Engineering Lead

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:

• 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 equality and being fully inclusive.

The salary for this role is £71,815 (inclusive of a Specialist Allowance). Onsite working is expected for 5 days a week. This role can be based at any of the following sites; Culham, Oxfordshire with occasional travel. 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.

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference? Join our team and contribute to the future of fusion energy. As an experienced Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in providing technical leadership and direction to the engineering team at the Materials Research Facility (MRF). You will lead and support the development of innovative engineering solutions, oversee the adaptation and integration of complex research equipment for remote and robotic handling, and contribute to the continued development of MRF’s capabilities to support fusion and fission research.

Working closely with the MRF leadership team, Central Engineering Department, and the Office of the Chief Engineer/Design Office, you will have the opportunity to shape engineering approaches, authorise designs within UKAEA’s governance framework, and deliver bespoke equipment and systems that enable advanced research on active samples.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Lead the engineering capability and delivery of active materials equipment within the Materials Research Facility, ensuring effective resource management, delivery against research priorities, budget control, robust governance, legislative compliance, and machine certification in alignment with the Office of the Chief Engineer.
• Deliver innovative, high-impact engineering solutions that enable safe, reliable, and world-leading preparation and research of active materials, applying appropriate Systems Engineering principles, tools, and processes throughout the design and delivery lifecycle.
• Lead engineering support for major UK Atomic Energy Authority programmes, including the Joint European Torus and Hydrogen-3 Advanced Technology programmes, ensuring alignment with programme objectives, technical requirements, and delivery schedules while maximising engineering capability across the organisation.
• Provide effective stakeholder engagement and reporting to senior leadership, external users, research partners, and key funding organisations, communicating engineering progress, risks, opportunities, and performance.
• Drive effective management and value realisation of engineering assets through resource planning, performance reporting, and collaboration with Finance and other relevant stakeholders.
• Uphold the highest standards of engineering integrity, technical rigour, safety, and professional judgement, ensuring robust technical decisions and maintaining the organisation’s reputation as a leading research and engineering institution.
• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing engineering team by fostering innovation, collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement, expanding capability to support world-leading experimental research on irradiated materials.

Qualifications

Essential Requirements:

• Degree-qualified (or equivalent) in an engineering discipline, with a proven track record of delivering complex, multidisciplinary technical projects.
• Strong systems engineering expertise, with the ability to lead and integrate design activities across mechanical, electrical, and electronic engineering disciplines.
• Experience with CE/UKCA certification requirements, ideally including machine certification.
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to motivate, develop, and foster a collaborative, solution-focused engineering team.
• Strong project management skills, including resource planning, delivery to agreed timelines, scope management, and risk awareness.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to respond effectively to changing priorities while minimising impact on technical delivery.

Desirable Requirements:

• Chartered Engineer or equivalent level of professional engineering experience.
• Experience in radiological environments, including hot-cell facilities or the nuclear sector.
• Expertise in manipulator tooling, pick-and-place robotics, shielding design, and equipment separation to protect sensitive components; relevant qualifications or specialist expertise are desirable.
• Proven experience delivering engineering solutions across the full project lifecycle, from requirements capture through to commissioning and handover.
• Strong track record of applying Systems Engineering principles to the delivery of complex, multidisciplinary engineering projects.

UKAEA’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce. We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, while ensuring all appointments are made on merit.

UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Please email [email protected] 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.