Engineering Masters Scheme - Permanent employment with funded Masters degree

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?
For nearly 70 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK’s ultimate deterrent - Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.
It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?
Engineering Masters Scheme - Permanent employment with funded Masters degree
Closing date: 6th May 2024
This is a popular programme, so don’t delay your application!
Eligibility:

• You must be a British Citizen to apply for these roles
  
• You will have recently graduated, or will graduate in 2024, with at least a 2:1 in an engineering or science degree (or will have a 2:2 and work experience)
  
• These roles require a high level of security clearance to enable you to work on classified programmes. As such, candidates must be willing and able obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance and be willing and able to work in designated areas on site - more information is available on the AWE website
  
• As part of the application process, your uploaded CV must include specific application statements (see penultimate section below)
  
• You must be able to start employment by 9th September 2024
  

About AWE:
We are the UK’s nuclear defence establishment. Our cutting-edge work keeps the UK safe and secure through:

• Mitigating the threat from nuclear terrorism and nuclear accidents
  
• Maintenance of the Trident nuclear warhead - the UK’s ultimate deterrent
  
• Development of the UK’s replacement nuclear warhead
  
• Creation of unique nuclear manufacturing facilities
  

As one of the UK’s 25 best big companies to work for and a Top 10 Engineering company, we are a diverse and inclusive workplace where you can be your authentic self at work.
The Engineering Masters Scheme:
Would you like to be part of a team of specialist Engineers that ‘engineer the extraordinary’ on a daily basis and become a national expert in a specialist field of engineering? If so, the Engineering Masters scheme is an ideal launch pad for your career.
The scheme has been established to create and develop our future engineering specialists. It facilitates new staff to attend a fulltime MSc in a focussed field of engineering before taking up their specialist role in one of our on-site delivery teams in Berkshire.
For 2024/25 we are recruiting into three specific engineering specialisms:
Advanced Metallurgy

• contribute to the development of novel and very high accuracy fabrication techniques for metallic components
  
• explore the processing requirements of less-usual metallic materials
  
• plan and conduct high-consistency manufacture of metallic components
  

This need will be met by undertaking the full-time 12-month taught MMet in Advanced Metallurgy at The University of Sheffield.
Asset (equipment) condition monitoring, reliability and maintenance

• manage critical assets in a high-security, high-hazard environment
  
• maintain legacy assets including condition monitoring, fault finding, planned maintenance and scheduled & urgent repairs
  
• meet the challenges of implement industry 4.0
  
• support the introduction of unique, cutting-edge facilities and assets
  

This need will be met by undertaking the full-time, 12-month taught MSc in Maintenance Engineering & Asset Management at Cranfield University (Milton Keynes campus)
Explosives

• contribute to the development, processing, manufacture, testing, use and disposal of energetic materials
  
• support the maintenance and upgrade of legacy high-hazard, safety-critical facilities and equipment
  
• support the creation and operation of new, cutting-edge high-hazard, safety-critical facilities and equipment
  

This need will be met by undertaking the full-time 12-month taught MSc in Explosive Ordnance Engineering at Cranfield University (Shrivenham campus)
Location:
This is a permanent position which will be based at Aldermaston, near Reading, Berkshire. You will be expected to spend short periods on site during your Masters study and will then be permanently located on site once you successfully complete your Masters degree.
You will be temporarily based on campus at either Cranfield University (Shrivenham or Milton Keynes) or The University of Sheffield for your full-time Masters study.
Salary & Benefits:
Salary £30,000 p.a.
University Master course fees will be funded by AWE
As part of our People Promise, AWE also has a range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• Time to recharge your batteries with 270 hours of annual leave (plus every other Friday off work)
  
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development that include funding for the annual membership of a relevant professional body, access to mentors and training
  
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
  
• A generous defined contribution Group Personal Pension (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your own contribution)
  
• Life Assurance
  
• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending
  
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring for your family
  
• Consideration will be given to full or part time working patterns
  

How to apply and next steps:
AWE is an inclusive employer. If you require reasonable adjustments for any aspect of the application process then please tell us.
Please apply to this advert and upload your CV. Your CV should include:

• Statements of any relevant work experience
  
• Details of qualifications (from A level upwards, plus GCSE Maths and English)
  
• A brief summary of your science/engineering degree studies
  
• Actual or projected degree grade for your Bachelors degree or integrated Masters degree
  
• Your wider interests, beyond your academic studies
  
• IMPORTANT: Please add a section at the end of your CV to cover the following:
  
  • In order of your preference, list which of the three available specialist areas you would like to focus on (you do not need to list all three, so if there is only one area that interests you, please just list this)
    
  • In no more than 150 words, please explain why this/these specialist areas(s) interest you. You may write up to 150 words for each specialist area that interests you.
    
  • In no more than 300 words, please discuss how you would benefit AWE and how AWE could benefit you, if you were to be employed by us.
    

Interviews will be held on site at AWE Aldermaston and are expected to take place week commencing 3rd June 2024. Interviews will include a 5-minute presentation from candidates about their top-ranked specialist area.
Terms of the contract:
Whilst your Masters degree course fees will be funded by AWE, there will be payback clauses for those who fail the MSc and for early leavers. Candidates should consider this prior to making an application.
Should you have any queries regarding this role, that you would like answered prior to applying, please contact AWE at [email protected]
Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.
Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. 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.