Graduate Mechanical Engineer (RACE)

UK Atomic Energy Authority; Abingdon; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Final salary pension

25 days leave

Christmas closure days

Privilege days

Flexible working

Family-friendly leave

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 for a successful career.

The scheme splits time between professional development and role-based engineering work, offering exposure to requirements, design, manufacture, testing and operation across projects.

Qualifications

• Degree in Science or Engineering required.
• Strong desire to learn and take on challenges.
• Able to communicate clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Support design and development of robotic and remote handling systems for fusion energy.
• Gain experience across the full engineering lifecycle from requirements to operation.
• Apply engineering analysis to solve technical challenges and improve reliability.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to deliver engineering solutions and manage documentation.
• Develop technical, project management and leadership skills through hands-on experience and mentoring.

Skills

Learning mindset

Collaboration

Communication

Organization

Education

Degree in Science or Engineering

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 groundbreaking 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 design and development of innovative robotic and remote handling systems that contribute to the future of fusion energy.
• Gain experience across the full engineering lifecycle, from requirements capture and concept development through to manufacture, testing and operation.
• Apply engineering analysis and problem-solving skills to solve complex technical challenges and improve system performance and reliability.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality engineering solutions, supporting project delivery, technical documentation and stakeholder engagement.
• Develop your technical, project management and leadership skills through hands-on experience, mentoring and professional development opportunities.

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.