Plasma Control & Sensor System Manager in Retford

The UK Government has established UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) 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. UKIFS is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing of 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 UKIFS, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040.

As an employee of UKIFS, 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.
• 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.
• A wide range of career development opportunities.
• A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive.

The salary for this role is £73,190 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension. This position is eligible for an allowance of £7,900 annually. The closing date to apply for this position is the 31st of May.

Fusion energy offers the potential for significant quantities of low-carbon, inherently safe, abundantly fuelled, baseload energy, supporting sustainable climate action and energy independence. While the technical challenge remains high, confidence is increasing, and the rewards of realising fusion are almost incalculable. Anticipated to come online for commercial purposes in the middle of this century, fusion offers a viable means to sustainable net zero in the UK and globally, as well as to increased energy security.

STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UK’s flagship national programme to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant, targeting 2040, and a path to commercial viability of fusion. STEP is deliberately bold and ambitious and seeks people who want to be part of a world-changing endeavour and who have credible and relevant experience in delivery.

The Role: Reporting to the Head of Plasma Development (HoPD) you will lead the research and development needed to achieve robust control of the STEP plasma solution. In your area, you will be responsible for a team of 15 – 25 full term equivalents in a matrixed organisation. Providing world-class expertise in the area of plasma control and associated sensor systems, you will develop the systems required for controllable plasma scenarios with acceptable disruption handling for the STEP Prototype and subsequent Commercial Reactor designs.

Your integrated control solutions will inform the identification of integrated, high performance scenarios for fusion plasmas consistent with STEP power plant design studies. In this role, you would be expected to:

• Engage with the wider UK plasma science programme of UKAEA, universities and international collaborators to identify innovative solutions for the STEP plasma control and sensor systems.
• Partner with industry where there is complementary capability.
• Engage with the Design Authority and Engineering Delivery teams to ensure compatibility with overall concept design, operational and maintenance strategy.
• Engage with national and international partners hosting tokamak and other plasma or technical facilities to reduce the uncertainty in the plasma control and sensor system solution for STEP.
• Identify areas of synergy with the ITER, EU DEMO and other fusion power plant programmes.
• Identify opportunities to prototype and test aspects of the plasma control system.

The role is under the leadership of the Head of Plasma Development to drive the development of the plasma control schemas and sensor systems for robust and safe plasma operation for STEP as part of the wider Science and Technology, Engineering Delivery and Integrated Project Teams.

Accountabilities will include:

• Drive the STEP plasma control development towards robust and safe plasma operations to achieve the STEP programme objectives.
• Provide the leadership to establish a world-class team of control experts from across the UKAEA Fusion Partner and industry.
• Work at the forefront of plasma control research to develop the control schemas required for robust and safe plasma operation of STEP.
• Inform the requirements for actuators, identifying design solutions when they are additional to the planned plant design.
• Work with the Plasma Modelling and Validation manager and the wider STEP team to embed plasma control into a virtual representation of STEP.
• Enhance your team’s capabilities by working with universities, fusion laboratories and industry to develop innovative plasma control solutions.
• Lead the establishment of an integrated decision route map to identify options and converge the design of the plasma control solution.
• Identify international collaboration opportunities in areas of plasma control development.

Drive the plasma sensor system development to enable a robust and safe plasma operation on STEP to achieve the STEP programme objectives. Work with the UKAEA Fusion Partner, the wider fusion community and industry, to identify the optimal sensor system set compatible with a fusion plasma environment.

Manage the STEP plasma control and sensor development team and relevant external organisations to execute the plans to time, cost and quality. Support the HoPD to develop project execution plans. Promote the world-class R&D of the STEP programme through research outputs, consistent with UKIFS commercial requirements.

Qualifications What skills and experience you’ll bring to us:

• PhD level background in relevant scientific/engineering discipline.
• Established, world-class expertise in plasma control and/or plasma sensor systems.
• A broad understanding of tokamak plasma physics, tokamak operations.
• International reputation including high quality research outputs in the field of expertise.
• A strong proven track record of delivering complex, high technology projects.
• Experience of leading successful collaborative research projects.
• Excellent written and oral communication.
• Strategic and innovative thinker.
• Excellent team-building and collaboration skills.

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 actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions.