Verification and Validation Manager in Retford

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. The UK is currently a world leader in fusion research and development and in the drive to realise commercially viable energy from fusion, a sector with an estimated value of trillions of pounds per year.

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. UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) has been established to deliver the STEP programme, and, in so doing, spearhead the development of a fusion supply chain. UKIFS is a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and therefore builds upon decades of world leading expertise in fusion science, engineering and operations.

What you will be doing:

• Reporting to the Head of Engineering Assurance, the Verification and Validation (V&V) Manager will be a key member of the UK Industrial Fusion Solutions senior leadership team.
• The V&V Manager will be responsible for defining and assuring the V&V programme for the STEP prototype plant. This will cover V&V activities across the full engineering lifecycle and across all areas of the prototype plant, including Tokamak Systems, Fuel Cycle Systems, Power and Cooling Systems, and Civil Structures.
• In this role, the V&V Manager will establish a clear strategic direction for V&V throughout the organisation, setting expectations that ensure all requirements – technical, functional, safety, regulatory, and operational – are evidenced via analysis, test, inspection, demonstration or review.
• The V&V Manager will help develop a V&V approach suited to a prototype environment where no physical precursor exists.
• Working at the interface between engineering, integrity and programme management, the V&V Manager will provide the leadership needed to ensure V&V activities are integrated, prioritised, and consistently executed across the entire engineering lifecycle.
• The V&V Manager will manage and grow a team of V&V Engineers, providing technical guidance and coaching.

Accountability:

• Lead the Design Authority’s Verification and Validation Strategy: Define, maintain, and communicate the plant-wide V&V strategy aligned with safety, regulatory and performance requirements. Establish verification principles, acceptance criteria, and evidence standards for all levels of the design.
• Lead the UKIFS Verification & Validation Team: Provide leadership, coaching, and technical direction to engineers delivering V&V activities. Allocate resources, plan workloads, and ensure the team delivers high-quality outputs to programme timescales.
• Oversee V&V Delivery and Technical Assurance: Ensure Design Authority owned artefacts meet internal and regulatory expectations. Review and approve verification approaches for Structures, Systems and Components (SSCs) worth billions of pounds, ensuring robustness and defensibility.
• Represent the Design Authority in Programme, Technical, and Regulatory Interfaces: Present V&V status, evidence maturity, and design assurance positions at design reviews and technical authority committees.
• Embody a Leadership Mindset: Role model positive leadership behaviours aligned to the UKIFS and STEP values and behaviours. Foster a positive and inclusive team environment that aligns with our cultural values.

Qualifications:

• Essential: Degree Level Science or Engineering Qualification (or equivalent experience), Chartered member with relevant institution, Proven ability to develop and execute large-scale V&V programmes for complex systems, Strong knowledge of systems engineering principles, requirements management, and model-based engineering tools, Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage complex technical interfaces, Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Beneficial: Track record of creative problem solving in ambiguous or innovative environments, Experience of the full lifecycle for technically complex plant systems within major programmes.

Additional Information:

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 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (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. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance, that clearance can be transferred to UKIFS.

As we work towards our mission and goals, guided by our principles, STEP has six behaviours that are intended to capture the spirit of how we work: We champion safety, We all matter, We act as one, We embrace change, We are pioneering, We deliver.