Magnets Technology Development Lead

The UK Government has established UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) Ltd., a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the charge in delivering fusion energy through design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKFE is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing the STEP prototype. Fusion energy, crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, is expected to be commercially viable by mid-century. The UK, led by UKFE, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year.

As an employee of UKFE, you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a relocation 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 of career development opportunities.
• A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive.

The salary for this role is £64,115 (plus a Specialist allowance), and onsite working is expected for 3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for Flexible Working. Employees of UKFE can be based at either of our sites; West Burton, Nottinghamshire or 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.

This role is to lead our HTS magnet technology development programme to realise STEP’s HTS magnet system. STEP is likely to have the largest HTS magnets in the world and developing successful designs relies heavily on demonstrating innovative HTS magnet components in bench-scale tests and sub-scale prototypes. You’ll be responsible for delivering the STEP HTS small test coil, short cable, and magnet materials programmes at pace in order to meet the challenging timescales of the STEP ‘model coil’ programme. You’ll produce clear technology development plans and lead a multi-disciplinary team to deliver on these plans.

A good understanding of HTS magnet design and multi-physics, and proficiency in experiment design, is key: you’ll identify our magnet technology needs and execute discrete test campaigns with a ‘fail fast’ mentality. You’ll be a key interface between the STEP power plant design team, where technology challenges will emerge, and the model coil development programme, which will ultimately demonstrate these technologies at scale. Communicating complex technical challenges and findings in a simple and effective manner to a range of audiences will be critical to success. The STEP programme has established exciting partnerships internationally and you’ll be required to work collaboratively and seek out new opportunities to expand our HTS magnets capability further.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Relevant engineering degree or equivalent.
• Chartered status with a suitable professional institution.
• Demonstrable track record in developing technology and evidence of delivering innovative solutions to industry.
• Good understanding of HTS magnet design and HTS multi-physics, especially quench.
• Experiment design and proficient in the use of electrical and cryogenic laboratory equipment.
• Commercial awareness, project and budget management experience.
• Leading teams: excellent interpersonal skills, with experience of working in diverse, multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both technical and non-technical terms.

Desirable:

• Demonstrable track record in developing HTS magnet technology.
• Hands-on experience with HTS materials and fabricating HTS magnets.

We welcome talented people from all backgrounds who want to help us achieve our mission. We encourage applications from under-represented groups, particularly from women in STEM, people from Black British Caribbean and African, Pakistani and Bangladeshi British, and other ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and neurotypical individuals. 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 organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.