Graduate Scheme 2021

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in joining an organisation where your work will contribute and help to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, the graduate scheme provides a perfect gateway into a future career in this industry.  

Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and Stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA are at the forefront of realising energy from fusion, working with industry and research partners to deliver the ground-breaking developments that will underpin tomorrow's fusion power stations with the aim of bringing fusion electricity to the grid.

Who are we looking for? 

We have an excellent opportunity for motivated and enthusiastic graduates to join our two-year graduate scheme, working in one of the specialist areas below. As part of our exciting scheme, you will spend 80% of your time developing both your general work-related skills and professional qualifications, with 20% of your working time dedicated to graduate training and development. UKAEA has a nurturing community that learns from each other. 

Job Description

What opportunities does the graduate scheme cover? 

Our graduate scheme covers the following specialisms:  

• Control & Instrumentation Engineering – Support in the design, installation, operation and enhancement of modular electronics, PLC systems and analogue and digital electronics at board and systems level. 
• Software Engineering – Support in maintaining and updating software, writing, configuring and testing of control, data acquisition, analysis and archiving systems. 
• Electrical / Electronic Engineering – Support in the maintenance, repair and provision of upgrades/refurbishments to major parts of the pulsed power supplies plant (400/36KV), as well as producing electrical equipment designs from specifications. 
• Mechanical Engineering – Support by performing a variety of engineering tasks to include systems analysis, design and review, operational analysis as well as repair and recovery of existing equipment. .
• Physics- Support a wide variety of activities from experimental hardware work and tokamak operations to data analysis and scientific modelling. This work will be primarily focused on either JET, MAST or STEP tokamak design, experimentation and analysis.
• We also have opportunities to join the graduate scheme in other parts of the organisation including Procurement.  

If you have a degree in an area not specified but feel that you could apply your skills to one of them, we would still encourage you to apply.  We would ask you to demonstarte how your skills would be relevant to the listed opportunities.  

Within the 20% training and development, there is a core suite of tasks and activities designed to develop your professional skills. Elements of this programme are flexible and can be tailored to your personal development needs and to those of your specific job role. Our scheme is accredited by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET) and the Institute of Physics (IoP) as a professional development scheme. 

Qualifications

To be considered you will be due to graduate, or you will have graduated recently, and will possess a relevant degree from within the specialisms listed. You will be motivated, which will help you to work well with others, and you will have an interest in the development of a cleaner energy that the world badly needs. Additionally, you will be passionate about self-development and you should have a proactive approach to your work with an enthusiasm to achieving your full potential.  

Additional Information

What is the recruitment process? 

If shortlisted, you will be contacted by the recruitment team to arrange a short telephone interview. Due to the current situation, successful applications will be invited to a more in depth virtual interview where you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your abilities and skills in a range of different situations which include a short presentation. 

What we offer 

• A competitive salary 
• A dedicated mentor who will help to develop your career and experience 
• Encouragement and support to achieve your professional accreditation 
• A culture committed to being fully inclusive, supported by a Being Inclusive Strategy and Inclusion Ambassadors 
• An Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, with a full calendar of health and wellbeing initiatives 
• Dedicated Early Careers events and team building opportunities  
• Being part of the Graduate and Early Careers community at UKAEA 
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies  
• 30.5 days annual leave (including privilege days and 3 days between Christmas and New Year) increased with length of service 
• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
• Annual corporate bonus scheme

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particular from individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, including nationality and citizenship, people with disabilities, (visible and hidden) and women. Our dedicated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Partner, with the support of our Inclusion Ambassadors, is actively promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion in the organisation to help make our organisation an employer of choice. We are easily accessible by car and are a 10-minute walk from Culham Railway Station.  

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if large or sufficient numbers of applications are received. 

Please note all employees working at the UK Atomic Energy Authority will be required to complete an online Disclosure Certificate application as part of their clearance – The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks will show the details of all current criminal convictions (convictions considered unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974) or will confirm that there are no such convictions