Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

Babcock International; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Babcock International invites applications for an Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year at Devonport Royal Dockyard in Plymouth. You’ll work hands-on with cutting-edge naval technology from day one, contributing to real projects that matter.

You'll gain experience across engineering disciplines, project management and production, collaborating with MOD and Royal Navy teams to maintain and develop the dockyard's infrastructure. A path to our graduate programme may follow.

Qualifications

• You are studying a Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths (STEM) based degree.
• There is a security clearance requirement (BPSS/SC) depending on programme eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Work hands-on with naval technology on real projects.
• Gain experience across engineering, project management and production.
• Collaborate with MOD and Royal Navy teams to support Devonport Dockyard infrastructure.

Skills

Security clearance eligibility

STEM foundation

Education

STEM degree

Job description

Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

Programme title: Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

Salary: £26,800 pro rata

Location: Devonport, Plymouth

Application closing date: 20 October 2026

Start date: September 2027

Role ID: 74776

What you'll be doing

Located at Devonport Royal Dockyard in Plymouth - the largest naval base in Western Europe - you'll spend your placement year working hands-on with some of the most advanced naval technology in the world. From day one, you'll be involved in real projects that make a meaningful impact.

You'll gain experience across a variety of departments, including technical engineering, project management, and production. Depending on your placement, you may be based in one of our design, safety, or facilities management offices, collaborating with teams who maintain and develop the dockyard's infrastructure to support the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Royal Navy.

Our expanding Engineering teams work closely with customers in the UK and overseas, integrating cutting-edge technology into existing vessels and helping to shape the future of naval design. Whether we're supporting upgrades to operational ships or contributing to innovative new builds, our work plays a vital role in strengthening national defence and maritime capability.

What you'll get out of it

Our placements are about more than work experience - they're an opportunity to immerse yourself in life at Babcock, form meaningful connections, and develop skills that will set you up for your future career. You'll work alongside supportive colleagues and gain guidance from experienced professionals every step of the way.

We value the fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that placement students bring to our team. We believe you have the potential to shape the future of our business. But we also understand that this placement is as much about you assessing what's right for you as it is about us getting to know you. Perform well, and you could be considered for a position on our graduate programme - your journey with Babcock could just be getting started.

What you'll need

• To be studying a Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths (STEM) based degree.
• Many of our programmes are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold or have held may impact which programmes you are eligible for. For this programme, you must be able to achieve and maintain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) security clearance. For further details, visit GOV.UK and search United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels'.

Additional Information

We're a Disability Confident Employer. If you require additional support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply. Our team will contact you after receiving your application to discuss your requirements and the support available.

We're committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone's free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working - please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

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