TOKAMAK Operations Engineer in Oxford

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 realising 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 £56,596 (inclusive of a Specialist Allowance). Onsite working is expected for 5 days each week, however, we actively support requests for flexible working. This role can be based at any of the following sites: 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.

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference? Join our team and contribute to the future of fusion energy. As TOKAMAK Operations Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in contributing directly to several critical aspects of the MAST-Upgrade Operations & Machine Protection Working Group (MPWG) for MAST-U function:

• Establishing and updating the Design Basis together with the Operational Envelope in an informed, controlled manner through identification and strategic mitigation of Technical Risk, both on a proactive and reactive basis.
• Development and effective implementation of appropriate Engineering Processes and Standards across UKAEA.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the execution of high-profile mechanical engineering activities with particular emphasis on tasks requiring expertise in:

• Analyse ranging from first principles, numerical solutions and multi-disciplinary simulation.
• Use and development of computer aided engineering (CAE) tools to simulate design functionality and qualify performance; manage a schedule of reference calculation methods and tools for use in a fusion component design.
• Relevant benchmarking experiment, physical test or plant demonstration.
• Behaviour of complex/interacting plant systems.
• Impact of lifetime degradation effects.
• Diagnose and resolve issues of plant integrity and plant protection.
• Ensure that the operation of the experimental facilities has an appropriate balance between performance, reliability and lifetime.
• Identify improved ways of operating the research machines to enhance their performance within the existing capabilities of the available plant.
• Undertake fitness for purpose reviews and technical investigations and assessments into design or operational issues.
• Technical Risk Assessment & Management for competing requirements (Reliability, Safety, Performance, Lifetime).
• Lead risk-based exceptions/tailored applications based on a clear understanding of the rationale for the rules.
• Subject matter expert for specific regulations. Author of compliance processes or procedures within a diverse business; Member of relevant industry working groups and standards development organisations.

Qualifications

Essential Requirements:

• Engineering Degree at BSc/MSc level and higher or equivalent.
• Ability to perform exploratory design calculations using first principles. Proven capability in engineering analysis and good working knowledge of engineering materials and their properties.
• Demonstrable mechanical engineering design experience with mechanical and electrical machinery, electromagnetics, structural integrity and with ultra-high-vacuum equipment.
• Demonstrable mechanical engineering manufacturing experience.
• Demonstrable Systems Integration experience in design and construction, both general and specific.
• Practical technical experience of operating complex prototype equipment.
• Some experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Experience in Tokamak system technologies.
• Experience in Control and instrumentation.
• Experience in Elementary plasma physics.
• Experience in Cryogenics.

UKAEA's mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds who want to help us achieve our mission. We are under-represented from some groups and so want to encourage applications in particular from women in STEM, people from Black British Caribbean and African backgrounds and from Pakistani and Bangladeshi British backgrounds.

UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Let us know if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis.

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