TOKAMAK Operations Engineer

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, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• 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

What to expect in our recruitment process:
For a step-by-step overview of how we hire from application to offer please see our Recruitment Process page: careers.ukaea.uk/join-us/recruitment-process

Job Description

The salary for this role is £64,820 (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. 

The Role

MAST-U is currently the largest operating spherical tokamak in the world, providing a facility on which to perform experiments to provide the answer to key questions for fusion power to be delivered to the grid. We are looking for a  TOKAMAK Operations Engineer who  will be 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. You will also be working on development and effective implementation of appropriate Engineering Processes and Standards across UKAEA.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and manage the execution of high profile mechanical engineering activities (including exploratory research, assessment of plant designs / modification and reactive/proactive issue resolution for operational plant) with particular emphasis on tasks requiring expertise in :

• analyses 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 schedules 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.

Define the MAST-U Operating Instructions (MOIs) with input from appropriate experts to ensure the availability of the machine for operations. Monitor MAST-U operations with respect to the MOIs to ensure that the operation of MAST-U does not impact on (i) Personnel Safety, (ii) the fatigue lifetime or integrity of the machine. Implement revisions to existing MOIs or introduce new ones as required. 

• 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.
• To identify improved ways of operating the research machines to enhance their performance within the existing capabilities of the available plant
• Undertake technical investigations and assessments into design or operational issues
• Undertake ‘fitness for purpose’ reviews
• Technical Risk Assessment & Management for competing requirements (Reliability, Safety, Performance, Lifetime)
• Lead risk-based exceptions / tailored application 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, etc

Working with and interpreting between multiple engineering disciplines.

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 a 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 (the efficient matching of diverse engineering systems in a large complex project) and specific (the detail engineering of interfaces)
• 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

Additional Information

A full list of our benefits can be found here

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. 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 organization. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Please email View email address on jobs.smartrecruiters.com 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.

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