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- Tasks: Lead and manage warhead safety assessments, ensuring timely delivery and effective team collaboration.
- Company: AWE is a leading organisation in nuclear safety engineering, committed to strategic objectives and employee development.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 9-day working fortnight, generous leave, pension scheme, and family-friendly policies.
- Why this job: Join a supportive team with excellent growth opportunities and the chance to make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Honours Degree in science or engineering; experience in leading safety assessments and managing stakeholders preferred.
- Other info: Limited remote work; flexible working requests considered to fit your lifestyle.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 75000 £ per year.
Closing Date: 26th June 2025
Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking. Due to the classified nature of the work involved, there are limited opportunities to work from home in this role. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will spend the majority of their time working on site at AWE Aldermaston, but there is scope to occasionally work from home.
Package: £64,340 - £85,000 per annum (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)
Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.
Let us introduce the role: AWE is recruiting for a Principal Warhead Safety Assessment Specialist within the Surety Engineering Group. Key aspects of the role will be to lead and manage an in-house warhead safety assessment capability in support of delivering the company's strategic objectives. The role will entail effective leadership and delivery of warhead safety assessments, providing advice on warhead safety, systems, electrical or mechanical design, explosives, nuclear and process engineering.
We are seeking leaders or technical experts, with diverse backgrounds and experience, to help lead and manage our dynamic team of Nuclear Safety Engineers. We are proud to have such a friendly and supportive group for you to join which offers excellent development opportunities for our staff to progress. Within the team there are a number of learning and training opportunities, including up to Master's level following the recent launch of the Defence Nuclear Safety Engineering MSc.
Key accountabilities and responsibilities:
- Lead, support and manage teams of warhead safety engineers to deliver warhead safety assessments on time and in full, aligned with company management procedures.
- Build effective relationships across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise to optimise and enhance the Safety Management System.
- Conduct safety analysis against requirements and standards across the full engineering lifecycle.
- Ability to apply appropriate safety methods, tools and techniques to a product.
- Ability to consider higher level system and detailed component or material issues.
- Liaise with a range of stakeholders as part of a wider system design and verification team, balancing conflicting priorities and perspectives.
- Support external activities as required as part of the Outreach and Engineering Programme, i.e. through presentations to external conferences/symposia.
Who are we looking for? We do need you to have the following:
- Honours Degree (or equivalent) in science, engineering or related discipline (or equivalent level of experience).
- Experience in leading teams of technical or safety focused engineers to deliver high consequence safety assessments.
- Managing multiple stakeholders through complex and time critical projects.
- Communicating effectively through written reports and verbal presentations.
- Able to demonstrate excellent engineering and scientific judgement.
- Excellent interpersonal and team working skills.
- Possess the ability to work calmly and constructively in a priority changing environment and be able to manage your own workload.
- Achieve or working towards Chartered or Fellow of a relevant professional institution.
Some reasons we think you'll love it here:
- AWE has a wide range of benefits to suit you. These include: 9-day working fortnight - meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
- Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
- Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
- Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body (inc. chartered application).
- Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
- Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
- Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
- Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.
The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.
Principal Warhead Safety Assessment Specialist employer: AWE
Contact Detail:
AWE Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Warhead Safety Assessment Specialist
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Defence Nuclear Enterprise and its safety management systems. Understanding the specific challenges and requirements of this sector will help you demonstrate your knowledge during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the nuclear safety field, especially those who have experience in warhead safety assessments. Engaging with industry experts can provide insights and potentially lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership experiences in managing technical teams. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully delivered high-consequence safety assessments under pressure.
✨Tip Number 4
Research AWE's recent projects and initiatives related to warhead safety. Being knowledgeable about their work will show your genuine interest in the role and help you align your skills with their needs.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Warhead Safety Assessment Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in safety assessments, team leadership, and engineering. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage complex projects and communicate effectively.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention how your background aligns with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description, particularly your experience in leading teams and conducting safety analyses.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: Clearly state your qualifications, including your Honours Degree or equivalent experience. If you are working towards Chartered status, mention this as it shows your commitment to professional development.
Showcase Interpersonal Skills: Since the role involves liaising with various stakeholders, emphasise your interpersonal skills. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed relationships and balanced conflicting priorities in previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at AWE
✨Understand the Role Thoroughly
Before your interview, make sure you have a solid understanding of the Principal Warhead Safety Assessment Specialist role. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and accountabilities mentioned in the job description, such as leading safety assessments and managing teams. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Given the technical nature of this position, be ready to answer questions related to safety assessment methodologies, engineering principles, and stakeholder management. Brush up on relevant safety standards and tools that are commonly used in the industry to demonstrate your expertise.
✨Showcase Leadership Experience
Highlight your experience in leading teams and managing complex projects. Be prepared to discuss specific examples where you successfully delivered high-consequence safety assessments or navigated conflicting priorities among stakeholders. This will showcase your leadership skills and ability to work under pressure.
✨Demonstrate Communication Skills
Effective communication is crucial for this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, both in written and verbal formats. You may be asked to present a case study or explain a technical concept, so being able to communicate complex ideas simply will set you apart.
