Unit Head - RACE Cybernetics

Company Description

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in managing a team contributing 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.

RACE (Remote Applications in Challenging Environments) is based at Culham, within UKAEA, specialising in remote handling and automated systems. The RACE Control and Software Unit is responsible for specifying and developing control hardware and software across all RACE projects, including JET and commercial contracts.

Job Description

Who are we looking for?

RACE have an excellent opportunity for a capable leader with the knowledge, skills and ability to manage, drive and empower a team of control and software engineers, whilst ensuring the delivery and quality of project work. Line management responsibility is for a group of 40 with 3 group leaders as direct reports.

As lead technologist, you will provide technical support across all RACE activities and will influence new technical directions and approaches with your expertise. You will have the capability to influence, drive and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders, whilst prioritising budgets and contributing to the creation and delivery of the RACE business plan, technical strategy and roadmap.

What will you be responsible for?

- Accountability for the quality of work and staff performance of the cybernetics unit; leading and managing the team effectively
- Ensuring work undertaken within RACE complies with UKAEA standards, and work with other leaders across UKAEA to continuously improve the application of software and control systems
- Representing UKAEA at external events, promoting UKAEA capabilities as a recognised technology leader within the international community
- Providing technical and strategic support and across all RACE projects

Qualifications

Essential skills, experience and competences required:

- Extensive engineering design experience
- Ability to assess and manage mechatronic design work conducted by team members
- Proven ability to interact efficiently with people in a variety of different situations
- Ability to network effectively with industry and academia
- Experience managing, developing and driving a team
- Understanding of governance, H&S and compliance issues
- Engineering or technology degree

Desirable skills, experience and competences:

- Chartered Engineer
- Knowledge of remote handling systems and remote operations is highly desirable as is knowledge of nuclear operations

Additional Information

What we offer

- A competitive salary
- A culture committed to being fully inclusive, supported by a Being Inclusive Strategy and Inclusion Ambassadors
- 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 1st April 2021. We may close earlier than this date if large or sufficient numbers of applications are received.

Please note, all employees working at the UK Atomic Energy Authority will be required to complete an online Disclosure Certificate application as part of their clearance – The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks will show the details of all current criminal convictions (convictions considered unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974) or will confirm that there are no such convictions.