For more than 50 years, AWE has played a crucial role in the defence of the United Kingdom, by providing and maintaining the warheads for the country’s nuclear deterrent. With some of the most advanced research, design and production facilities in the world, the Establishment claims to be “a centre of scientific and technological excellence”. One of its projects includes Trident, a submarine-launched, inter-continental ballistic nuclear missile weapons system, carried by Royal Navy Vanguard-class submarines.
AWE is responsible for manufacturing and sustaining the warheads for the Trident system, ensuring optimum safety and performance, whilst maintaining a capability to produce a successor system should the Government require one in the future. The work at AWE covers the entire life cycle of nuclear warheads; from initial concept, assessment and design, through to component manufacture and assembly, in-service support, and finally decommissioning and disposal.
The scientists, engineers and business specialists employed by AWE are world renowned. Achieving and maintaining the very highest standards in everything it does is at the heart of the Establishment’s vision. AWE is managed for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) through a contractor-operated arrangement. While its sites and facilities remain in government ownership, their management, day-to-day operations and the maintenance of Britain’s nuclear stockpile is contracted to a private company: AWE Management Limited (AWE ML).
AWE employs around 4,500 staff and over 2,000 contractors, whose work covers a vast range of disciplines. The Establishment employs scientists, engineers, technicians, crafts-people and safety specialists, as well as business and administrative experts.
As graduate careers go, AWE offers some unique opportunities from the chance to contribute to the defence of the UK to joining the nation’s largest high-tech research, development and production facility. AWE houses some of the world’s most advanced experimental facilities and one of the largest supercomputers in existence. Graduates at AWE As graduate careers go, AWE offers some unique opportunities. The chance to contribute to the defence of the UK is one – this is a role AWE has been fulfilling since 1950 by providing and maintaining the warheads for the country’s nuclear deterrent.
Another is the chance to join the nation’s largest high-tech research, development and production facility – we house some of the world’s most advanced experimental facilities and one of the largest supercomputers in existence. We firmly believe that there is simply no comparison with AWE when it comes to investment, stability and long-term prospects for graduates.
The rest of this section will tell you more about what AWE could offer you and where you could fit in. Our graduate programme will expose you to some of the most advances technology around and will give you the chance to work alongside some of the most respected scientist, engineers and business professionals in the country. Whats more with direct exposure to worlds leading research projects, you will have the chance to work collaboratively with scientific and engineering communities on an international level.
There is no fixed path as such. You will work with your line manager and mentor to create an individual development plan that can adapt to you changing needs as your progress. Your mentor knowledge of the company and your discipline will help you apply yourself effectively within the company and obtain professional qualification.
We also provide financial support and study leave - and the programme is accredited by the IChemE, RSC, IoP, IoM3, IMechE ad IET. We have opportunities for degree, MSc and PhD graduates from science, engineering, business and assurance disciplines including:
Aeronautical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil/Structural Engineering
Control Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electronic Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Instrument Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Material Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Software Engineering
Mathematics
Once you’re here, you will have the opportunity to develop your skills and competence in your chosen discipline in order to achieve Professional Registration, if that’s where you want to go. In the longer term you can choose to specialise or pursue a broader management career – we attach equal importance to both. Eligibility AWE welcomes applications from women and men, regardless of disability, sexuality, racial or ethnic origin, age or responsibility for dependants.
The normal contractual retirement age at AWE is 65. Successful candidates will be selected solely on their ability to carry out the duties of the post. Because of the nature of the work associated with these posts, they are subject to special nationality rules and are open only to British citizens. All selected candidates will be required to undergo security clearance. Security Clearance for the majority of posts at AWE is ‘Developed Vetting’, which requires residence on UK soil for the 10 years immediately prior to employment. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate achieving and maintaining the necessary level of security clearance for their role at AWE.
Apply to: careers@awe.co.uk www.awe.co.uk