Year in Industry- Production (Operations) – Aldermaston

Production Year in Industry Programme 2026

Starting salary £23,500 + plus benefits and welcome bonus | Office based in Aldermaston, nr Reading, Berkshire.

PLEASE NOTE WE CAN ONLY ACCEPT ONE APPLICATION PER CANDIDATE PER YEAR. ANY DUPLICATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE WITHDRAWN.

We are offering a rewarding and exciting one-year placement as an Undergraduate Production Trainee at AWE – a role where you will make a genuine contribution to keeping the UK safe and secure.

About AWE

We’re a team of remarkable people, united by one extraordinary mission: keeping the UK safe and secure. The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent has existed for 75 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, helping to guarantee our safety, and that of our NATO allies.  

Our work is critical. We’re delivering Astraea, the next warhead for the UK’s nuclear deterrent and pushing the boundaries of nuclear science and technology. But that’s just part of the story. 

We support the UK government in a range of vital areas – from counter-terrorism to global nuclear test monitoring to building a world-class community of experts in nuclear science. This is work that protects lives and strengthens national security.

At AWE, you’ll find more than just a job. You’ll find purpose, growth, and a community like no other. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, this is your chance to learn from the best, develop your skills, and be part of something truly unique.

Be extraordinary at AWE.

www.awe.co.uk

Entry Requirements

We are interested in applications from candidates working towards a degree in:

• All degrees considered, but a keen interest in manufacturing, process, planning, or leadership would be useful in this area.

• Before starting with the business, you will need to be able to provide evidence that you have attained a minimum of a 2:2 in your degree so far by August 2026.

• You must be able to Join AWE in August 2026. We recruit on a rolling basis which means as soon as our positions have been filled, we will close.

• Be graduating in 2028 or 2029 and taking a placement year as part of your degree from summer 2026 to summer 2027.

What to Expect on the Programme

This role will be within the Operations Group.

This team provide trained and competent staff to manufacture components for the warhead, including the assembly of the warhead itself. The operations group delivers to the company plan ensuring stakeholders are engaged and committed to support delivery of materials, testing, facilities and any service programs. The operations function supports the wider team ensuring compliance with our license conditions, providing trained and competent staff to carry out the operations processes. They provide Suitably Qualified & Experienced staff in facilities to ensure that manufacturing operations are conducted in a safe and secure manner, complying with authorized processes and regulations for manufacture of product.

* Working in an operational facility with Nuclear/Explosive materials and undertaking the relevant training required to do so.

* Gaining an understanding of a how a production facility operates including:

production processes, planning, safety aspects to be considered, training, competency, and complying with regulation, policy & local work instructions.

* Planning the operations schedule, understanding the risks and opportunities that are uncovered

* Working with stakeholders such as engineering, quality, ESH, and facility to enable delivery

* Contribute to the delivery of local Accountability Boards (Visual Management Boards).

* Provide visible management, leadership and motivation to help achieve high levels of performance and enthusiasm to deliver

* Gain an understanding of workforce capability requirements for the operations team

* Support the line management of embedded operators in the functional areas

* Support the operation’s group PDG (personal development group) process and understand the development of operation staff.

* Supporting a diverse and inclusive working environment that allows individuals to flourish and realize their potential.

If you choose to return to AWE following completion of your qualification, the opportunities in production are varied. From Process specialist to Delivery Manager, with potential progression to senior delivery manager. With operations experience, there are choices of technical and leadership roles across the business. The experience gained from working in operations is very applicable to other areas of the enterprise.

Benefits:

• £23,500 salary

• Holiday entitlement of 270 hours of leave annually including bank holidays

• Excellent work/life balance and a vibrant and welcoming grad social scene

• 9-day working fortnight – so every other Friday off

• A salary-sacrifice benefit scheme

• A welcome payment

• Potential to secure a Graduate role for when you finish university, subject to availability

• Access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending across retail, hospitality and leisure

• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

• Access to our Occupational Health Services

The Application Process

We want you to shine in your application process which is designed to be fair and transparent. So we’ve kept it simple with a three step process.

Online application: Apply for one pathway; take your time to explore the options and choose the one that best matches your interests and goals.

Online test: If successful, you will be invited to complete our online assessment stage. These include online testing against numerical, verbal, logical and cognitive reasoning tests. Don’t be intimidated: practice assessments will be available so you will be fully equipped with the knowledge of what to expect.

Virtual assessment: Those successful at testing will be invited to our virtual assessment centres. These run throughout November into January 2026 – we’ll confirm the exact dates in an email. We run pre-assessment centre webinars to guide you on what to expect.

You must be able to Join AWE in August 2026. Applications close on Friday 24th October, but will close earlier if we receive enough applications. So apply sooner rather than later!

Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. Please note that you must be a British National to apply for a role with us.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Our aim is to make you feel confident and informed throughout your journey with us: we’re not trying to catch you out. Our ambition is to create a workplace where differences are recognised and celebrated. Our mission relies on the diversity and our people being able to bring their energy to work and perform their best.

We encourage diverse applicants and we’re here to support you all the way. We encourage you to let us know if you need any adjustments on your application. Any inclusion information you provide us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR. Learn about how we handle your data.

Why us?

Build your career as future leader

Our focus lies on a number of key themes such as: ‘self and team awareness’ – providing an opportunity to better understand your own strengths and how these could contribute effectively to collaborative situations.