AWE
Designs and manufactures warheads, nuclear services
Year in Industry-Conventional Safety Specialist
Office-based at Aldermaston; work from home is not guaranteed.
About the job
- Be studying a science-based degree and be on track to achieve at least a 2:2 by August 2027.
- Be graduating in 2029 or 2030 and completing a placement year as part of the degree.
- Be available to join in August 2027.
- Be a British citizen and willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance.
- Have been resident in the United Kingdom for the past five years to apply for SC clearance or ten years for DV clearance.
- Undertake and support risk assessments to identify proportionate control measures.
- Support risk-based inspections in line with relevant legislation, industry standards, and AWE policies, procedures, and guidance.
- Apply relevant assessment tools and interpret findings to support safe decision-making.
- Help deliver safety initiatives and contribute to continuous improvement across operational areas.
- Develop practical understanding of AWE’s Safety Management System and how it is implemented across projects and facilities.
- Build knowledge of key health and safety legislation relevant to AWE activities.
- Work with safety professionals, facility operators, project managers, and other specialists as part of integrated teams.
- Communicate findings clearly, maintain accurate records, and contribute to relevant reports and discussions.
About the company
AWE designs and manufactures warheads and provides nuclear services to support UK defence, national security, and counter-terrorism solutions. Its products rely on advanced nuclear science and engineering, delivered through high‑tech research, design, and production facilities to create warhead components and related security services. It differs from rivals by acting as a government-backed national hub with end-to-end capabilities and close collaboration with the UK government, using world-class facilities for research, development, manufacturing, and security. The goal is to help the UK government safeguard national security by maintaining secure, controlled nuclear capabilities and related security technologies.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Reading, United Kingdom
Founded
1950
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Mitie’s June 2026 water contract modernizes critical infrastructure across Aldermaston, Burghfield, Blacknest.
- AWE’s 2025/26 report cites 120 research contracts and 150 apprentices, strengthening capacity.
- Partnerships with Manchester, Strathclyde, and RAICo widen talent, robotics, and materials access.
What critics are saying
- Prospect backed March 2026 strikes after AWE flagged up to 800 redundancies.
- ONR cited AWE’s 2025 explosive-component handling failure; another lapse stops warhead work.
- If staffing chaos persists, Britain’s replacement warhead schedule slips into 2027.
What makes AWE unique
- AWE remains Britain’s sovereign warhead designer, builder, and maintainer for the deterrent.
- Its 2026 Technology Strategy and five Centres of Excellence deepen specialist moat.
- AWE’s Aldermaston-scale robotics, RAICo, and university alliances accelerate nuclear automation.
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Benefits
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Hybrid Work Options
Paid Vacation
9-day working fortnight
Flexible Work Hours
Health Insurance
Wellness Program
Mental Health Support
Employee Assistance Programme
Access to our Occupational Health Services
Access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending across retail, hospitality and leisure
Ethics and Inclusion related benefits?
Company News
Stop Britain's war drive into education. The government has announced the formation of a new employment pipeline aimed at funnelling thousands of students into careers in Britain's arms industry. Defence Secretary Luke Pollard launched the Defence Universities Alliance at the University of Manchester on Monday. Thirty-five universities have been selected, with the government pouring £182 million into locking universities into research and development for the arms industry, as part of its 'war-readiness' operation. Areas of focus include cyber security, robotics, AI, aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing. Among the universities taking part in the scheme is University of Sheffield, whose Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is already working with the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) to develop the Astrea, Britain's new generation nuclear warhead. Luke Pollard said this new defence skills package would help "to create opportunities for students, apprentices and young people." However, as new research from the Transition Security Project shows, the government's military spending for the Defence Investment Plan will cut more jobs in other areas of the economy than the ones it creates within the arms industry. CND General Secretary Sophie Bolt said: "This is a total abuse of our education system. The arms industry is being subsidised whilst exploiting the expertise and resources of our university system, to create profits for its 'cutting edge' lethal weaponry. This has profound implications for education in the country, and for the rights and welfare of students - who are already saddled with a life-time of debt - and staff - who are on zero hours contracts and in constant threat of redundancies. Instead, the government should be redirecting its spending on war and nukes into solving the funding crisis in higher education. This would create far more jobs and help create a future for young people to look forward to."
