Marine Structures Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

targetjobs UK; West of England; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

targetjobs UK offers a year-long placement at the Babcock Technology Centre in Bristol. Based in the Submarine Support Engineering Structures Group, you’ll perform structural assessments using hand calculations and FEA, and help design platform structures for explosive shock survivability.

You’ll gain hands-on experience with Ansys, MathCAD and AutoCAD, mentored by experienced engineers, with a view to future graduate opportunities. A final-year student in a relevant field is preferred.

Qualifications

• Final year of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Structural Engineering or closely related field.
• Ability to meet BPSS and Security Check clearance requirements.
• UK national as per security legislation for this programme.

Responsibilities

• Perform structural assessments using hand calcs and FEA.
• Design and evaluate platform structures for explosive shock survivability.
• Conduct platform surveys and validation at Devonport Royal Dockyard and HM Naval Base Clyde.
• Support investigations, feasibility studies, and engineering trials.
• Assist with managing structural defects and safety certifications.

Skills

Structural analysis

FEA

Engineering documentation

Collaboration

Education

Final year bachelor’s or master’s degree in Structural/Mechanical/Naval Engineering

Tools

Ansys

MathCAD

AutoCAD

Job description

Salary: £26,800 pro rata

Location: Babcock Technology Centre, Bristol

Application closing date: 20 October 2026

Start date: September 2027

What you'll be doing

Based at the Babcock Technology Centre in Bristol, you'll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team delivering some of the UK's most advanced naval engineering projects. This placement offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the structural integrity and safety of submarine platforms.

You'll be based in the Submarine Support Engineering Structures Group for the full year. Your work will include performing structural assessments using hand calculations and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), designing and evaluating platform structures for explosive shock survivability, and conducting platform surveys and validation exercises at Devonport Royal Dockyard and HM Naval Base Clyde. Your responsibilities will also include supporting technical investigations, feasibility studies, and engineering trials, as well as managing structural defects and safety certifications. You'll play a role in future platform projects and capability upgrades that enhance operational performance.

Throughout the year, you'll gain practical experience with industry-standard software such as Ansys, MathCAD, and AutoCAD. You'll also build a solid foundation in platform structures, including pressure hull collapse theory and engineering standards. To support your development, you'll receive tailored mentorship and one-to-one guidance from experienced professionals who are committed to helping you grow.

What you'll get out of it

Our placements are about more than work experience – they're an opportunity to immerse yourself in life at Babcock, form meaningful connections, and develop skills that will set you apart in your future career. You'll work alongside supportive colleagues and gain guidance from experienced professionals every step of the way.

We value the fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that placement students bring to our team. We believe you have the potential to shape the future of our business. But we also understand that this placement is as much about you assessing what's right for you as it is about us getting to know you. Perform well, and you could be considered for a position on our graduate programme – your journey with Babcock could just be getting started.

What you'll need

• You must be entering your final year of :a bachelor's or master's degree (BEng, MEng, Bachelor's or Master's) in Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, Civil Engineering, Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering, Ship & Offshore Structures, Marine Engineering/Marine Technology, Physics, Materials Science, or Mathematics.
• Many of our programmes are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold or have held may impact which programmes you are eligible for. For this programme, you must be able to achieve and maintain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) security clearance. For further details, visit GOV.UK and search 'United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels'.
• Under applicable national security legislation, this post may only be occupied by a sole UK national. This legal requirement is independent of our recruitment policies, and all eligible applicants will be assessed fairly and without discrimination.

Application process and important information

Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, and if there's a high level of interest in this programme, we'll close applications earlier than advertised. To give yourself the best chance of being considered, we recommend submitting your application and completing any required online assessments as soon as possible.

Please apply to one programme only. If we receive more than one application from you, we'll assess the first one submitted. If your chosen programme becomes oversubscribed, we may contact you to discuss other programmes you could be eligible for.

We're a Disability Confident Employer. If you require additional support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply. Our team will contact you after receiving your application to discuss your requirements and the support available.

We're committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone's free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.