At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and development of advanced control and instrumentation systems for cutting-edge energy projects.
- Company: Join UK Atomic Energy Authority, a leader in clean energy innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent pension, flexible working options, and a supportive environment.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to equality in STEM.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the clean energy sector while advancing your engineering career.
- Qualifications: Degree in Electrical/Electronic/Control Engineering and experience with complex systems required.
The predicted salary is between 38250 - 46750 £ per year.
Overview of Responsibilities
The salary for this role is £57,117 (inclusive of a Specialist Allowance). Onsite working is expected for 5 days a week; however, we actively support requests for flexible working. This role can be based at any of the following sites: Culham, Oxfordshire. This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions and possibly a search of open source data.
The Role
Additional multi-megawatt heating and current drive systems (Electron Bernstein Wave-EBW and a double beamline for Neutral Beam Injection) are being installed on the MAST Upgrade tokamak. The Lead Control and Instrumentation Engineer will be a member of the Tokamak Systems Unit and in a team responsible for providing control and instrumentation (C&I), interlocks and data acquisition units serving the heating and current drive systems on MAST Upgrade. In this role, the job holder will guide and/or participate in the design, development and maintenance of control and instrumentation hardware and software required for operating the heating and current drive plants and will be responsible for the commissioning and operations of the control and instrumentation for such systems, and upgrade projects (including design, procurement, installation). The systems incorporate instrumentation (e.g. microwave instrumentation, water systems, HVDC Power Supplies, gas, vacuum, thermo-couples, optical systems), PLCs and SCADA systems, Electrical Modules and Assemblies, fast intelligent systems based on FPGAs, interlocks, and a Personnel Access Safety System (PASS). The post holder will also be required to act as an operator and/or shift leader during commissioning and operational campaigns.
Key Responsibilities
- Guide the design, development, and commissioning of tokamak heating and current drive Control and Instrumentation systems, protection systems/interlock systems, PASS systems, or subsystems.
- Liaise with the engineering and design teams and Office of Chief Engineering to ensure designs meet requirements.
- Responsible Officer for systems or sub-systems, the jobholder continuously assesses system performance and proposes improvements and upgrades.
- Guide fault finding and repair, both on power circuits and on control circuits down to electronic board level.
- Supervise engineers, technicians and electricians on projects, repair and maintenance work ensuring the creation and adherence to Written Safe Systems of Work and general UKAEA safety requirements.
- Ensure that activities of the team are carried out safely and effectively and in compliance with relevant statutory and UKAEA rules and procedures including the preparation of Written Safe Systems of Work.
Salary
£57,117 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension.
Qualifications
Essential Requirements
- A degree in Electrical/Electronic/Control Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Extensive professional experience with C&I for complex systems for example involving high-power/HV electrical systems, motion control, vacuum, water cooling, fast data acquisition, fast timing, science instrumentation, interlocks.
- Experience in integrating and programming PLC’s, embedded systems and SCADA systems in both hardware and software (LabView, TIA-portal, FPGA coding environments).
Desirable Requirements
- Chartered Engineer status and membership to the IET.
Additional Information
A full list of our benefits can be found here UKAEA Employee Benefits.
UKAEA’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce. We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, while ensuring all appointments are made on merit.
UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Please email talent@ukaea.uk if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information.
Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.
Lead Control and Instrumentation Engineer in Abingdon employer: Fusion Energy Base
At Fusion Energy Base, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through tailored development programmes and the chance to work on groundbreaking projects that will shape the future of energy in the UK. Located at the forefront of fusion technology, we provide a competitive salary package and a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the field of advanced materials and manufacturing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Control and Instrumentation Engineer in Abingdon
✨Get Involved in Control Systems Communities
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Join conferences or workshops specifically tailored to control systems engineering, like the IEEE conference. These events are goldmines for networking with industry leaders and might just lead us to that perfect role at Fusion Energy Base.
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Start or contribute to projects that highlight your control systems skills. Whether it’s a simulated environment or real-world application, having tangible results will give us a huge edge when chatting with Fusion Energy Base.
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We think you need these skills to ace Lead Control and Instrumentation Engineer in Abingdon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Technical Skills:When applying for the Lead Control and Instrumentation Engineer role, make sure to showcase your technical expertise in control systems. Be specific about the software and programming languages you’ve worked with—mention anything from MATLAB to PLC programming. This will help us see your proficiency in the tools that are essential for the job.
Quantify Your Achievements:In the engineering world, numbers speak volumes! Use your CV to quantify your achievements—whether it’s a percentage improvement in system efficiency or successful project completions under budget. This will not only make your application stand out but also showcase your problem-solving capabilities to us.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t hesitate to get personal in your cover letter! Talk about why you’re passionate about control systems engineering and how your previous experiences have prepared you for this role at Fusion Energy Base. We want to see your genuine interest and motivation to contribute to our projects.
Professional Documentation:For a full-time role, ensure that your application documents are professional and well-structured. Include a clear CV format and cover letter that highlights key projects or systems you've worked on. Don’t forget to mention any relevant certifications or training that would make you a valuable addition to us at Fusion Energy Base.
How to prepare for a job interview at Fusion Energy Base
✨Brush Up on Control Systems Concepts
Make sure we're up to speed with control systems theory—think stability analysis, PID tuning, and state-space representation. Revising these fundamentals will help us answer technical questions more confidently and demonstrate our expertise during the interview.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Simulation Tools
Get hands-on with popular simulation tools like MATLAB/Simulink or LabVIEW. A lot of interviews might include technical assessments or practical tasks to gauge our understanding of system modelling and control design using these tools, so being proficient could really set us apart.
✨Be Ready for Problem-Solving Scenarios
We should expect scenario-based questions where we'll have to solve real-world control system challenges. Practising how to approach problems logically and articulately will help us show our analytical thinking to the interviewer at Fusion Energy Base.
✨Show Your Passion for Engineering
As this role is full-time, it's crucial we convey our genuine enthusiasm for control systems engineering. Sharing personal projects or experiences where we tackled interesting engineering tasks can illustrate our commitment and eagerness to contribute to the team at Fusion Energy Base.