Mitie taps into AWE water network management contract. * Mitie has secured a contract with AWE Nuclear Security Technologies (AWE) using the new water management capabilities following the acquisition of Marlowe, to manage critical water infrastructure * Mitie will oversee the operation, maintenance and long-term development of complex water, wastewater, fire systems and trade waste networks supporting UK defence infrastructure * A new data-led operating model and long-term upgrade programme will support AWE's sustainability ambitions
Apprentice Excellence Awards Evening shines a spotlight on outstanding talent. The Apprentice Excellence Awards captured a landmark moment for AWE's Emerging Talent community, as the team recently hosted its first Apprentice Excellence Awards Evening. Bringing together apprentices, mentors, training staff and senior leaders, the event celebrated achievements across every stage of the apprenticeship journey, recognising the dedication and impact of AWE's future talent. Celebrating excellence across the programme The response from across the organisation was outstanding, with more than 160 nominations submitted by line managers, mentors and training teams. These nominations represent a thriving community of over 400 apprentices currently on programme, highlighting the strength and depth of talent developing across AWE. Awards were presented across four key trade categories: Intermediate, Advanced, Higher and Degree level apprenticeships. In addition, specialist awards recognised individuals demonstrating exceptional personal and professional qualities, including Safety Champion, Resilience, Academic Achiever and Mentor of the Year. Inspiring the next generation A highlight of the evening came from guest speaker Kamal Ellis-Hyman, founder of Aim a Little Higher. His high-energy and motivational talk encouraged apprentices to believe in their potential and strive to become the best version of themselves, creating an uplifting and inspiring atmosphere for all in attendance. A poignant moment of recognition One of the most powerful moments of the evening was the presentation of a Special Recognition Award to Andy Salter, Skills Academy Training Manager. With more than 40 years dedicated to apprentice training and recently being awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his service, Andy was recognised for his profound and lasting impact on the academy and generations of learners. A celebration of community and achievement The evening was hosted by Kerry Thompson, Head of Emerging Talent, with members of the executive team presenting awards to winners across all categories "A huge congratulations to all our winners, finalists, and everyone who received a nomination. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence are what make our apprentices such an inspiring community. Whether you took home an award or were recognised through a nomination, you should feel incredibly proud of your achievements." Kerry Thompson, Head of Emerging Talent Establishing a new annual highlight The inaugural Apprentice Excellence Awards Evening has set a strong precedent for the future. More than just a celebration of achievement, the event highlighted the values that underpin AWE's apprenticeship programmes. With such impressive engagement and inspiring stories, the awards evening is now firmly established as a new annual highlight in the Early Careers calendar.
Hear from AWE at DPRTE 2026. AWE is pleased to be returning to DPRTE, the UK's leading defence procurement and supply chain event, at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre. This year Dr Robert Lock and Dr Martin Gilmore will give delegates an overview of AWE's new Technology Strategy, covering why AWE have generated the strategy, what it covers and how AWE plc. intend to deliver it. Hear from AWE in the Innovation & Future Defence Technologies Knowledge Transfer Zone A key highlight of Day 2 will be its featured talk in the Innovation & Future Defence Technologies Knowledge Transfer Zone. 26 March 2026 10:35-11:00 AWE's Technology Strategy * Dr Robert Lock, AWE Chief Scientist * Dr Martin Gilmore, AWE Chief Technologist AWE plc. is looking forward to seeing you at its talk in the Innovation & Future Defence Technologies Knowledge Transfer Zone.
Culham apprentice named Advanced Apprentice of the Year. Thomas Dominguez Walker, Assistant Cybernetics Engineer at UKAEA, based at the Culham Campus, has been named Advanced Apprentice of the Year at the Nuclear Skills Awards 2026. 13 March 2026: Thomas Dominguez Walker, an apprentice for the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) based at the Culham Campus, has been named Advanced Apprentice of the Year at the 18th Nuclear Skills Awards 2026. Thomas was recognised for his attitude, technical ability, and hard work during his Level 3 apprenticeship, which saw him assigned to projects for the Robotics and AI Collaboration (RAICo), which is accelerating the deployment of robotics and AI in nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering. The UK Nuclear Skills Awards, organised by the National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN) and Cogent Skills, showcase the excellence and achievements of individuals and companies across the nuclear sector. Winners were announced at an event in Manchester on 12 March 2026. For his apprenticeship, Thomas undertook 18 months of three-month placements across the UKAEA, including three months at RACE, the UKAEA's centre for Remote Applications in Challenging Environments. This was followed by a dedicated 18-month placement at RACE, including a year with RAICo, a collaboration between the UK Atomic Energy Authority, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield Ltd, the University of Manchester, and AWE Nuclear Security Technologies. His role involved providing technical support to the organisation's R&D projects, focusing on developing solutions to robotics and AI challenges. During his apprenticeship, he also completed a Higher National Certificate, a Level 4 vocational qualification equivalent to the first year of a university degree, gaining distinctions throughout. Thomas is a passionate advocate for apprenticeships, supporting events to encourage others to consider apprenticeships and engineering careers. Having finished his apprenticeship, he now has a permanent role at UKAEA and RAICo. In a Q&A with RAICo, published recently, Thomas said: "At the end of my apprenticeship, I was nominated by my group leader for the NSAN Advanced Apprentice of the Year. I'm proud to have that recognition, and being selected is genuinely exciting and a fantastic opportunity. Getting to this stage takes sustained dedication, developing technical capability and building the soft skills that make projects and collaboration succeed. For me, that's meant commitment to my apprenticeship studies, delivering on UKAEA and RAICo projects, and actively supporting others. My qualifications have been challenging and rewarding, giving me recognised qualifications and practical experience. I hope winning the award encourages others to consider an engineering apprenticeship and see what they can do." Thomas operating Spot, the robotic quadruped. James Ferrand, Principal Engineer & Group Leader, UK Atomic Energy Authority, commented: "Thomas has been an absolute pleasure to work with and manage over the last few years. He has really impressed me and built a fantastic reputation for his attitude to work. He has been excellent in picking up new technologies, striving to learn more both about the technology and where his work fits into the wider picture. I personally hold him as an example of the perfect apprentice for others to strive towards. Many congratulations, Thomas!"