2027 Warrington Industrial Placement Programme

Looking for a placement where you’ll really feel valued? Join Sellafield and help create a clean and safe environment for future generations while shaping the UK’s sustainable future through world-first engineering, science and innovation.

This year, we’re recruiting Electrical, Civil, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering placement students to join our Design Engineering teams for 12 months in Warrington. You’ll be supported through our Industrial Placement Scheme while building technical expertise in your chosen discipline and contributing to the design of innovative engineering solutions that support Sellafield’s mission. It’s an opportunity to apply your academic knowledge in a professional environment, learn from experienced engineers and develop the skills, experience and professional networks needed to build a successful career in engineering.

Our Industrial Placement Scheme is designed to give you the opportunity to apply your academic learning in a professional environment while developing the knowledge, skills and experience needed for a successful future career. Through a structured and supported placement, you’ll work on real projects that contribute to Sellafield’s nationally important mission, gaining valuable hands-on experience alongside industry experts. As well as developing technical competence in your chosen discipline, you’ll take part in a dedicated programme of learning and development designed to enhance your professional skills and support your continued growth. For many students, the placement also provides a valuable pathway into our Graduate Development Scheme, helping you make a seamless transition from university into a rewarding career with purpose.

You’ll receive dedicated support throughout your placement, and by the end you could be rewarded with a conditional offer on our graduate programme for the year you graduate. You can start to build professional networks and pave your own path to success.

What You’ll Get

As an Industrial Placement student, you’ll join us on a 12-month fixed term contract, with a competitive salary of £27,043. If you’re relocating here from more than 30 miles away, we’ll support you with a relocation allowance of £1,200. We aim to strike a good work/life balance by offering 30 days annual leave with statutory public holidays on top. There is also the ability to purchase an additional 2.5 days leave on top. During your placement with us you will get the opportunity to work towards objectives that if met, you will be offered the opportunity to return on our graduate programme once you have completed your degree. *Subject to there being a suitable graduate position available. We also offer an attractive defined contribution pension scheme – the company will match up to 13.5% for a 7% employee contribution. All of our employees can benefit from our 18 support networks, including the Nuclear Autism Support Network, oneLGBTQ+ Network and Gender Balance Networks, to name a few. Other benefits include paid sick leave scheme, cycle to work scheme, family friendly policies, welfare & employee assistance programme, employee savings & discounts, plus many others.

What we’ll need from you

• Be on track to achieve the minimum degree requirement for your discipline. For Mechanical & Civil based degrees, this is a minimum of a 2:1 Masters degree in a relevant subject. For Chemical & Electrical based degrees, this is a minimum of a 2:1 Bachelors degree in a relevant subject.
• Have a willingness to relocate to Warrington or the surrounding area for the duration of the programme.
• Have a genuine interest in building a career within the nuclear industry and developing your professional and technical expertise.
• Have the ability to solve problems, think critically and approach challenges with curiosity and a willingness to learn.
• Have the drive to take ownership of your own development and make the most of the opportunities available through the programme.
• Have a proactive attitude, a willingness to try new things and the resilience to work through complex challenges.
• Have a commitment to upholding the highest standards of safety, security and professionalism.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain the security clearance required for the role.

We’re looking for people who are curious, motivated and ready to make a difference. You don’t need nuclear experience, but you do need the enthusiasm to learn, the confidence to challenge yourself and the ambition to help deliver work that will have a lasting impact for generations to come.

Life in Warrington

Design the solutions to challenges that don’t come with a blueprint. As a placement student in Design Engineering at Sellafield, you’ll help shape some of the UK’s most complex and nationally important projects. Working from our Risley, Warrington office, you’ll collaborate with specialists across engineering, infrastructure and innovation to develop the facilities, systems and technologies needed to support environmental restoration and the UK’s sustainable nuclear future. This is an opportunity to apply your ideas to real-world challenges, accelerate your professional development and build a career with purpose, knowing your work will help create a cleaner, safer future for generations to come.

Our Design Engineering programmes are based in Warrington – a vibrant town in the Northwest with great transport links and affordable cost of living. Perfectly positioned between Manchester and Liverpool, you’ll have two major cities (and all their culture, sport and nightlife) just a short train ride away. With plenty of shops, restaurants and gyms Warrington offers the ideal balance between opportunity, lifestyle and affordability.

Accessibility and Inclusion

At Sellafield, we’re committed to creating an inclusive and supportive recruitment experience where everyone can succeed. We’re proud to be recognised as a Disability Confident Leader and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and experiences. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout every stage of our recruitment process, including online assessments, video interviews and assessment centres. If you require any adjustments or additional support, we’ll work with you to make sure you can demonstrate your skills and perform at your best. If you’d like to discuss any support requirements before or during your application, we’ll work with you to make sure you can demonstrate your skills and perform at your best.

Before you apply

Applications for our placement programmes will close on Friday 23rd October 2026. Please be aware that this role is subject to achieving security clearance. This role requires a higher level of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 years of continuous residency in the UK. Factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the level of clearance you’re able to achieve.

From student to nuclear professional – your journey begins here. Join us and help shape the UK’s sustainable nuclear future with a company built on history.