Graduate R&D Engineer

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contribution

Annual leave

Flexible working

Skern Lodge residential

Job summary

UK Atomic Energy Authority invites graduates to join its Graduate Development Programme, working with world‑leading experts to advance fusion technology and build the technical, professional, and leadership skills needed for a rewarding career in a growing energy industry.

As a Graduate R&D Engineer, you’ll contribute to the Technology Development Group, develop testing programmes, help define new test rigs, and mature ideas from concept to application‑ready solutions while gaining broad

Qualifications

• Degree in Science or Engineering (2025–2027).
• 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

• Develop knowledge and understanding of fusion relevant technical topics, applying knowledge learned to assigned projects.
• Develop efficient and realisable testing programmes for major research and power‑plant design programmes.
• Define new test rig and facility requirements; support their development; and manage build, commissioning, and exploitation.
• Deliver technology maturation projects from concept through to commercially relevant technologies, including benchtop and lab‑scale testing planning and delivery.
• Operate and enhance our existing range of flexible test facilities.
• Research potential applications of fusion technologies in other industries.

Skills

Learning mindset

Collaboration

Communication

Organisational skills

Education

Degree in Science or Engineering

Job description

Graduate R&D Engineer

Overview of Responsibilities

About us 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 industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by 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

The Technology Development Group are responsible for providing projects and programmes across the organisation with the skills and knowledge required to bring low maturity ideas through to application‑ready engineering solutions. The projects we work on are diverse; supported by senior colleagues, your core responsibilities will include:

• Develop knowledge and understanding of fusion relevant technical topics, applying knowledge learned to assigned projects.
• Develop efficient and realisable testing programmes for major research and power‑plant design programmes.
• Define new test rig and facility requirements; support their development; and manage build, commissioning, and exploitation.
• Deliver technology maturation projects from proof of concept through to commercially relevant technologies, including the planning and delivery of benchtop and lab‑scale testing.
• Operate and enhance our existing range of flexible test facilities.
• Research potential applications of fusion technologies in other industries.

Due to the variety of our work, there’s no such thing as a typical day for our Technology Development Graduate Engineers but you can expect to leverage your curiosity and passion for continuous learning; work on projects in technical areas to which you may not have previously had exposure, and work in an innovation focused environment where there may be significant uncertainty and problems may be open‑ended. If this appeals, we would like to hear from you.

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.

Benefits

• £35,227 base salary.
• 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.

Additional details

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.

Programme

FT & H3AT Major Infrastructure

Department

Science

Site location

UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire

Type of Employment

Full-time

Reference Number

REF4507W