Radioactive Waste Management Graduate Programme

Radioactive Waste Management Graduate Programme

What will you do on the programme?

As a Radioactive Waste Graduate at Babcock, you’ll play an important role in supporting the safe and responsible dismantling of nuclear-powered submarines. You’ll learn how nuclear reactor systems are dismantled and how materials are carefully processed for reuse, recycling, or disposal.

Your work will span the entire radioactive waste lifecycle. This could include planning and preparation, supporting studies to understand waste characteristics, helping develop treatment and packaging solutions, or assisting with storage and transport activities. Every task contributes to ensuring waste is managed safely and in line with strict regulations and technical standards.

The variety of work is wide-ranging. You might take part in site inspections, interpret data, assess waste, join workshops to explore different solutions, or help write and review technical reports. You’ll collaborate with a range of stakeholders and build experience in radioactive waste management, radiological protection, and environmental safety.

This role offers meaningful responsibility and specialist training, helping you develop expertise in a field that’s essential for both national security and environmental protection.

How is the programme structured?

The Radioactive Waste Graduate Programme runs for two years and is designed to give you breadth and depth of experience. You’ll be based in the Radioactive Waste and Health Physics Department, where you’ll build knowledge across waste management, radiological protection and environmental safety.

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.

In addition, you’ll receive tailored technical training through in-house sessions covering key areas such as waste management, environmental protection, health physics, and radiological safety. The focus and scope of this training are customised to support your individual development needs, helping you work towards the membership requirements of a relevant professional institute.

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, with agile working options subject to discussion with your manager
• 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?

• A science degree such as chemistry, physics, environmental sciences or a similar subject.
• Many of our graduate 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 Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) clearance. Further details are available on the government website - United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK.

Where will you be based?

Places on our Risk Management programme for Autumn 2026 are available at Cavendish Nuclear. You could be based in a number of locations including Bristol, Warrington, Newbury and Leicester in England and Glasgow in Scotland. We ask our graduates to be flexible as there is the potential to undertake placements in other locations during their programme.

Cavendish Nuclear is a core part of Babcock International Group’s Nuclear Sector. We provide a comprehensive range of critical nuclear solutions across the markets of Clean Energy, Defence and Civil Decommissioning, both in the UK and internationally. From decommissioning redundant nuclear facilities, through supporting the Continuous at Sea Deterrent, to supporting the operation and build of nuclear power plants, our role in Cavendish Nuclear is to clean up the nuclear legacy and create a world where nuclear plays a key contribution in protecting our nation, ensuring security of energy supply and meeting our net zero commitments.

Ready to apply?

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the programme may close early if we receive a high volume of interest. To give yourself the best chance of being considered, we strongly recommend submitting your application and completing any required online assessments as soon as possible.

Explore our brochure here for more information on graduate opportunities.

How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button. Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.