Chemical and Process Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

Chemical and Process Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

What you’ll be doing

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. Whether you're working on decommissioning legacy sites, modifying existing facilities or supporting new build projects your work will directly contribute to protecting people and the planet.

Throughout your placement, you’ll work on live projects as part of a multidisciplinary team. You’ll carry out technical assessments, analyse data, and use specialised engineering tools and technologies before presenting findings to colleagues and stakeholders, helping shape project outcomes. This hands-on experience – whether on-site at nuclear facilities or from one of our offices – will support your continuous learning and help you grow both technically and professionally.

Depending on the business stream you’re part of, you’ll have the opportunity to get involved in:

• The design of new nuclear facilities, including reactors, fuel manufacturing and waste and effluent treatment.
• The modification and life extension of existing nuclear facilities supporting UK energy security and maintenance of UK’s nuclear deterrent.
• The design of waste management systems to clean up the UK’s nuclear legacy in an economic and responsible manner.
• Contributing to the wider communities in which we operate through involvement in STEM and community activities.

We’ll also support your journey toward Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with IChemE. From day one, you’ll have a mentor and a structured development plan aligned with IChemE requirements. We’ll help with evidence collation, CPD tracking, and application preparation, and you’ll have regular reviews with your line and placement managers to keep you on track.

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 apart in 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.

What you’ll need

• You must be working towards a degree in Chemical Engineering.
• Many of our undergraduate 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 at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK.

Application process and closing dates

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.

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.