Year in Industry- Materials Scientist

If you’d like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given. Year in Industry Placement - Materials Scientist Salary £24,500 per annum plus benefits Location Aldermaston, near Reading; onsite Contract 12 months Start date 2 Aug 2027 Working pattern 9-day working fortnight About AWE What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical? For over 75 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK's ultimate deterrent, Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions. It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you? Role purpose Materials Science supports the life cycle of warhead components and technologies to ensure the reliability of the UK's strategic deterrent and national security mission. A nuclear warhead contains metals, ceramics, inorganic salts, rubbers, foams, adhesives, high explosives and radioactive substances. Many have unique handling requirements, and dedicated facilities provide a safe and secure environment for material property research and characterisation. Materials Science is critical to understanding and predicting how these materials behave under different conditions. Potential projects Develop foam and aerogel materials for laser target applications supporting the modelling and characterisation of plasma-based reactions; investigate manufacture using less hazardous chemicals; analyse chemical, physical and X-ray CT properties. Develop new inorganic materials for controlled triggered electrical breakdown; investigate alternative materials and production methods; undertake testin