September 2027 start) in Oxford

Help solve some of the engineering and materials challenges standing between fusion energy and commercial reality.

Each year, we recruit graduates from a range of engineering and scientific disciplines to join Oxford Sigma and contribute to our work developing materials and engineering solutions for fusion energy.

Our work spans three technical business areas:

Materials & Qualification – understanding, developing and qualifying materials for demanding fusion environments.

Products & Processing – turning materials science into practical solutions through laboratory-based research, experimentation, testing and processing.

Design & Build – developing engineering solutions, components and systems, taking ideas from concept and analysis through to manufacture and application.

We are therefore interested in graduates from all engineering disciplines, materials science, physics and related STEM subjects. You don't need to have studied fusion or know exactly which area you want to specialise in. We are interested in your technical foundations, curiosity and ability to apply what you know to difficult problems.

What you could be working on:

Depending on your background, interests and the projects you become involved in, your work could include:

• Technical research, analysis and critical evaluation of materials and engineering challenges.

• Laboratory-based research, testing and experimental work.

• Supporting the development and qualification of materials for demanding applications.

• Engineering design, modelling, analysis and development.

• Contributing to R&D programmes and the development of new technologies, ideas and approaches.

• Using computational methods to analyse data or solve engineering problems.

• Supporting the development of concepts through design, manufacture, testing and iteration.

• Communicating technical findings and recommendations to colleagues, customers and other stakeholders.

Fusion presents engineering challenges where the answer is not always obvious. You'll need to be comfortable exploring problems, asking questions and changing your approach as you learn more. You'll work alongside people from different technical disciplines, so teamwork and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly are just as important as technical ability.

Some national and international travel may be required.

Qualifications & Experience

We'd like you to have:

• A strong academic background in engineering, materials science, physics or another relevant STEM discipline.

• Either recently graduated or be expecting to graduate by September 2027.

• An interest in applying your technical knowledge to real engineering and scientific problems.

• The ability to critically analyse information and data.

• The ability to communicate technical concepts clearly.

• Good written, verbal and presentation skills.

• A collaborative approach to working with people from different disciplines.

• Curiosity and a willingness to learn, challenge assumptions and change your thinking when presented with new evidence.

Depending on your background, you may also have experience in one or more of the following:

• Laboratory work, experimental research or materials testing.

• Materials characterisation, processing or manufacturing.

• Mechanical or engineering design.

• CAD packages such as SolidWorks.

• Structural or finite element analysis.

• Computational modelling, simulation or CFD.

• Python or other programming/data-analysis tools.

• Developing, building or testing engineering components or systems.

• Research projects where you have had to investigate a problem without an obvious solution.

• Commercial thinking or an interest in how technology moves from research into real-world application.

You do not need experience in all, or even most, of these areas. We expect different graduates to bring different strengths and are interested in what you could bring to the team.

Eligibility

You must have the right to work in the UK.

Our benefits

• 28 days annual leave

• Flexible working around core hours

• Company pension scheme

• Cycle to work scheme

• Enhanced parental pay

• Inclusion in the Business Health Scheme

• Assist and support chartership progression with the appropriate body.

Additional Information

Underrepresented people are less likely to apply for engineering roles if they do not meet 100% of the job requirements.

We are actively seeking these kinds of applicants and believe in hiring people not checklists.

If you are interested but unsure if your experience aligns, please get in touch with our Careers Team via careers@oxfordsigma.com, discuss if this role or others we are developing may match you as a person.

We’d love to understand more about you, and why you want to get involved in fusion.

Please upload your CV and covering letter (both in PDF format) below.

We will close applications at 9am on Monday 7th December 2026, however applications will be reviewed weekly and initial interviews offered during this period.