Early careers at UKAEA

Want to change the future of energy? We’re here to support you, right from the get-go.

An exciting mission. And an employer who cares.

A UKAEA apprentice training at the Oxfordshire Advanced Skills centre

Apprenticeships

Learn from experts in the industry. Take part in exciting and challenging projects. Work in a supportive environment. And receive an income!

We offer apprenticeships in the fields of Engineering, Science and Business/Professional Support. We’ve partnered with a range of high-quality providers across the UK, including the Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS) centre. This means all our apprentices finish their course with the qualifications they need to join the workforce straight away.

Apprentice working with robotic arms
Two researchers holding a meeting at UKAEA

Undergraduates and masters placements

We host undergraduate and masters placements annually with partner UK universities.

They range from a few months to a year, contributing to projects with a real impact on the fusion energy industry.

Explore our undergraduate and masters placement opportunities.

Graduate scheme

Looking for a graduate job in an industry where you can make a real difference? Our graduate scheme is the perfect start to your career — and an opportunity to help solve the climate crisis.

Our programme is widely accredited and recognised: by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and the Institute of Physics (IoP).

Graduate engineer using robotic manipulators
Scientist using a microscope in a UKAEA lab

Postgraduate opportunities

Every year, we host cutting-edge PhD and MSc research opportunities with a wide range of UK universities.

There are at least 100 students undertaking PhDs with us at any one time, at around 20 different universities.

IET Power Academy

The IET Power Academy Scholarship programme was set up to help UK industry meet its need for more electrical and power engineering graduates.

Nowhere is the requirement for these qualified engineers greater than in the fusion research programmes at UKAEA, especially in the MAST Upgrade and JET fusion experiments.

Power supplies at MAST Upgrade

School work experience

We offer work experience for Years 10+, running over the course of the summer term and summer holidays. 

Work alongside our team on real projects to get a taste for a career in science, engineering and support roles. 

Interior of JET with a superimposed plasma

Fusion Industry Programme

The fusion industry is a rapidly growing industry, and more talent is needed to meet the UK’s ambitions of maintaining fusion global leadership.

The Fusion Industry Programme (FIP) will aim to scale up the talent acquisition for fusion by funding industry placements each year and offering relevant and accessible careers information, advice and guidance.

Faiz Rahman, UKAEA Graduate Mechatronics Engineer

Case study

Faiz Rahman joins UKAEA’s graduate scheme after completing his student placement

Graduate Mechatronics Engineer

Before Faiz was a graduate, he took part in a student placement with us at UKAEA in the very department that he works in now. After graduating he chose to return to our team, already safe in the knowledge that UKAEA was where he wanted to be.

current opportunities

Browse some of our current job vacancies below.

Unix System Administrator

UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire or Rotherham, Yorkshire

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