Core Engineering Group Leader

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in strategically leading a team contributing to shaping 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. As we work towards our mission and goals, UKAEA has devised values (Innovative, Committed, Trusted and Collaborative) that capture the spirit of how we work.

Job Description

An opportunity awaits for an impassioned leader, driven to inspire and cultivate a team on the forefront of fusion engineering. Join our expanding organization as an experienced manager and steer a team of experts in crafting the fundamental components of a fusion reactor's core. The Core Engineering Group stands as a pivotal hub within UKAEA, propelling the development of integrated fusion in-vessel systems and associated nuclear engineering advancements, taking on some of the most formidable challenges in the discipline. Prior fusion background is not mandatory, as you will evolve into a linchpin liaising with internal divisional managers and shaping both the technical trajectory of UKAEA and its global partners. Harnessing insights from diverse specialists, you will architect strategies and guide UKAEA's strategic initiatives, leveraging your expertise in complex and captivating technical domains, thereby contributing to business expansion propositions and decisions.

What will you be responsible for?

- Leadership, management and safe and efficient running of the Core Engineering Group.
- Develop and encourage Group behaviours to maintain and grow the Group’s status as a centre of excellence for Plasma-Facing Components and associated engineering, within the UKAEA and further develop its status within the national and international fusion community.
- Effectively manage project/operational activities of a multi-disciplinary project team of multiple engineers, designers and analysts.
- Identify technology shortfalls and conceptualise, plan and propose appropriate R&D activities or projects to ensure that technical risk is managed and to make strides in technical capability or efficiency, making use of state-of-the-art facilities where appropriate.
- Keep abreast of developments, innovation and best practice in relevant engineering disciplines, and make appropriate recommendations to peers and managers.
- Proactively work with technical people located at other sites to bring consensus and direction to any given programme activity.
- Empower and develop/support engineers being led on a project.

Qualifications

Essential skills, experience and competence required

- A relevant engineering degree or equivalent.
- Leading multi-disciplinary teams and supervising other staff.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Good communication and technical writing skills.
- Ability to perform exploratory design calculations using first principles.
- Experience with complex engineering loads or environmental factors such as vacuum and magnetic fields.
- A good working knowledge of structural and thermal engineering, solid mechanics and engineering materials.

Desirable

- Experience with working to design standards and design codes.
- Demonstrated ability to manage a multi-disciplinary technical team in delivering a highly bespoke engineering system, including making complex rational design trades.
- Experience in originating project or research funding proposals.
- Attained or actively working towards Chartered status with a suitable professional institution.
- Experience in managing first-of-a-kind engineering activities and/or research-based programme.

Additional information

What we offer

Our comprehensive benefits package includes a vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive, an Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, Flexible working options including family friendly policies, Emergency paid leave, Generous annual leave allowance (30.5 days) increased with length of service, wide range of career development opportunities, outstanding defined benefit pension scheme; Corporate bonus scheme (up to 7% for Levels 1 - 7, as well as 3rd and 4th year apprentices) and a 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 and women. The Executive team with support from our ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ (EDI) Partner and 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.

Please note all employees working at the UK Atomic Energy Authority will be required to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and any other appropriate security checks as part of their clearance – which will include The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks which will show the details of all current criminal convictions or will confirm that there are no such convictions.

Note for applicants who are applying for employment with UKAEA either from outside the United Kingdom or who have spent time outside the United Kingdom in the last five years. Please visit the UK Government website. If the country you are resident in or have resided in is not listed on this website or that the UK Government is not aware of how to obtain a criminal records check from that state then we are unable to process your application.