Graduate Building and Construction Engineer

UK Atomic Energy Authority; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentoring and coaching

Professional training & qualifications

Flexible working options

Skern Lodge residential

Job summary

UK Atomic Energy Authority invites graduates to join its Graduate Development Programme in Abingdon. You will work with world‑leading experts to advance fusion technology while building technical, professional, and leadership skills through mentoring and structured development.

The scheme offers hands-on experience across the full project lifecycle, with professional training and industry‑recognised qualifications such as CDM, SMSTS and CSCS, supporting your journey toward professional

Qualifications

• Degree in Science or Engineering required (2025–2027).
• Strong collaboration and communication skills.
• Organised, adaptable and able to manage workload.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of major engineering and construction projects for fusion energy.
• Gain hands-on experience across the full project lifecycle from design to handover.
• Collaborate with engineers, project managers and contractors to ensure safe, high‑quality delivery.
• Develop understanding of construction management, project controls and governance; enhance stakeholder management.
• Participate in structured graduate programme with mentoring and professional training leading to industry qualifications (CDM, SMSTS, CSCS).

Skills

Collaborative mindset

Effective communication

Organised & adaptable

Willingness to learn

Education

Degree in Science or Engineering

Job description

What you'll join

Your degree got you this far. Where could fusion energy take you?

If you're looking for your first graduate role and want a career that's meaningful, challenging, and packed with opportunities to grow, UKAEA's Graduate Development Programme could be the perfect next step. Working alongside world-leading experts, you'll help advance ground breaking fusion technology while building the technical, professional, and leadership skills needed for a successful career. This is your chance to be part of an industry that's helping create a sustainable future for generations to come.

What you'll do

• Support the delivery of major engineering and construction projects that contribute to the future of fusion energy.
• Gain hands‑on experience across the full project lifecycle, from design and planning through to construction, commissioning and handover.
• Work alongside experienced engineers, project managers and contractors to solve real‑world challenges, coordinate project activities and ensure safe, high‑quality delivery.
• Build your understanding of construction management, project controls and engineering governance while developing strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Develop your career through a structured graduate programme, with mentoring, professional training and industry‑recognised qualifications such as CDM, SMSTS and CSCS, supporting your journey towards professional registration.

How you'll develop

On the graduate scheme here at the UK Atomic Energy Authority, you will have 20% of your time focused on professional and personal development. This will include a series of core development activities to fast track your business acumen, along with skills for technical, project management and people leadership.

The remaining 80% of time is role‑based, working within a team growing your technical knowledge within your chosen discipline. Working with your line manager, you will get the opportunity to experience different roles and responsibilities within projects to broaden your understanding and help decide your future career route.

What you’ll need

• Degree in Science or Engineering from 2025 to 2027.
• Driven, with a strong appetite to learn and take on new challenges.
• Able to collaborate effectively and communicate clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Well organised and adaptable with the ability to plan and prioritise workload.

We have a generous range of benefits (see the full list here) and highlights include:

• Final salary defined benefit scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution.
• 25 days annual leave, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays.
• Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions.
• Take part in our Skern Lodge residential to develop new skills and build your network.

UKAEA’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce. We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, while ensuring all appointments are made on merit.

AI may be used for preparation purposes only. All responses submitted during interviews and assessments must be your own work.

To maintain a fair recruitment process, candidates are limited to two applications across our Early Careers programmes. If you apply for multiple roles, we may contact you to discuss which opportunities best match your skills and interests.

Applications close at 23:59 on 8th November 2026.