Year in Industry- Applied & Theoretical Scientist

AWE; Aldermaston; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-day working fortnight

Pension scheme

Annual leave 270 hours

Employee discounts portal

Job summary

AWE in Aldermaston is offering a Year in Industry Placement for Applied and Theoretical Scientist (Physics). Earn £24,500 per annum plus benefits, 12-month contract starting 2 August 2027, onsite with a 9-day working fortnight.

You'll join a small Physics team to support the full lifecycle of warhead components and technologies, including radiation modelling and advanced computational work. On-programme learning combines induction, on-the-job training, and classroom-based learning; off-programme

Qualifications

• Physics, theoretical or applied
• Mathematics
• Data Science
• Structural Engineering
• Computer Science
• Before starting with AWE, you must be able to provide evidence that you have achieved a minimum 2:2 degree classification, or equivalent academic performance to date, by August 2026.

Responsibilities

• Support the full lifecycle of warhead components and technologies.
• Engage in radiation detection measurement and analysis.
• Use MCNP and other modelling tools for physics problems.
• Develop novel computational algorithms to solve physics problems.
• Participate in an undergraduate group project focused on a business deliverable.

Skills

Growth mindset

Curious

Innovative

Resilience

Teamwork

Education

Physics

Mathematics

Data Science

Structural Engineering

Computer Science

2:2 degree by Aug 2026

Job description

Year in Industry Placement - Applied and Theoretical Scientist (Physics)

£24,500 per annum plus benefits

Location

Aldermaston, near Reading, Berkshire; onsite

Contract

12 months

Start date

2August 2027

Working pattern

9-day working fortnight

About AWE

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things?What if the end result was something a little bit special?What if your role was mission critical?

Forover 75years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development.We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK’s ultimate deterrent, Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government withcounter-terrorismand nuclear threat reduction solutions.

It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that personwasyou?

Role purpose

As an undergraduate within our Physics function, you will work in a small team and apply your skills and knowledge to support the full lifecycle of warhead components and technologies. Teams support the mission through radiation detection measurement and analysis; photon, electron and neutron modelling codes such as MCNP; simulation and measurement of material properties in exotic states of matter found in the centre of stars and planets; development of novel computational algorithms to solve physics problems; and complex mathematical assessment.

Programmeexperience

You will focus mainly on one or two projects or areas, gaining deep insight into the work.A line manager and mentor will support you to navigate your time at AWE and develop career skills for the defence industry.

On-programmelearning combinesa corporateinduction, on-the-job training and classroom-based or online learning depending on the role. Off-programmelearning includes participating in an undergraduate group project focused on a business deliverable. You will have opportunities to network with other undergraduates and the graduate community and begin building business contacts at AWE.

By the end of theprogramme, you will have increased your subject knowledge and understanding and gainedadditionalskills for your future career, with the possibility of returning to join the GraduateProgramme.

Entry requirements

We are keen to hear from students studying:

• Physics, theoretical or applied

• Mathematics

• Data Science

• Structural Engineering

• Computer Science

• Before starting with AWE, you must be able to provide evidence that you have achieved a minimum 2:2 degreeclassification, or equivalent academic performance to date, by August 2026.

Behavioursand qualities

You willpossessthe following traits and qualities:

• Growth mindset: You are full of grit and determination, clear about where you are going and how you will get there.

• Curious: You love to think outside thebox, andmay even want to take the box apart.

• Innovative: You are open to learning aboutnew technologiesand ground-breaking ideas.

• Resilience: You advocate speaking up for yourself and others openly and constructively.

• Team worker: You are dependable and reliable, and interested in collaborating with and supporting others.

Salary and benefits

• £24,500 salary.

• A market-leading contributory pension scheme. AWE will pay between 9% and 13% of pensionable pay depending on your contribution.

• 270 hours of annual leave, including an allowance for bank holidays.

• Excellent work-life balance.

• A 9-day working fortnight, meaning you get every other Friday off work.

• Access to an employeediscountsportal, offering everyday savings on leisure,hospitalityand retail.

Alongside these benefits, you will have the opportunity to learn from some of the top leaders in their field.

Recruitment process and key dates

• Online application: Choose the pathway that best matches your interests and goals.

• Online assessment: If eligible, complete numerical, verbal, logical and cognitive reasoning assessments. Practice materials will be available.

• Virtual assessmentcentre: Successful candidates will be invited to a virtual assessmentcentreduring November or December 2026.

• Pre-assessment support: Receivewebinarguidanceso you know what to expect.

• Offer and clearance: Successful candidates will complete offer and security-clearance stages before joining in August 2027.

Security requirements

You must be a UK national holding a UK passport to be eligible to apply to AWE. You must have lived in the UK for 10 years to apply for Developed Vetting (DV) clearance for this role.

Inclusion and diversity

Our ambition is to create workplaces where werecogniseand celebrate differences, encourage diversecontributionsand enable employees to feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants.

Anyinclusioninformation you provide will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purposein accordance withGDPR.

Important things you need to know:

• You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.
• We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process.
• Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.

Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions.

Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.