Babcock
Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year

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Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year
Programme title: Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Placement Year
Salary: £26,784
Location: Radar Road, Leicester
Application closing date: 20 October 2026
Start date: September 2027
Role ID: 74748
What you’ll do
Join our Cavendish Nuclear business for a Mechanical Engineering Placement Year and play a key role in delivering safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear solutions that support the UK’s clean energy future.
During your placement year, you’ll contribute to the design, assessment, and delivery of mechanical systems used across major nuclear programmes, while gaining a strong understanding of project delivery and the role mechanical engineers play in supporting critical national infrastructure.
You’ll support engineering calculations, produce and review technical documentation, assist with design substantiation and safety case development, and work closely with multidisciplinary teams. You may also contribute to activities such as equipment upgrades, decommissioning, plant modifications, and new build support.
This role offers exposure to technically challenging projects, alongside industry standards and nuclear safety requirements, and insight into how engineering principles are applied in practice.
As your confidence and capability grow, you’ll take on increasing responsibility and contribute more independently to project work. You’ll also build an understanding of professional engineering standards, helping to prepare you for future progression towards IEng or CEng status after graduation.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What you’ll get out of it
Our placements are about more than work experience – they’re an opportunity to immerse yourself in life at Babcock, form meaningful connections, and develop skills that will set you up for your future career. You’ll work alongside supportive colleagues and gain guidance from experienced professionals every step of the way.
We value the fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that placement students bring to our team. We believe you have the potential to shape the future of our business. But we also understand that this placement is as much about you assessing what’s right for you as it is about us getting to know you. Perform well, and you could be considered for a position on our graduate programme – your journey with Babcock could just be getting started.
What you’ll need
You must be studying an engineering degree in one of the following disciplines: Mechanical, Structural, Materials, Motorsport, Mechatronics, or Engine Systems. Our preference is that your degree is also accredited by the relevant institution.
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) and Security Check (SC) security clearance. For further details, visit GOV.UK and search ‘United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels’.


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Application process and important information
Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, and if there’s a high level of interest in this programme, we may close applications earlier than advertised. To give yourself the best chance of being considered, we recommend submitting your application and completing any required online assessments as soon as possible.
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 a Disability Confident Employer. If you need adjustments or support at any stage, please let us know. Contact us at accesshelp@babcockinternational.com to discuss your needs and explore the options available. 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.
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