Mechanical Engineer - Irradiation and Rig Lead

Company Description

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.

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.

Job Description

Who are we looking for?

This role will provide technical and project support on large, complex, cross-disciplinary projects within the STEP materials programme, focused on the delivery of bespoke experimental rigs at beamline facilities and neutron irradiation campaigns.

Within this role you will be solving complex engineering in challenging environments of stress, heat, magnetic fields, and radiation, to support experimental requirements focused on irradiation of materials in a growing Materials Business Unit at UKAEA.

What will you be responsible for?

Leading complex scientific projects in challenging environments such as vacuum, corrosive substances, radiation, heat loads and stress.

Managing relationships with external collaborators in order to complement UKAEA's internal capability and enable access to additional expert knowledge and facilitate new project proposals.

Building and providing management to junior scientists and engineers, completing all aspects of line management and support recruitment activities, where relevant.

Proposing, contributing to and securing funding for delivery of novel projects aligned with internal strategy.

Representing UKAEA at both domestic and international conferences, as well as at various meetings and functions as required.

Managing of all technical project activities, co-ordinating and deploy resources effectively.

This role requires someone that is willing to travel international to functions and also work in radioactive controlled areas.

Qualifications

Essential skills, experience and competence required

A relevant engineering degree or equivalent, with substantial experience in engineering.

Chartered Engineer status with a suitable professional institution or progress towards chartership.

Proven capability in the design of bespoke solutions within beam line facilities and materials test reactor irradiation, including project delivery from concept through to commissioning.

Strong engineering analysis and a good working knowledge of the fundamentals of thermal transfer, stress and irradiation.

Competent in the application of analysis using classic and numerical methods to support design studies. Use engineering experience to foresee opportunities for business development and contribute to related proposals and bids which may include submitting budgets and business cases.

Proven track record managing engineering teams developing complex high technology systems.

Proven record of delivering complex projects to time and budget.

Experience with relevant environmental factors such as high gamma radiation, vacuum, high heat loads and radiation environments.

Desirable skills, experience and competence

Experience on the design constraints imposed by nuclear/radiation environments

An understanding of the materials challenges in nuclear environments and related testing techniques

Procurement, component manufacturing and joining techniques.

A good understanding of nuclear environments and irradiation damage

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 12/08/2021. 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.