Safety Engineering Graduate Programme

About the role

Programme title: Safety Engineering Graduate Programme

Location: Bristol

Programme start date: September 2027

Role ID: 74676

What will you do on the programme?

At Babcock, safety isn’t just a priority — it’s a commitment. On this graduate programme, you’ll be part of a team at the forefront of that commitment, helping to ensure our people, operations and the communities we serve remain protected.

You could be supporting the design and maintenance of Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines, contributing to the safe operation of nuclear facilities at HM Naval Base Devonport, or helping to ensure the safe dismantling of decommissioned submarines in both Devonport and Rosyth.

Whatever the project, safety will be central to everything you do.

You’ll learn how to identify, analyse and mitigate risks across complex engineering environments. From nuclear safety cases and hazard analysis to regulatory compliance and safety assurance, your work will underpin the integrity of our most vital programmes.

How is the programme structured?

This is a two-year programme designed to give you breadth, depth and a strong foundation in safety engineering.

You’ll rotate through a series of placements, each one offering insight into different areas of submarine engineering. These placements will take place across various teams and projects, helping you understand the full lifecycle of safety-critical systems.

As you progress, you’ll gain exposure to a wide range of safety engineering principles and begin to shape your direction.

Whether you're collaborating with safety case authors or learning from human factors specialists, you’ll be building the knowledge, confidence and experience to become a trusted safety professional in a vital area of national defence.

How do we develop and support you?

From day one, you’ll receive structured support, personalised training, and dedicated mentorship to help you excel throughout your programme and beyond.

To support your journey toward Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status, we offer full guidance and cover all associated fees.

What’s waiting for you after the programme?

Once you complete the programme, you’ll move into a permanent role within our Engineering Function, where you can continue applying and expanding the skills you've developed.

You’ll also have the opportunity to build on your progress toward professional registration, a recognised benchmark of engineering competence, which can support your journey into more advanced roles.

As a global organisation, Babcock provides countless opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career. To support your growth, we've introduced the Babcock Role Framework, which outlines roles, career pathways, and development opportunities.

With every job mapped to these frameworks, you’ll have a transparent view of the steps needed to reach Senior Engineer and beyond.

What rewards and benefits will you get?

• A minimum of 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays
• Flexible benefits, including cycle to work scheme, discounts

You’ll also have the chance to get involved in our STEM outreach activities and volunteering opportunities.

What do you need to apply?

• You'll need to have achieved, or be on track to achieve, a BEng, MEng, BSc, or MSc in one of the following subjects: Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Electrical, Electronic, or Systems Engineering.
• Many of our programmes are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold or have held may impact which programmes you are eligible for. For this programme, you must be able to achieve and maintain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), Security Check (SC) and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information (NNPI) clearance. For further details, visit GOV.UK and search ‘United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels’.

Where will you be based?

Places on our Safety Engineering Graduate Programme for September 2027 are available in our Nuclear sector in Bristol.

Your home base will be the Babcock Technology Centre in Bristol. However, there may also be opportunities to undertake placements at other locations, including Devonport in Plymouth.

Our business in Bristol is a key strategic partner to our customers — the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Royal Navy. We ensure that the UK Royal Navy goes to sea safely by sustaining the submarines with updates, design and documentation, upgrades and overhauls.

We are developing innovative Operations Centres, technology insertion programmes, predictive data analytics and visualisation and training aids using games engine technologies.

Application process and important information

Please apply to one programme only. If we receive more than one application from you, we’ll assess the first one submitted. If your chosen programme becomes oversubscribed, we may contact you to discuss other programmes you could be eligible for.

We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Pay and benefits

In addition to a minimum starting salary of £35,000, you’ll benefit from: