Senior Plasma Operations Expert

Company Description

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping 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 leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research for groundbreaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid, supported by tomorrow\’s power stations. In pursuit of our mission, UKAEA embraces core values: Innovative, Committed, Trusted, and Collaborative.

As an employee of UKAEA you will benefit from:

• Outstandingdefined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporatebonus schemeup to 7% and aRelocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment.
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders,
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays.
• Wide range ofcareer development opportunities
• A vibrantculturecommitted to equality and being fullyinclusive

Job Description

The salary for this role is £56,596(inclusive of aSpecialist Allowance). Onsite working is expected for 4days each week, however, we actively support requests for flexible working.

This role is based at the following site: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

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference? Join our team and contribute to the future of fusion energy. As Senior Plasma Operations Expert, you will play a pivotal role in plasma operations activities in present and future fusion devices, including fusion power plants.

Key Accountabilities:

• Conduct and lead research in plasma operations and plasma physics in the experimental campaigns in UKAEA programmes, such as MAST-U or international facilities.
• Act as Responsible Officer for control or protection systems in present or future devices, as required.
• Be a member of appropriate forums, as an expert in plasma operations.
• Operate fusion devices in control room roles.
• Take part in the design and development activities for existing and new devices, such as STEP, influencing the direction and execution of plasma operations by providing specialised and deep knowledge in these fields.
• Contribute to UKAEA’s corporate strategy by providing expertise in plasma operations, leading activities where appropriate.
• Support UKAEA and the international fusion programme by acting as a plasma operations expert in collaborations with national and international partners.
• Work in and, where appropriate, lead teams of internal and external collaborators.
• As required, manage plasma operations activities, anticipating scientific needs of the projects or programmes, planning scarce resources, preparing operational rosters, and delivering reports to all relevant panels and committees. Includes coordinating pools of people in control room roles, reporting to relevant panels and committees, and organising training.
• Participate in experimental programmes (e.g. WPTE EUROfusion) as appropriate, as part of experimental teams.

Qualifications

Essential:

• PhD (or equivalent experience) in physics or fusion-related engineering field.
• Experience of tokamak operations in a fusion device.
• Good understanding of fusion physics.
• Experience operating a tokamak in a control room role.
• Proven ability to conduct independent research and lead research teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and influencing skills.
• A good team player with experience of working in national and international teams.

Additional Information

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/

UKAEA\’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds who want to help us achieve our mission. We are under-represented from some groups and so want to encourage applications in particular from women in STEM, people from Black British Caribbean and African backgrounds and from Pakistani and Bangladeshi British backgrounds. Our Executive team, supported by our \’Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion\’ (EDI) and Wellbeing and our EDI Networks actively promote Inclusion and takes steps to increase diversity within our organization. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

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.