About AWE
For over 75 years, 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 with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.
It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?
Materials Science supports the life cycle of warhead components and technologies to ensure the reliability of the UK’s strategic deterrent and national security mission. A nuclear warhead contains a wide range of materials, including metals, ceramics, inorganic salts, rubbers, foams, adhesives, high explosives and radioactive substances. Materials and Analytical Science is critical to understanding and predicting how these materials behave under different conditions.
As an undergraduate within the Modelling Team in Materials and Analytical Science, you will work on projects involving a range of models and codes, using several coding languages to help deliver AWE’s mission.
Key activities
- Work with Materials and Analytical Scientists to characterise material ageing processes and propose approaches to model observed trends.
- Use a variety of statistical techniques to analyse experimental data.
- Write, develop and run code in languages and packages such as MATLAB, Mathematica, OpenFOAM and R.
- Use computational techniques for parameter optimisation.
- Verify and validate codes by identifying suitable test cases and determining analytical solutions where appropriate.
Entry requirements
We are interested in candidates working towards a degree in:
- Mathematics, with modelling experience
- Physics
- Computer Science
- Materials Science
- Chemistry, with demonstrable strong mathematics or programming skills
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.
Most importantly, we are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are keen to get involved in interesting research and tasks.
Behaviours and qualities
You will possess the 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 the box, and may even want to take the box apart.
- Innovative: You are open to learning about new technologies and 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.
- Generous holiday entitlement.
- Excellent work-life balance.
- A 9-day working fortnight, meaning you get every other Friday off work.
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 assessment centre: Successful candidates will be invited to a virtual assessment centre during November or December 2026.
- Pre-assessment support: Receive webinar guidance so 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.
Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.
