Job Title: Manual Machinist
Location: Leicester, Leicestershire.
Compensation: Attractive Salary + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF
Craft Precision. Shape The Future of Clean Energy.
At Cavendish Nuclear we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Manual Machinist at Whetstone, near Leicester, Leicestershire.
The role
As a Manual Machinist, you’ll have a role that’s out of the ordinary. You play a vital role in producing intricate, high‑precision components that help keep the United Kingdom’s nuclear infrastructure safe, reliable and future‑ready. This is hands‑on engineering that truly matters — supporting clean energy, national security and long‑term sustainability. You work with bespoke, often one‑off parts, giving you variety, challenge and the chance to continuously expand your technical capability.
This is a permanent, full‑time position working 37 hours per week, based at Whetstone near Leicester, Leicestershire. Set working times are Monday to Thursday 07:30–16:15 and Friday 07:30–12:00.
Day-to-day, you’ll be required to:
1. Operate manual lathes and/or jig boring and milling machines to produce high‑precision components to exact tolerances.
2. Interpret technical drawings to determine machining requirements and best‑fit methods.
3. Perform routine maintenance on machinery to keep equipment running safely and efficiently.
4. Collaborate with team members to resolve machining challenges and drive process improvements.
5. Maintain a safe, well‑organised working environment in line with all health and safety standards.
Essential experience of the Manual Machinist:
6. Proven experience in jig boring, milling or turning.
7. Strong mechanical aptitude and confidence working with precision machinery.
8. Ability to interpret technical drawings accurately.
9. Working knowledge of tooling techniques.
10. Willingness to learn additional machine shop processes.
Qualifications for the Manual Machinist:
11. Recognised qualification in machining, engineering manufacturing, mechanical engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) security clearance for this role. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (
What we offer
12. Generous holiday allowance
13. Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
14. Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
15. Employee share scheme
16. Employee shopping savings portal
17. Payment of Professional Fees
18. Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
19. Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Cavendish employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually.
20. ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
21. Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
Cavendish
We’re Cavendish Nuclear — a team of c5, specialists and a core part of