Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

Babcock International; Bristol; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Bristol is offering a Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year. Candidates will rotate through several placements, engaging in projects like system performance analysis and engineering optimizations. The ideal applicant must be studying Mechanical Engineering and be ready to fulfill security clearance requirements. This opportunity can lead to inclusion in the graduate programme, shaping future career prospects.

Qualifications

• You must be an undergraduate studying a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Must be eligible for Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) clearance.

Responsibilities

• Complete a rotation of placements within the Submarine Support Engineering team.
• Experience different aspects of the business and broaden engineering skills.
• Contribute to projects such as system performance modelling and engineering investigations.

Education

Undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

Programme title: Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

Location: Babcock Technology Centre, Bristol

Application closing date: 16 October 2025

Start date: September 2026

Role ID: 66874

What you’ll be doing

You’ll be based within the Submarine Support Engineering (SSE) team, which focuses on maintaining in-service submarines and provides technical engineering support to the Ministry of Defence.

As a mechanical engineering undergraduate, you will complete a rotation of placements within SSE throughout the year, where you’ll experience different aspects of the business and broaden your engineering skills and knowledge. You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to exciting and varied projects such as system performance modelling and analysis, maintenance optimisations, engineering investigations, and support for future submarines. You may also be involved in waterfront production and manufacture, as well as researching new technologies.

The placement year is designed to be flexible and tailored to your interests, allowing you to apply your engineering knowledge in real-world situations and gain exposure to a wide range of mechanical engineering challenges.

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 up for 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 an undergraduate studying a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Many of our graduate 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 Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) clearance. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK.

Application process and closing dates

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the programme may close early if we receive a high volume of interest. To give yourself the best chance of being considered, we strongly recommend submitting your application and completing any required online assessments as soon as possible.