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.
Graduate Trainee - Project Controls
Programme
Evolve Graduate Programme
Salary
£31,000 starting salary plus benefits
Location
Aldermaston and/or Burghfield, Reading area, Berkshire - onsite
Duration
Two years
Start date
September 2027
Working pattern
9-day working fortnight
About AWE
We are a team of remarkable people, united by one extraordinary mission: keeping the UK safe and secure. Our work supports the UK's independent nuclear deterrent and wider national-security capabilities through science, engineering, technology and specialist expertise.
Programme purpose
The Project Controls Evolve Graduate Programme develops the analytical and performance-management capability needed to support complex projects and programmes. You will help teams plan work, establish credible baselines, monitor progress, forecast future outcomes and understand the effect of risks and changes.
Across placements, you may support major programmes, infrastructure projects and business teams. You will start with an induction before joining a project environment, where mentors and experienced colleagues will help you apply analytical skills to live delivery challenges.
Key activities and responsibilities
Help create, review and maintain project plans and schedules, including activity durations, dependencies and milestones.
Track delivery against agreed baselines and help teams understand whether projects are progressing as planned.
Support cost analysis and forecasts so teams can understand current performance and likely future outcomes.
Assess how risks, opportunities and proposed changes could affect time, cost, resources and delivery.
Turn project data into clear monthly reports, trends and insights that support decisions.
Help estimate the time, cost, people and resources needed to complete project activities.
Use technical information, which may include engineering drawings, to support realistic planning and control.
Learning and development
How large projects are broken down into manageable activities, resources and costs.
How schedules, milestones and dependencies are created and maintained.
How project baselines are set and used to measure progress.
Cost forecasting, variance analysis and performance reporting.
How risks, changes and emerging issues influence time, cost and delivery.
How data, statistics and digital tools support project decisions.
How to communicate analytical findings clearly to project teams and senior stakeholders.
Exposure to detailed analysis, using systems, tools and emerging technologies to interpret data, identify patterns and support informed decision-making.
Potential technical exposure
Work breakdown structures and project coding.
Schedule creation, logic, durations, dependencies and milestones.
Baseline management and progress measurement.
Cost forecasting, estimates and variance analysis.
Risk, opportunity and change-impact analysis.
Monthly performance reporting and data visualisation.
Technical information and engineering drawings used in project planning.
Behaviours and qualities
Analytical: You enjoy working with data, identifying patterns and testing assumptions.
Detail focused: You can work accurately and understand why reliable information matters.
Logical: You use structured thinking to solve problems and reach clear conclusions.
Collaborative: You can work with project, engineering and business teams to understand delivery needs.
Organised: You can manage priorities, plan ahead and meet deadlines.
Constructive: You are willing to question existing approaches and suggest evidence-based improvements.
Entry requirements
You must hold, or be on track to achieve, a minimum 2:2 degree classification, or equivalent.
An analytical degree such as Engineering, Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Finance, Economics, Data Science or…