CE&I Engineering Placement Student Review

During my placement year at Sellafield, I worked as a CE&I Engineer within the Retrievals sector, supporting project delivery, site trials, and key engineering documentation. My day-to-day work involved reviewing CE&I drawings in CIMAGE, developing documents such as OIMS and CDMs, and assisting in on-site activities. I regularly collaborated with mechanical, process and other shareholders, attended site visits to verify equipment and drawings, and took part in STEM ambassador activities such as careers fairs and student mentoring.

Throughout my placement, I was given meaningful responsibility that contributed directly to project progress and site activities. I independently developed key CE&I documents, and I was trusted to interpret drawings and confirm terminal references in CIMAGE for major structure relocation. During the trials, I was one of the only electrical engineers present, responsible for instrumenting the VSD pump and helping troubleshoot issues in real time. I was also relied upon to support site visits, engage with cross-disciplinary teams.

I developed a wide range of both technical and professional skills. Technically, I improved my proficiency with CIMAGE and AutoCAD, strengthened my ability to interpret and develop CE&I drawings. I also developed strong documentation skills through producing OIMS, CDMs, and NFRs to Sellafield standards. Professionally, I improved my communication and teamwork through working closely with engineers of different disciplines. These experiences have significantly enhanced both my technical capability and my overall engineering mindset.

I received consistent support and guidance throughout my placement, both from my line manager and from the wider CE&I community in Sellafield. Whenever I was working on unfamiliar tasks, engineers were available to explain expectations and check my understanding, while giving me the independence to learn and grow. Regular check-ins, site briefings, and access to experienced colleagues meant I always had someone to turn to for technical advice.

The company culture at Sellafield was welcoming, supportive, and very collaborative. People were always willing to help, share their knowledge, and support me going forward, which made it easy to ask questions and learn. The atmosphere balanced professionalism with a strong focus on quality, but it was friendly and relaxed day-to-day. Working with different disciplines showed me how much emphasis is placed on teamwork and open communication across the site.

I really enjoyed my placement at Sellafield and found it both rewarding and engaging. The combination of hands-on site work, technical CE&I tasks, and opportunities like STEM outreach made the year varied and fulfilling. I especially enjoyed contributing to real projects and being trusted with meaningful responsibility, which made me feel valued to the company.

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