Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

Nuclearinst; Leicester; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Nuclearinst in Leicester offers a Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year with a salary of £26,784 per year. The role is based on-site at Radar Road, Leicester, and the application closing date is 20 October 2026 for a start in September 2027.

You’ll contribute to the design, assessment and delivery of mechanical systems for major nuclear programmes, gaining insight into project delivery and the role of engineers in critical national infrastructure.

Qualifications

• You must be studying an engineering degree in Mechanical, Structural, Materials, Motorsport, Mechatronics or Engine Systems.
• Degree accreditation by a relevant institution is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Join our Cavendish Nuclear business for a Mechanical Engineering Placement Year and contribute to the design, assessment and delivery of mechanical systems on major programmes.
• Support engineering calculations and review technical documentation.
• Assist with design substantiation and safety case development, and work with multidisciplinary teams.
• Contribute to activities such as equipment upgrades, decommissioning, plant modifications and new build support.
• Develop understanding of professional engineering standards and progress toward IEng/CEng after graduation.

Skills

Engineering degree (enrolled)

Security clearance awareness

Education

Engineering degree (in progress)

Job description

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

Programme title: Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

Salary: £26,784

Location: Radar Road, Leicester

Application closing date: 20 October 2026

Start date: September 2027

Role ID: 74748

What you’ll do

Join our Cavendish Nuclear business for a Mechanical Engineering Placement Year and play a key role in delivering safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear solutions that support the UK’s clean energy future.

During your placement year, you’ll contribute to the design, assessment and delivery of mechanical systems used across major nuclear programmes, while gaining strong understanding of project delivery and the role mechanical engineers play in supporting critical national infrastructure.

You’ll support engineering calculations, produce and review technical documentation, assist with design substantiation and safety case development, and work closely with multidisciplinary teams. You may also contribute to activities such as equipment upgrades, decommissioning, plant modifications and new build support.

This role offers exposure to technically challenging projects, alongside industry standards and nuclear safety requirements, and insight into how engineering principles are applied in practice.

As your confidence and capability grow, you’ll take on increasing responsibility and contribute more independently to project work. You’ll also build an understanding of professional engineering standards, helping to prepare you for future progression towards IEng or CEng status after graduation.

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 studying an engineering degree in one of the following disciplines: Mechanical, Structural, Materials, Motorsport, Mechatronics or Engine Systems. Our preference is that your degree is also accredited by the relevant institution.

• 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’.

We're a Disability Confident Employer. If you need adjustments or support at any stage, please let us know. Contact us at [e-mail] to discuss your needs and explore the options 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.