Graduate Scheme 2027 - CE&I Design Engineering

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory Limited; England; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory Limited seeks a CE&I Design Engineering Graduate for the two‑year programme based at the Sellafield site, with hybrid working options. You will collaborate with senior engineers, advance design packages and gain broad industry exposure while pursuing professional growth and security clearance capabilities.

The role starts on a salary of £38,877, requires a 2:1 in Electrical or Electronic Engineering, and supports an engaging early career community with

Qualifications

• Graduated or on track to graduate with a 2:1 or higher in Electrical or Electronic Engineering.
• Right to work in the UK and ability to obtain security clearance (SC).
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver engineering design packages to required time, cost and quality.
• Collaborate with other teams and across sites to deliver fit-for-purpose solutions.
• Support the full project lifecycle from customer Liaison to documentation and handover.
• Contribute to development and training within the early careers programme.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Electrical or Electronic Engineering

Job description

UKNNL has a vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (ED&I) which aims to be an inclusive workplace that attracts diverse talent through transparent and equal policies and procedures. We want you and the diverse mix of people that we employ, customers that we service and stakeholders that we influence to feel valued. We encourage a workplace culture where everyone can thrive with a sense of belonging.

Graduate Scheme 2027 - CE&I Design Engineering

2026-10-01 13:26:51

Category: Apprentice & Graduates

Salary: Salary starting at £38,877

Closing Date: 2026-12-01

Location: Sellafield, Cumbria

The starting salary for this position is £38,877 (Band 5A)

If you have any queries regarding the position itself please contact [e-mail].

Please be aware that all new appointments will be made in-line with the PLC ‘New’ terms & conditions. Therefore, if you are not already on PLC ‘New’ terms & conditions and you are selected and accept this role, there will be changes made to your contractual terms. The terms and conditions of the role will be made clear in the offer letter.

If you have any queries about the impact of applying for this role on your terms & conditions, pay, pension or benefits, please contact the HR Support Team.

Job Description

There’s never been a more exciting time to be part of the nuclear sector. New opportunities are being created all the time. At UKNNL, you’ll be in the ideal place to capitalise on this momentum, face new challenges and develop a long, successful and meaningful career.UKNNL is where your solutions solve real‑world problems. As a CE&I Design Engineering Graduate, you’ll not only be able to get involved with a huge variety of projects, but you’ll also have lots of opportunity to drive them through from start to finish — allowing you to see the impact your work has in a real‑world environment. This is your chance to use your experience, expertise and ingenuity to collaborate with leading scientists. You’ll be part of a team that delivers work to benefit society by advancing cleaner energy, protecting the environment and keeping everyone safe.

We’re an organisation that’s here to experiment and push the limits of what’s possible. So, if you’re keen to excel in your chosen field, this is the place to do it. Because at UKNNL, anything is possible.

We are developing the next generation of technical experts. Not only will you receive the opportunity to work on exciting and rewarding projects, but you’ll continually learn from skilled and knowledgeable industry experts who are leaders in their field. We will help you become everything you can be, by challenging, stretching, and pushing you to your limits while supporting you every step of the way.

To join the UKNNL graduate programme you will have graduated, or be on course to graduate, with a 2:1 or higher in Electrical or Electronic Engineering..

You will have the right to work in the UK, have lived in the UK for at least 5 years and be able to achieve SC level security clearance..

You will be naturally curious with the drive and motivation to discover more about yourself and our business.Forward-thinking, proactive and positive, you will bring your own energy to the team and you’ll have an enquiring mind that helps us to discover solutions to some of the world’s biggest issues.You will have excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills

Main Responsibilities

As a EC&I Design Engineering Graduate you will work alongside senior engineers, delivering engineering design packages to the required time, cost and quality. You will provide skilled engineering support to a varied portfolio of engineering tasks, both desk based and hands‑on, within projects ensuring the team continues to deliver for UKNNL’s internal and external customers.

You will work with other teams and across sites operated by UKNNL, working in a multidiscipline engineering team to deliver fit for purpose engineering solutions that fulfil customer, regulator, and key stakeholders’ requirements. You will deliver solutions which meet all required statutory site and national safety standards, and in accordance with UKNNL’s design assurance process to meet our customer’s schedule to implement and transfer the solution to normal operations.

Throughout the graduate programme you will have the support of our experienced early careers team, your line manager, mentor, colleagues, and fellow graduates.

You will acquire a depth of knowledge and specific technical skills in a particular area of our business. You will experience the full life cycle of our projects; from liaising with customers to understand their needs, planning work and developing new methods and processes, to documenting your work effectively in technical reports.

Our graduates support us in many areas of the business from business development to product innovation, project delivery and environment, health, safety, security & quality.

You will join an organisation where you are free to be yourself whilst being part of our incredible early career’s community. UKNNL is creating a workplace culture where everyone can thrive with a sense of belonging through our ED&I Ambassador network and relationships with Women in Nuclear (WiN), Race Equality in Nuclear (REiN) and the Nuclear Rainbow Forum.

Your programme starts with a tailored, induction programme to welcome you into the business and to get to know your graduate cohort. The Induction will help you understand the breadth of what UKNNL does and to provide an overview of your development programme and our expectations.You will then embark on your two‑year graduate scheme undertaking a programme of activities designed to help you develop your understanding of the nuclear industry and grow as an individual, these include:

• Understanding UKNNL, the nuclear sector and nuclear professionalism
• The application of professional knowledge and skill
• Personal development and understanding your own personal brand
• Collaboration and team working
• Understanding our customer and making effective decisions

You will complete your programme with a focussed training centre to support your seamless transition off the scheme to continue your career and professional development with UKNNL. We provide support as you actively work towards professional recognition in your chosen field.

You will be based at our Sellafield site. On the doorstep of the Lake District National Park our Sellafield site offer you the opportunity to work with incredible people on extraordinary projects whilst enjoying some of the most unique and beautiful landscapes the UK has to offer, providing an excellent quality of life . The role allows for hybrid working with the flexibility to work from home on some of your working days.

As part of the selection process for the graduate programme you should expect to complete online assessments. Successful candidates will be invited to attend an in‑person assessment centre which will assess technical and behavioural competencies. Assessment Centres for this role will be held in February 2027.

You will start your graduate programme in early September 2027.