Chemical and Process Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

Join our Cavendish Nuclear business for a Chemical and Process Engineering Placement Year and play a key role in delivering safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear solutions that support the UK’s clean energy future. You'll have the opportunity to contribute to nationally significant projects across nuclear new build, advanced reactor technologies, fuel cycle facilities, waste management, decommissioning, and life-extension programmes, helping to shape the future of the UK's nuclear industry. Throughout your placement, you'll gain hands-on experience on live engineering projects, typically supporting at least two different projects during your placement year. Working as part of multidisciplinary teams, you'll apply the knowledge developed at university to real-world engineering challenges, carrying out technical assessments, analysing data, and presenting findings to colleagues and stakeholders. Depending on the project and stage of the facility lifecycle, you may perform engineering calculations, develop mass and heat balances, create process models, support HAZID workshops and design reviews, produce process flow diagrams, and contribute to 3D plant layouts using specialist software such as AutoCAD Plant 3D. You could find yourself supporting the design of new nuclear facilities, helping extend the life of existing assets that contribute to UK energy security and the nuclear deterrent, or developing innovative waste management solutions that support the responsible cleanup of the UK's nuclear legacy. Alongside your technical work, you'll also have opportunities to contribute to STEM outreach activities and initiatives that support the communities in which we operate. We'll also support your journey towards Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with IChemE. From day one, you'll have a dedicated mentor and a structured development plan aligned with professional registration requirements, alongside support with CPD recording, evidence collection, and regular reviews with your line and placement managers to help you progress. What you’ll get out of it Our placements are about more than work experience – they’re an opportunity to immerse yourself in life at Babcock, form meaningful connections, and develop skills that will set you up for your future career. You’ll work alongside supportive colleagues and gain guidance from experienced professionals every step of the way. We value the fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that placement students bring to our team. We believe you have the potential to shape the future of our business. But we also understand that this placement is as much about you assessing what’s right for you as it is about us getting to know you. Perform well, and you could be considered for a position on our graduate programme – your journey with Babcock could just be getting started. - You must be working towards a degree in Chemical 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) and Security Check (SC) security clearance. For further details, visit GOV.UK and search ‘United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels’. We are Cavendish Nuclear, a wholly owned subsidiary of Babcock International Group and the UK’s leading nuclear services company. With a highly skilled workforce we are located at offices and sites in the UK as well as internationally. Our people innovate to make nuclear safer, faster, at lower cost and deliver across all aspects of the nuclear energy life cycle, from design and build, through operations and maintenance, to decommissioning, waste management and remediation. A career with us is hugely rewarding and exciting; one that stretches and challenges individuals to be the best they can be. When you join Cavendish Nuclear, you will have opportunities to work on projects that will have an impact on the future.At Cavendish Nuclear we put people first. Work with us and you’ll discover that our focus on people is unique.