Nuclear Safety Assessment Specialist – Year in Industry Placement

AWE; Aldermaston; On-site; GBP 13,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

AWE in Aldermaston offers an office-based placement focused on risk assessment and safety analysis. You will explore hazards, model accident scenarios and contribute to safety cases.

You should be working towards a STEM degree, aiming for a 2:2 by August 2027 with graduation planned for 2029 or 2030. UK nationals eligible for DV security clearance; on-site pattern with no guaranteed work-from-home.

Qualifications

• Working toward a STEM-related degree with a minimum 2:2 by August 2027.
• UK national, DV clearance eligibility required.
• Office-based placement at Aldermaston; no guaranteed remote work.

Responsibilities

• Risk and hazard assessment support across major hazards.
• Model potential accidents and identify controls.
• Contribute to safety case development and reporting.
• Collaborate with operators, engineers, regulators across the project lifecycle.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Technical curiosity

Attention to detail

Collaboration

Education

STEM degree (working towards)

Job description

Why this role matters

Use risk assessment and technical analysis to help keep complex facilities, operations and programmes safe. You will assess hazards, explore accident scenarios and support safety cases that protect people, the environment and national security. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A LAB BASED ROLE.

At a glance

• Entry requirement: You should be working towards a STEM-related degree and be on track to achieve a minimum 2:2 by August 2027. This is not a lab-based role. You must be graduating in either 2029 or 2030.
• Security clearance: You must be a UK national, hold a UK passport, have lived in the UK for the past 10 years and be willing and able to obtain and maintain DV security clearance
• Working pattern: A full-time, 9-day working fortnight, with every second Friday off. This is an office-based role at Aldermaston, near Reading. Due to the nature and security of the work, we cannot guarantee opportunities to work from home.
• Key dates
  • Applications close: end of October 2026
  • Start date: August 2027

What you could work on

• Risk and hazard assessment: Support the analysis of nuclear, radiological, chemical, explosives and other major hazards.
• Accident scenarios: Help model potential failures and identify controls that prevent or reduce their consequences.
• Safety cases: Contribute to the development and review of safety assessments, justifications and technical reports.
• Technical collaboration: Work with operators, facility management, engineers, scientists and regulators across the project lifecycle.

Why being onsite will support your development

This is an office-based placement. Due to the nature and security of our work, we cannot guarantee opportunities to work from home for part of the week. Being onsite means you will learn directly from subject matter experts, receive hands‑on support and build connections across technical and operational teams. This day‑to‑day access can accelerate your development and help you get more from your placement year.

The key skills we're looking for

• Analytical thinking: You enjoy breaking down complex information, testing evidence and reaching balanced conclusions.
• Technical curiosity: You want to understand how systems can fail and how risks can be controlled.
• Attention to detail: You can work carefully, follow requirements and communicate evidence accurately.
• Collaboration: You can learn from specialists, ask questions and contribute positively to multidisciplinary teams.

Where this placement could take you

You will gain practical experience in major hazard assessment, safety case development, regulation, technical reporting and stakeholder engagement. The placement can prepare you for careers in nuclear safety, risk management, safety engineering, regulation or related technical fields, with the potential to return to AWE through a future graduate opportunity, subject to performance and available roles.

What happens after you apply

• Online application Submit your application as soon as possible.
• Online testing If eligible, you’ll complete numerical, verbal, logical and cognitive reasoning assessments, with practice materials available.
• Virtual assessment centre Successful candidates will be invited to a virtual assessment centre, expected between October 2026 and January 2027.
• Pre-assessment support You’ll be invited to a webinar with practical guidance on what to expect.
• Offer and clearance If successful, you’ll move into the offer and security‑clearance stages ahead of joining on 2 August 2027.

Applications close on 31 October 2026, but apply as soon as possible. We will close the role early once we receive enough applications.