Year in Industry - Computational Materials Modeller

About the role

AWE, which develops warheads for the UK's Trident deterrent and provides counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions, offers a 12-month Year in Industry placement as a Computational Materials Modeller in its Materials and Analytical Science team. The placement is based onsite in Aldermaston, near Reading, starting 2 August 2027, on a 9-day working fortnight. It suits undergraduates working towards a degree in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Materials Science or Chemistry.

Key responsibilities

• Work with Materials and Analytical Scientists to characterise material ageing processes and propose approaches to model observed trends.
• Use statistical techniques to analyse experimental data.
• Write, develop and run code in MATLAB, Mathematica, OpenFOAM and R.
• Use computational techniques for parameter optimisation.
• Verify and validate codes by identifying suitable test cases and determining analytical solutions where appropriate.

Required profile

• On track to achieve a minimum 2:2 in your degree by August 2027.
• UK national holding a UK passport; British citizenship and 10 years' residence in the UK are needed for Developed Vetting (DV) clearance, which AWE funds.
• Enthusiastic, curious and innovative, with a growth mindset, resilience and a team spirit.

Required skills

• Modelling experience (for Mathematics graduates).
• Demonstrable strong mathematics or programming skills (for Chemistry graduates).

What we offer

• Salary of £24,500 per annum plus benefits.
• Contributory pension scheme, generous holiday entitlement and excellent work-life balance.
• Every other Friday off due to the 9-day fortnight.
• Opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field.

The recruitment process includes an online application, optional online assessments, a virtual assessment centre in November or December 2026, and offer and security-clearance stages before joining in August 2027. Applications should be submitted promptly, as the role may close early if demand is high.