SAY HELLO TO THE NDA GROUP GRADUATE PROGRAMME

Graduates are fundamental to our future. Our programme is dedicated to supporting talented and ambitious graduates in building a first-class foundation for a rewarding career in the nuclear sector.
As a Dounreay Direct Entry graduate, you will be given the unique opportunity to experience multiple secondments within Nuclear Restoration Services’ Dounreay site, accelerating your expertise in your chosen discipline, and learning from leading experts on work that has real impact. You will also participate in a core programme of behavioural development to enhance your skills and professional expertise and network with peers across the NDA group.
Join one of the world’s most critical environmental missions and help decommission UK nuclear sites built as far back as the 1940s facilities where end-of-life management was never imagined. Every day, you’ll tackle complex, safety-critical challenges that no other industry faces, using your curiosity and engineering talent to meet our waste-management commitments and drive hazard reduction across the nation.
As a Waste Engineer on the Dounreay Direct Entry route, you’ll rotate through a diverse portfolio of facilities chemical plants, research centres, reactor sites and waste-management depots each with its own legacy issues of age, location and condition. You’ll develop and implement sophisticated waste-management solutions, optimise and troubleshoot operational processes, and ensure regulatory compliance in demanding environments. Supported by a core behavioural development stream, you’ll sharpen your leadership and communication skills while taking the first steps toward Chartered Engineer status.
Recent graduates have mastered end-to-end waste workflows by conducting detailed waste assessment and characterisation studies, preparing accurate shipment documentation for both radioactive and non-radioactive materials, and drafting bespoke project waste-management plans that record every stage of a decommissioning campaign. They’ve carried out sampling campaigns, performed decay-curve calculations to schedule safe handling, and maintained comprehensive radioactive waste inventories to track volumes and activity levels. Alongside these technical tasks, they’ve aligned waste strategies with our sustainability goals minimising environmental impact and advancing the UK’s green credentials.
We are looking for individuals who can thrive in both collaborative and technical environments. If you have a demonstrable set of technical skills and a passion for the nuclear sector, we highly encourage you to apply.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• A minimum of a 2:2 in a relevant degree subject
• The right to work in the UK for the duration of the programme. Any offers will be conditional upon satisfactory right to work checks
• Successful completion of security clearance and substance tests. These will be conducted post-offer
• The willingness and ability to work on-site at Dounreay, Caithness for the duration of the programme, as well as in the longer term
• The drive and determination to contribute to the delivery of our mission whilst embodying our group values of Respect, Openness, Collaboration, Performance, & Creativity
  We encourage you to regularly check emails (including any junk mail/spam folders) throughout the selection process, all correspondence including selection invitation will be sent via email.
  Please note that in submitting your application you agree for your application details to be shared with the Dounreay Early Careers Team where appropriate.
  Closing date – Friday 2nd January 2026
  Any applications received after this date will not be considered. We reserve the right to close a role early should we receive sufficient applications. We encourage that you apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment. Please note only one Dounreay Direct Entry application is required - please do not submit multiple applications.
  As proud members of the Disability Confident Scheme, Energus aim to create a fair and accessible recruitment process for all candidates. If you have a disability or health condition and require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know – we will work with you to ensure your needs are met. We are committed to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. In the event of a high number of eligible applicants, we will prioritise those whose skills and experience most closely match the requirements of the role.

Please refer the Job description for details