Safety Engineering Graduate Programme

Identifies and mitigates safety risks in nuclear submarine engineering and facilities, supporting hazard analysis, nuclear safety cases, regulatory compliance and safety assurance across defence projects.

What will you do on the programme?

At Babcock, safety isn’t just a priority — it’s a commitment. On this graduate programme, you’ll be part of a team at the forefront of that commitment, helping to ensure our people, operations and the communities we serve remain protected.

You could be supporting the design and maintenance of Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines, contributing to the safe operation of nuclear facilities at HM Naval Base Devonport, or helping to ensure the safe dismantling of decommissioned submarines in both Devonport and Rosyth. Whatever the project, safety will be central to everything you do.

You’ll learn how to identify, analyse and mitigate risks across complex engineering environments. From nuclear safety cases and hazard analysis to regulatory compliance and safety assurance, your work will underpin the integrity of our most vital programmes.

How is the programme structured?

This is a two-year programme designed to give you breadth, depth and a strong foundation in safety engineering.

You’ll rotate through a series of placements, each one offering insight into different areas of submarine engineering. These placements will take place across various teams and projects, helping you understand the full lifecycle of safety-critical systems.

As you progress, you’ll gain exposure to a wide range of safety engineering principles and begin to shape your direction. Whether you're collaborating with safety case authors or learning from human factors specialists, you’ll be building the knowledge, confidence and experience to become a trusted safety professional in a vital area of national defence.

How do we develop and support you?

From day one, you’ll receive structured support, personalised training, and dedicated mentorship to help you excel throughout your programme and beyond.

You’ll join our Graduate Development Programme, featuring expert-led masterclasses on communication, personal branding, resilience, and wellbeing.

To support your journey toward Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status, we offer full guidance and cover all associated fees.

What’s waiting for you after the programme?

Once you complete the programme, you’ll move into a permanent role within our Engineering Function, where you can continue applying and expanding the skills you've developed. You’ll also have the opportunity to build on your progress toward professional registration, a recognised benchmark of engineering competence, which can support your journey into more advanced roles.

As a global organisation, Babcock provides countless opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career. To support your growth, we've introduced the Babcock Role Framework, which outlines roles, career pathways, and development opportunities. With every job mapped to these frameworks, you’ll have a transparent view of the steps needed to reach Senior Engineer and beyond.

What rewards and benefits will you get?

We want you to feel supported, valued and excited about what’s ahead. That’s why we offer a comprehensive package designed to support your development, your wellbeing and your life outside of work too.

In addition to a minimum starting salary of £35,000, you’ll benefit from: 

• A minimum of 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays

• Generous pension and employee share schemes

• Flexible benefits, including cycle to work scheme, discounts

• Wellbeing support, covering mental, physical, financial, and social wellbeing, with services like our Employee Assistance Programme, digital GP service, and health checks.

You’ll also have the chance to get involved in our STEM outreach activities and volunteering opportunities.  

What do you need to apply?

• You'll need to have achieved, or be on track to achieve, a BEng, MEng, BSc, or MSc in one of the following subjects: Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Electrical, Electronic, or Systems Engineering.

• Many of our programmes are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold or have held may impact which programmes you are eligible for. For this programme, you must be able to achieve and maintain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), Security Check (SC) and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information (NNPI) clearance.

• Under applicable national security legislation, this post may only be occupied by a sole UK national. This legal requirement is independent of our recruitment policies, and all eligible applicants will be assessed fairly and without discrimination.   

Where will you be based?

Places on our Safety Engineering Graduate Programme for September 2027 are available in our Nuclear sector in Bristol.

Your home base will be the Babcock Technology Centre in Bristol. However, there may also be opportunities to undertake placements at other locations, including Devonport in Plymouth.

Agile working is supported, but you’ll be expected to work on-site multiple times a week. We encourage flexibility and openness to relocation throughout the programme and will consider your personal circumstances when arranging placements.

Our business in Bristol is a key strategic partner to our customers — the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Royal Navy. We ensure that the UK Royal Navy goes to sea safely by sustaining the submarines with updates, design and documentation, upgrades and overhauls. We are developing innovative Operations Centres, technology insertion programmes, predictive data analytics and visualisation and training aids using games engine technologies.