Technical graduate programme

Our Technical profession is a collection of over 600 nuclear-industry specialists from six main disciplines: Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, Mathematics, Chemical/Process Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

The Technical Graduate Scheme is an opportunity to learn from these internationally recognised specialists over a two-year programme, developing technical and behavioural skills to give you the best start to your career. Technical skills have always been important to the Sellafield story, and this will continue to be the case long into the future. As we manage the nuclear waste stored on the site and address the clean-up challenges we face, we must deliver value for money, using the best available techniques. We have offered a technical graduate scheme for over 25 years, and we’re now looking for enthusiastic individuals who are degree qualified within a STEM discipline to join our incoming cohort.

Graduates will be based in one of our technical teams, supporting our work to create a clean and safe environment for future generations. This is likely to be in one of Sellafield’s four business portfolios: Retrievals, Remediation, Spent Fuel and Effluent Management or Special Nuclear Materials. Alternatively, graduates may be placed in one of our support functions, including Analytical Services Strategy and Technical, who enable our on-site analytical laboratories, or Central Technology, who drive Research and Development at Sellafield.

You will spend 18 months of your scheme in this base department, developing knowledge to build your specialism. Consideration is given to existing knowledge and experience when selecting your base department, to allow you to apply your university learning to benefit the business. You will also get the opportunity to complete a six-month secondment while on scheme. This will broaden your knowledge and allow you to be exposed to more of the nuclear industry and its stakeholders. Graduates are empowered and supported to find their own secondments, which gives you the opportunity to shape this around your interests and future aspirations.

  • The challenges individuals in the Technical profession respond to can vary from short turn-around tasks to resolving emerging issues, to others with long-term strategic focuses. Together we work to provide support to nuclear facilities and ensure decisions made in these facilities are underpinned with technical knowledge and justification.

    Technical graduates gain knowledge and experience as they help to solve highly complex projects. Often technical trainees are given the opportunity to drive packages of work themselves, with appropriate supervision. You may be given a technical challenge to resolve, involving research, data analysis, report writing, and presenting the output of your work to stakeholders. This work is critical to enable safe operations.

  • As a Technical Graduate you will be supported in your transition into the workplace by a network of mentors and support systems. Mentors will support you on your journey to chartership, as you gather a portfolio to meet the criteria for your relevant institute. We will also cover the cost of your professional membership fees.

    Our graduate scheme also includes developmental programmes that aim to mature your behavioural and professional skills. The opportunities we offer beyond the daily role help our graduates to hone the skills they need to achieve their career aspirations at Sellafield.

    The Technical profession is proud of the breadth of opportunities it boasts. With over 600 individuals in the profession across a variety of different roles, there are lots of opportunities for development and diversification post-scheme. The profession includes roles at every level above the grade our graduate trainees are retained, which means your next role never needs to be far away.

    These roles can be accessed by applying for vacancies, or through the Technical Profession Career Pathway. Our career pathway is an established process that recognises the skills and contribution of our Technical workforce, and rewards them with promotion when ready.

  • Most technical graduates are based in West Cumbria, however there may be some opportunities available to work from Warrington, dependent on business need.

  • The Technical profession primarily attract applicants with 2:1 Bachelors degrees in STEM-focussed degrees, including but not exclusively limited to: Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, Mathematics, Chemical/Process Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Variations of these degrees, including specialisms and joint honours courses may also be appropriate.

Molly
Technical Graduate
What inspired you to choose the technical scheme?

I saw the somebody on Great British Bake Off worked here so investigated careers. It was very different work than any of the other chemistry graduate schemes I had seen and offered a greater variety of opportunities to begin my career in industry. I believed that the mission was important and wanted the chance to work on lots of different projects, and apply my skills to interesting subjects, as well as learning about things beyond my chemistry background.

How would you describe your experience on the scheme?

A really satisfying and fulfilling learning curve with lots of opportunities to learn, develop and create impact.

Apply now Apply now
Register your interest Register your interest