Graduate Civil-Structural Engineer - Nuclear

Job Description

Due to the continued growth and expansion of our Nuclear Team in our Warrington office we are looking to increase our technical workforce and are seeking to recruit a Graduate Civil-Structural Engineer from July to Sept 27.  . 

About our Team 

At AECOM, our Nuclear Structures team provide multi-disciplinary consultancy to the nuclear industry in both the nuclear new build and decommissioning sectors.

In the new build sector, we are providing engineering support to the Developers of the UK’s fleet of new nuclear power stations. In the Decommissioning Sector, which requires considerable new build to enable decommissioning, AECOM provides support to the entire Nuclear Estate, including multidisciplinary design support at Sellafield; early stage development of the Deep Geological Repository; design and development of waste storage and disposal facilities; and multidisciplinary design support to defence projects.

An example project is Sellafield Pile 1 Diffuser Demolition where we were part of the consortium with other companies providing the CE&I, Mechanical and Process Design. 

The project scope was to demolish the Diffuser, a 1450 tonne Reinforced Concrete box section, at the top of the 110m high ventilation stack, located in the heart of a congested nuclear facility.

AECOM played a significant role as the Lead Designer responsible for developing a safe demolition strategy for this contaminated structure, demonstrating stability at all stages and designing the associated civil and structural works, working with mechanical, electrical and process engineers, including delivery of the seismic and extreme wind load design for the foundations and structural supports to a 150m high tower crane, the tallest ever on the Sellafield site.

The project challenged the Nuclear Industry’s traditional approach for labour intensive, low risk means of demolition, making use of the tower crane to cut and lift large blocks, arguing that the short-term increase in risk would lead to a quicker permanent decrease. This unique demolition is currently on-going and will be a very visible demonstration of the work being done to make Sellafield a safer place.  

Here's what you'll do: 

Our Nuclear Civil-Structural Graduates are engaged in teams and work with experienced engineers who guide and mentor them during their time at AECOM. They work on live projects where their role will include:

• Preparing structural element designs in a variety of materials, mainly steel and concrete
• Undertaking analysis of structures
• Preparation of design documentation such as basis of design, design method statements, specifications
• Developing an understanding of highly regulated industries
• Developing an understanding of Safety Cases and the supporting documentation
• Developing an understanding of risk and the preparation of designer’s risk assessments
• Liaison with the project team, in particular with technicians that translate working designs into construction drawings

Enjoy the Perks

At AECOM, you'll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customised to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

Here is what you will get from us!

On the job support and learning

When a graduate starts at AECOM, we pair them with a senior member of the team who will guide and mentor them through their initial period working on live projects and business development tasks, to support with any technical queries. 

Graduate Development Programme

Our 2 year  graduate ADVANCE programme is designed to help you build your career in AECOM. You will attend a number of instructor-led training sessions where you will meet and hear from people across the business and take part in a series of interactive activities to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your role.   Alongside the instructor-led elements of the ADVANCE programme, you will also engage with an online curriculum via AECOM University and have the opportunity to join the ADVANCE webinar series.  We will provide you with all the support and tools you need to achieve your professional development ambitions, which may include Chartership with the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Structural Engineers.

We have more than 750 graduates on our programmes across the UK and Ireland from more than 40 different disciplines, each making a tangible difference to the environment in which we live and work.

See our digital early careers e-brochure here

Qualifications

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• BEng Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering
• MSc/MEng would be an advantage.
• A 2:1 (or equivalent) degree classification or above
• Must be able to demonstrate legal right to work in the UK and meet the requirements for Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)
• Preferably completed modules related to structures and/or nuclear structures
• Ability to demonstrate a good technical understanding of Structural Engineering
• Demonstrable interest in Structural/Nuclear Engineering and developing a career in this industry
• Good Microsoft Office skills essential such as Word, Excel & PowerPoint
• Show an aptitude towards software-based engineering and drawing e.g. Computer Aided Design (CAD) and other similar 3D software
• Ability to demonstrate attention to detail
• Ability to think in a methodical way to design, plan and organize parts of projects
• English language proficient, holding excellent communication skills to present information in speech, drawings and reports effectively to internal and external clients, both verbally & in writing with the confidence to engage with a variety of people (clients, colleagues, stakeholders, and sub-contractors alike) and the aptitude to rationally explain, explore and discuss technical issues and capture feedback.
• Enthusiastic and hard-working, with ambition and drive
• Ability to structure & prioritise work effectively through close cooperation with the team as a whole and independently without losing initiative and focus 
• Capability to satisfy client and business expectations and be able to consider the wider financial and commercial implications of their actions
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to continued education and improvement through participating in our approved training schemes. 
• Able to carry out occasional remote working

Preferred Qualifications:

• Work experience in the nuclear energy or related field (e.g. working for either a power developer, equipment manufacturer, or consultant)
• Some familiarity with CAD and ArcGIS would be beneficial.
• Full UK driving license or equivalent that permits driving in the UK.  Some travel to site may be required with equipment.
• Student member of an appropriate professional institution institution
• Working ability in a second language and/or relevant work experience outside the UK

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at [email protected]

At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives. If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you!

Additional Information

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible since CVs will be reviewed, and candidates selected for an advanced offer start.    

Please include a covering letter with your application and provide all predicted and/or obtained academic grades.

You must have permanent right to work in the UK as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Security Clearance

Please note that our offer of employment is conditional upon your ability to meet UK security clearance requirements. This is necessary for you to work on the full range of projects requiring security clearance in the UK.

Nationality -  if you are dual national we will need you to provide details when you apply. 

Length of time in the UK - if you have left the UK for more than 1 month in the last 3 years, we need to understand where you went and for how long. 

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity 

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address [email protected]  if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.