Graduate Safety Engineer (RACE)

UK Atomic Energy Authority; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Final salary defined benefit pension ²

25 days annual leave + holidays

Flexible working options

Skern Lodge residential development

Job summary

UK Atomic Energy Authority is inviting graduates to join its Graduate Development Programme in Abingdon. You’ll work with world‑leading experts to advance fusion technology while building technical, professional, and leadership skills for a meaningful career.

The scheme blends 20% dedicated development time and 80% role assignments across engineering, safety, and project teams. Candidates should have a Science or Engineering degree (2025–2027), be curious, collaborative, and well organised, with

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

• Support the development of innovative engineering and technology projects, helping to shape the future of fusion energy.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to identify, assess and manage safety risks across electrical, mechanical, automation, robotics and software systems.
• Contribute to the design and review of safety systems, applying risk assessment techniques and industry standards to ensure safe and reliable operation.
• Develop technical documentation, safety cases and engineering reports to support project delivery and regulatory compliance.
• Build your technical, problem-solving and professional skills through hands‑on experience, structured training and continuous development opportunities.

Skills

Rapid learner

Collaboration

Communication

Organisation & planning

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 development of innovative engineering and technology projects, helping to shape the future of fusion energy.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to identify, assess and manage safety risks across electrical, mechanical, automation, robotics and software systems.
• Contribute to the design and review of safety systems, applying risk assessment techniques and industry standards to ensure safe and reliable operation.
• Develop technical documentation, safety cases and engineering reports to support project delivery and regulatory compliance.
• Build your technical, problem-solving and professional skills through hands‑on experience, structured training and continuous 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. More information can be found here.