Graduate- Liabilities

Supports nuclear waste management, decommissioning and demolition programmes through project planning, risk management, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement.

About AWE 

We are a team of remarkable people, united by one extraordinary mission: keeping the UK safe and secure. Our work supports the UK's independent nuclear deterrent and wider national-security capabilities through science, engineering, technology and specialist expertise. 

Programme purpose 

Join the Liabilities team, which sets direction and manages nuclear, radiological, chemical and explosive waste alongside the safe decommissioning and demolition of associated facilities. Through structured placements, you will gain experience across the full liabilities lifecycle and see how strategy, projects, operations, engineering, safety and waste specialists work together. 

The programme is flexible so placements can reflect individual interests and business needs, while maintaining a strong Liabilities focus. At least 75% of the programme is expected to be spent in Liabilities-related placements. You will contribute to live programmes and build the skills required for a long-term career in a highly regulated environment. 

Key activities and responsibilities 

• Support decommissioning, demolition and waste programmes from strategy through to delivery. 

• Contribute to liabilities strategy, integration and planning. 

• Apply risk-based thinking and support safe systems of work, permits and compliance activity. 

• Collaborate with capability sponsors, projects, engineering, safety, operations, facilities, waste, commercial and procurement teams. 

• Support reporting, coordination, data-informed decisions and continuous improvement. 

• Build organisational awareness through varied placements and potential leadership shadowing. 

Learning and development 

• The full lifecycle of liabilities management, decommissioning, demolition and waste. 

• How strategy, projects, engineering, operations, facilities and safety disciplines work together. 

• Project-delivery principles through the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification. 

• Core health and safety through IOSH Working Safely or Managing Safely. 

• Lean and continuous-improvement techniques, including Lean Sigma Six Yellow Belt capability. 

• Nuclear professionalism, regulatory awareness, risk management and safe systems of work. 

• Stakeholder engagement, planning, problem-solving, reporting and digital tools such as Excel or Power BI. 

Potential placement experience 

• Liabilities Integration Office, strategy and facility-management teams. 

• Liabilities Operations, Estates Programmes and Delivery Waste teams. 

• Work Control, delivery projects, engineering and Safety Case teams. 

• Waste Operations and a possible non-Liabilities placement to broaden experience. 

Training, qualifications and outturn capability 

• APM Project Fundamentals Qualification. 

• IOSH Working Safely or Managing Safely. 

• Lean or Continuous Improvement Yellow Belt. 

• Nuclear professionalism and regulatory-awareness training. 

• Risk-management and safe-systems-of-work training. 

• Practical experience of stakeholder engagement, planning, reporting and digital analysis. 

Behaviours and qualities 

• Proactive: You take ownership and want to make a practical difference. 

• Collaborative: You enjoy working across disciplines and learning from specialists. 

• Organised: You can manage priorities, plan work and deliver to deadlines. 

• Analytical: You use evidence and structured thinking to address complex issues. 

• Adaptable: You respond positively as placements, priorities and challenges change. 

• Safety focused: You understand the importance of quality, compliance and careful decision-making. 

Entry requirements 

• You should hold, or be on track to achieve, a minimum 2:2 in a relevant technical or general degree. 

• Relevant technical subjects include Nuclear, Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Environmental or Systems Engineering, Environmental Science, Physics, Chemistry and Materials Science. 

• Relevant general subjects include Sustainability, Environmental or Public Policy, Politics, Project or Business Management, Economics, Geography, Law, Supply Chain, Logistics, Finance and Accounting. Other STEM backgrounds may also be considered. 

• You must be available to join AWE in September 2027. 

• You must be a British National and willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance. 

Salary and benefits 

• £31,000 starting salary. 

• A market-leading contributory pension scheme. 

• 270 hours of annual leave, including bank holidays. 

• A 9-day working fortnight, giving you every other Friday off. 

• A salary-sacrifice benefit scheme, Life Assurance and employee discounts. 

• A welcome payment and the option of an interest-free £1,000 loan. 

• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services. 

• Regular Graduate pay reviews and structured career progression. 

Support and community 

• A dedicated line manager and Evolve pathway lead. 

• A buddy, typically from an earlier Graduate cohort. 

• A supportive Early Careers community and access to employee networks. 

• Structured development, mentoring and relevant professional learning.