Materials Engineering Graduate Programme

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

You’ll join our Graduate Development Programme, featuring expert-led masterclasses on communication, personal branding, resilience, and wellbeing.

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

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, such as Senior Engineer.

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.

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, Materials Science, Manufacturing, Welding, Metallurgy, Fabrication, Aerospace, or Naval Architecture.

Industrial experience or placements are desirable, along with a clear interest in a career in materials, marine engineering or defence, and an understanding of its challenges.

Experience of technical or engineering standards and regulations is beneficial, including those relating to nuclear, health, safety or the environment.

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‘.

Under applicable national security legislation, this post may only be occupied by a sole UK national. This legal requirement is independent of our recruitment policies, and all eligible applicants will be assessed fairly and without discrimination.

Places on our Materials Engineering Graduate Programme for September 2027 are available in our Marine/Nuclear sector in Plymouth.

Based at Devonport in Plymouth, the largest naval base in Western Europe, you’ll be part of the team that delivers critical support to the Royal Navy’s surface ships and submarines. Here, you could work on materials analysis for life-extension projects, develop welding and joining solutions for the overhaul of nuclear-powered submarines, or contribute to inspection and testing programmes that support the integration of advanced systems onboard.

We ask our graduates to be flexible as there is the potential to undertake placements in other locations during their programme.

To get the most from the programme, you will be expected to attend your base location in person for up to five days per week. Regular on-site attendance will help you learn from experienced colleagues, build professional networks, and benefit from day-to-day mentoring and guidance.

When you successfully complete the programme, you will continue in the business area and location you started; therefore, it is important to consider this when applying.