Lead Engineer (Magnet Joints)

Full time
Department: Central Engineering
Salary: £49,396 to £52,293 (inclusive of MPP) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
Salary band: £50,000 to £59,999 per annum
Confirmed grade: Level 5
Site location: UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire

Company description

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.

Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA are at the forefront of realising energy from fusion, working with industry and research partners to deliver the ground-breaking developments that will underpin tomorrow’s fusion power stations with the aim of bringing fusion electricity to the grid.

One of the programmes that UKAEA is leading is the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP). STEP is an ambitious programme that aims to build on the UK’s global leadership in fusion, deliver a prototype machine by 2040 and demonstrate the commercial viability of fusion to pave the way to future commercial fusion energy plants.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking to recruit an innovative and experienced Lead Engineer to support the development of cryogenically cooled magnet joints design for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP).

STEP is an ambitious national programme that is exploring the options, challenges and solutions for accelerating the delivery of fusion power which is expected to operate in a hitherto uncharted high beta burning plasma domain.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver complex and highly technical projects and you must have a good understanding of material characteristics and physical processes in electrical joints at cryogenic temperature when transporting high currents in a magnetic field. This is a perfect opportunity for an experienced magnet engineer to contribute to paving the way to future commercial energy plants, working with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

What will you be responsible for?

• Leading in the development of cryogenically cooled magnet joints technology for STEP and demonstrating its performance using novel material combinations and joint designs.
• Leading the definition of joint-related technology and test facility projects that support the joint concept design viability.
• Developing engineering plans to meet the programme and deliver to performance, time, cost and quality criteria.
• Collaboration across the STEP product areas Confinement systems, Plant Lifecycle and Power Infrastructure product areas to develop joint technology that supports the integrated fusion reactor design.
• Leading on the communication of joint technology and physical test progress through reviews and regular communication to the STEP Product Delivery team leaders and the project delivery team.

Essential skills, experience and competence required

• BEng or BSc in scientific or engineering discipline.
• Background in the design of cryogenically cooled conductors and magnet windings.
• Understanding of cryogenics and materials at cryogenic temperature.
• Experience of leading others in the use of engineering analysis tools.
• Leadership of multidisciplinary teams.

Desirable skills, experience and competence

• Achieved or working towards Membership of a recognised professional institution.
• Experience in the use of engineering analysis tools.
• Experience in the preparation of documents for proposals and tenders.
• Experience in collaborating with suppliers in the delivery of technical design, manufacturing and testing.

As part of your role, you could be asked to work in radiation-controlled areas or in beryllium-controlled areas. Full training and medical assessments will be provided if this is necessary.

What we offer

• A competitive salary.
• An Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, with a full calendar of health and wellbeing initiatives.
• Flexible working options including family-friendly policies.
• Emergency leave (paid).
• 30.5 days’ annual leave (including privilege days and 3 days between Christmas and New Year) increased with length of service.
• Wide range of career development opportunities (e.g. professional registration, internal promotions, coaching and mentoring programme).
• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• Annual corporate bonus scheme.
• Relocation allowance (if eligible).

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly from individuals from Black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, including nationality and citizenship, people with disabilities, (visible and hidden) and women. Our dedicated ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ (EDI) partner, with the support from our Inclusion Ambassadors, is actively promoting EDI and taking steps to increase the diversity of our people through reinforcing best practice in recruitment and selection, and revaluating approaches where it is clear we can remove barriers to success. We are easily accessible by car and are a 10-minute walk from Culham Railway Station in Oxfordshire.

Please be advised that this vacancy is due to close on 27 April 2021. We may close earlier than this date if large or sufficient numbers of applications are received.