Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year - Leicester

Tussell Limited; Leicester; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Cavendish Nuclear offers a Mechanical Engineering Placement Year focused on designing, assessing and delivering mechanical systems for nuclear programmes in the UK. You will perform calculations, review documentation, assist with safety cases and work with multidisciplinary teams to support upgrades and decommissioning.

This role provides pathways toward professional registration after graduation. As a placement, you will gain exposure to industry standards and safety requirements, with

Qualifications

• Must be studying an engineering degree in Mechanical, Structural, Materials, Motorsport, Mechatronics or Engine Systems.
• Degree accreditation preferred for the relevant institution.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the design, assessment and delivery of mechanical systems across major nuclear programmes.
• Support engineering calculations, produce and review technical documentation, assist with design substantiation and safety case development; work with multidisciplinary teams.
• Contribute to activities such as equipment upgrades, decommissioning, plant modifications and new build support.
• Prepare for future progression towards IEng or CEng status after graduation.

Skills

Mechanical engineering concepts

Technical calculations

Technical documentation

Safety case development

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Engineering degree (Mechanical/Structural/Materials/Motorsport/Mechatronics/Engine Systems)

Job description

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.

• 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 are Cavendish Nuclear, a wholly owned subsidiary of Babcock International Group and the UK’s leading nuclear services company. With a highly skilled workforce we are located at offices and sites in the UK as well as internationally. Our people innovate to make nuclear safer, faster, at lower cost and deliver across all aspects of the nuclear energy life cycle, from design and build, through operations and maintenance, to decommissioning, waste management and remediation. A career with us is hugely rewarding and exciting; one that stretches and challenges individuals to be the best they can be. When you join Cavendish Nuclear, you will have opportunities to work on projects that will have an impact on the future. At Cavendish Nuclear we put people first. Work with us and you’ll discover that our focus on people is unique.