Graduate Scheme 2027 – Process Design Engineering

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory Limited; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Leave 25.5 days + shutdown days

Company Bonus

Pension plan

Health care benefits

Learning opportunities

Job summary

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory Limited (UKNNL) invites graduates to join its two-year Process Design Engineering Graduate programme. Based across sites in the Northwest (Cheshire, Preston, Lancashire or West Cumbria), you will work on diverse process engineering tasks, from asset care design to new build projects, under guidance from experienced engineers.

Applicants should have graduated or be on track to graduate with a 2:1 or higher in Chemical Engineering, must have the right to

Qualifications

• Graduated or on track to graduate with a 2:1 or higher in Chemical Engineering.
• Eligibility to work in the UK is required.
• Must be able to obtain SC security clearance.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities are essential.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of a varied portfolio of Process Engineering tasks.
• Collaborate with multi-site teams to deliver fit-for-purpose solutions.
• Document work in technical reports and maintain design assurance processes.
• Develop technical skills through the two-year graduate programme.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Problem-solving

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Education

2:1 in Chemical Engineering

Job description

Summary

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 UKUKNNL, 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 Process 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 Chemical 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 Process Design Engineering Graduate you will support the delivery of a varied portfolio of Process Engineering tasks and projects, from ensuring that UKNNL facilities remain operational (asset care design work) through to the delivery of new build projects, supporting the R&D requirements of both internal R&D and that of our external customers and government strategic planning.

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 one of our sites in the Northwest of England – Cheshire, Preston, Lancashire or West Cumbria. The role allows for hybrid working with the flexibility to work from home on some of your working days. You will travel, when necessary, between the various UKNNL sites, dependent on project needs.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.

Why join us?

UKNNL isn’t just a place where you can do career-defining work that makes a real-world impact. It’s also a place where you’ll feel appreciated and valued. We’re creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is free to be themselves and feel like they belong. We put your wellbeing first, we push you to reach your potential, and we do everything possible to help you feel safe, supported and inspired.

We also offer a range of employee benefits:

• Annual Leave: Benefit from 25.5 days of leave, plus 4 extra days to be taken during Christmas shutdown, plus Bank Holidays.
• Company Bonus: Be rewarded for your contributions.
• Reduced gym membership with discounts of up to 25% from 3,700 gym and leisure providers across the UK
• Cycle to Work: Stay active and eco-friendly.
• Access to ‘Mydiscounts’ which has a range of special offers and discounts from more than 200 suppliers, including medical insurance and dental insurance.
• Enhanced Sick Pay Benefits: Receive support during illness or injury.
• Health Care: Health savings plan which allows you to claim money back on visits to the dentist, optician and/or physiotherapist (limits apply).
• Employee Assistance: Access support for personal and professional challenges.
• Learning Opportunities: Enhance your skills through excellent development programmes.
• UKNNL offers attractive pension plans. An auto enrollment scheme for those who are aged 22 or older, or if you are below the age of 22 you can choose to opt-in to the scheme. If you contribute 5%, UKNNL contributes 15%. Alternatively, if you choose not to contribute (0%), UKNNL will still contribute 10%.
• Life Assurance: Ensure peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
• Sector leading Family-Focused Policies: celebrate life events, including enhanced maternity and paternity leave and a week off for your marriage.

About The Company

UKNNL is an incredible place to work. A place where people do things that have never been done before. A place where people push boundaries to further themselves, the business and society as a whole.

This is a place where personal and professional opportunities are limitless. If you want to change the world, if you want to tackle climate change, if you want to help advance medical science, if you want to help put things in space, if you want to answer the big questions, if you want to work with extraordinary materials, if you want to meet great people, learn new skills, challenge yourself, work flexibly, and build a long successful career with the power to make a real impact… you can do it all here.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

UKNNL has a vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (ED&I) where UKNNL aims to be an inclusive workplace that attracts diverse talent through transparent and equal policies and procedures, providing reasonable adjustments as appropriate. 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 and the ability to access to workplace in a way which works for you.

Recruitment Agency Notice

We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List (PSL) for the provision of recruitment services. Only agencies on our PSL may provide CVs and only when the role is released to them by our recruitment team. We will not accept unsolicited CVs from suppliers not currently on our PSL. We explicitly reserve the right to add candidate details from unsolicited CVs from non-PSL agencies into our own candidate database and to pursue/hire such candidate(s) without any obligation, financial or otherwise, to the agency concerned.