PA Consulting
Senior Numerical Physics / Applied Mathematician

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Company Description
We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future.
As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.
Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.
We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport.
Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.
PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life.
Job Description
PA Consulting helps defence clients utilise technology to gain accelerate science to practice in new and established markets.
As the world changes at an ever increasing rate, PA’s clients use our technical expertise to think differently and disruptively in order to get ahead of the curve. Our physicists use a broad base of fundamental science to develop new technology concepts, understand how to bring them to reality, and then do it - ultimately answering the question, “Is this possible?” For this we need scientists who want to be creative in their use of physics, who can make complex technical concepts real, and who are happy with putting theory into practice.
We give our clients a true competitive edge by providing the data to make rational development decisions.
We do this by helping our clients understand the real world implications of the latest scientific developments through concept development, modelling and experimentation
At PA we are looking for like-minded ‘hands on’ scientists that like nothing better than working in multidisciplinary teams to deliver differentiated generation after next capabilities for our clients.
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.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
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.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
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.
Qualifications
- A strong academic background in applied and theoretical Physics – you will be someone who can draw on a solid understanding of a broad range of fundamental physical principles and apply them to challenging real world problems.
- Demonstrable experience in and enthusiasm for applying physics and/or mathematics to address real-world challenges, primarily in defence but with an awareness of other sectors
- Experience of leading small teams to deliver a research or business outcome
- Experience, preferably to PhD level, in the development and application of “generation after next” technologies for example quantum computing, information theory, metamaterials, novel communications and/or sensing systems
- Industrial experience gained in a research and development role in a high technology organisation, preferably leading research studies comprising other scientists or engineers from other disciplines
- An ability to view novel physics in a systems context – understanding how a scientific core can be built in to a complex capability
- A hands on approach to developing experiments, based on solid scientific principles, that allow demonstration of the scientific “core” of a capability
- Extensive experience of collecting and analysing information in a logical and rigorous fashion.
- Excellent communication skills in order to collaborate with and present to multidisciplinary teams – both technical and non-technical
Nice to have:
- Leadership of multidisciplinary teams to deliver research/business outcome
- Experience in business development/grant writing
We know the skill-gap and ‘somewhat need to tick every box’ can get in the way of meeting brilliant candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply – we’d love to hear from you.
Additional Information
Life At PA
Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self.
Find out more about Life at PA here.
We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits:
- Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare for you and your family
- 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days
- Generous company pension scheme
- Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives
- Annual performance-based bonus
- PA share ownership
- Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)
Advancing Equality
We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief veteran status, or other by any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.
Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on recruitmentenquiries@paconsulting.com
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills