Lead Process Engineer in Retford

STEP Fusion is a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and leads the design and delivery of the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme, aiming to build a prototype fusion plant with first operations around 2040. UKFE will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year.

Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for Flexible Working. We offer a range of benefits including a defined benefit pension scheme, corporate bonus scheme up to 7%, relocation allowance, flexible working options, Employee Assistance Programme, generous annual leave, career development opportunities and a vibrant inclusive culture. The salary for this role is £64,115 plus excellent benefits, including outstanding pension. This role includes a non‑contractual and non‑pensionable specialist allowance of £7,700 in addition to the salary specified. The closing date to apply for this position is 5th June 2026. This UKFE vacancy will be based at our site in West Burton, Nottinghamshire.

In this role you will be a core member of the Power & Cooling Integrated Project Team, directly reporting to the Head of Engineering – Power & Cooling. The role will primarily support the design efforts of the STEP Prototype Powerplant (SPP) by providing core expertise and capability of the systems interfacing with the tokamak.

• The tokamak primary cooling system, which will circulate coolants that will extract heat from the tokamak.
• The power cycle system, which will convert the heat extracted from the tokamak into electrical power.
• The heat rejection system, which will reject heat from the power cycle and the wider SPP to the environment.

Working with the Advanced cycles lead, you will own any relevant and required technology development programmes seeking to develop the design confidence of these process systems. In this role you will be a key contributor to a deliverable design which will ultimately ensure SPP’s ability to convert thermal power into electrical power that can be delivered to the grid for the first time from a fusion energy source.

• Act as the Process Engineering Subject Matter Expert for Power & Cooling systems, and support programme-wide development of engineering governance and assurance.
• Lead the design and delivery of the Power & Cooling process systems (tokamak primary cooling, power cycle, heat rejection) from concept through to detailed design.
• Ensure the technical integrity, safety, manufacturability and performance of all process system designs.
• Provide process modelling and analysis expertise to support design development and validation.
• Lead and develop a multi‑disciplinary team of engineers, providing technical direction and assurance.
• Own and deliver process‑related technology development and testing programmes, working with internal and external partners.
• Apply systems engineering principles to manage requirements, interfaces, risks and trade‑offs.
• Lead technical engagement with suppliers and collaborators, acting as an intelligent customer.
• Ensure compliance with relevant codes, standards, regulations and engineering governance processes.
• Promote a strong leadership mindset, fostering collaboration, high standards and continuous improvement.

• A relevant engineering degree or equivalent.
• Extensive experience of complex engineering projects.
• Proven experience of developing and delivering complex process/mechanical engineering systems used in power generation, namely major cooling systems (water or gas), and power cycles.
• Proven experience of developing and delivering complex process/mechanical equipment and components, such as turbines, compressors, pumps, heat exchangers, pressure vessels, large valves, process control, nuclear chemistry control, and gas storage.
• Experience in designing, commissioning and operating high pressure (up to 100 bar) and high temperature systems (up to 600°C).
• Excellent understanding of UK regulations, as well as codes and standards used for the development, design and operation of powerplants.
• Proven capability in engineering analysis.
• Proven track record of working safely and designing for safety, adhering to appropriate safety rules.
• Ability to perform exploratory design calculations using first principles.
• Broad and deep understanding of engineering design, manufacture, testing, operations and related engineering processes, current standards and industry best‑practice.
• Strategic and innovative thinker.
• Good communication and technical writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrable commitment to working in compliance with modern Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality Assurance standards.
• Proven experience of managing teams up to 5 individuals.
• Proven experience of managing significant external contracts (£500k or higher).

• Chartered status with a suitable professional institution.
• Experience of working in a powerplant, or delivering designs for powerplants.
• Experience of developing designs for a nuclear environment, and preferentially within a nuclear powerplant. Including developing designs with materials subject to a nuclear environment and chemistry management of coolants in a nuclear environment.
• Experience in developing designs for the fusion industry; as well as developing designs for relevant tokamak coolant loops (gas, water, or other), tokamak coolant chemistry control, fusion power generating systems and fusion powerplants.
• Experience in designing, commissioning and operating very high pressure systems up to 300 bar.
• Understanding of modern project management tools and a willingness to adopt organisational approaches to project management.

We welcome applications from under‑represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation.

UKFE is committed to being accessible. Please email talent@ukifs.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.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. Whilst not required at this time, there is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance, that clearance can be transferred to UKIFS.

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants. If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications. We may consider your application for future positions or similar positions within the organisation.