Graduate Control & Instrumentation Engineer

UK Atomic Energy Authority; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Final salary pension

25 days annual leave

Flexible working

Skern Lodge residential

Job summary

UK Atomic Energy Authority invites you to join its Graduate Development Programme, a pathway to professional engineering leadership in fusion energy. You’ll design, test and apply control, instrumentation and electrical systems on real projects, while learning from world‑leading experts.

You will split time between 20% dedicated development activities and 80% role‑based work within multidisciplinary teams, progressing toward Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status and gaining hands‑on

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and test control, instrumentation, electrical and electronic systems that support cutting-edge fusion energy projects.
• Gain experience across the full engineering lifecycle, from requirements and design through to installation, testing and commissioning.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to solve technical challenges, improve system performance and deliver innovative engineering solutions.
• Develop hands‑on experience with technologies such as PLCs, LabVIEW and other advanced control systems while producing technical documentation and test reports.
• Build your technical and professional skills through our accredited graduate scheme, supporting your journey towards Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status.

Skills

Team collaboration

Communication

Adaptability

Education

Degree in Science or Engineering (2025-2027)

Tools

PLCs

LabVIEW

Job description

Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industryand research organisations to achieveground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the gridby developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.

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

• Design, develop and test control, instrumentation, electrical and electronic systems that support cutting-edge fusion energy projects.
• Gain experience across the full engineering lifecycle, from requirements and design through to installation, testing and commissioning.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to solve technical challenges, improve system performance and deliver innovative engineering solutions.
• Develop hands‑on experience with technologies such as PLCs, LabVIEW and other advanced control systems while producing technical documentation and test reports.
• Build your technical and professional skills through our accredited graduate scheme, supporting your journey towards Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status.

Our graduate scheme is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Institute of Physics (IoP), providing a structured pathway to professional registration and long-term career development. More information can be found here.

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.

Our commitment to ED&I

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.

UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Please email [e-mail] if you have any questions or require any help or adjustments.

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 are due to close at 23:59 on 8th November 2026. As we're expecting strong interest, we encourage you to apply early, as the vacancy may close sooner if we receive a high volume of applications. More information can be found here.