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) protype 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. UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. Join UKIFS and the STEP programme to be involved in this ground-breaking journey.
As an employee of UKIFS, 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 being fully inclusive .
Job Description
For more information on UKIFS, visit:
The salary for this role is £67,023 (inclusive of a Scarcity Market Premium Payment (MPP), and onsite working is expected for 3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for Flexible Working.
Employees of UKIFS can be based at either of our sites; West Burton, Nottinghamshire or 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
As Magnets Technology Development Lead, you will play a pivotal role in providing technical and project delivery leadership on STEP HTS Magnets projects of large significance or scale, influencing the direction of the organisation and/or external partnerships: to seek out strategic contracts and collaborations, to engage with the global HTS community, and to scope out new opportunities to accelerate the STEP mission. You will provides specialist technical knowledge and direction in the complex field of HTS magnet systems. You will propose, define, manage and deliver major demonstration projects, and lead project teams, to demonstrate critical HTS technology. You will focus on demonstrating HTS technology solutions at pace in sub-scale prototypes; as such you will provide technical leadership in identifying pragmatic ‘least worst’ solutions for the STEP Prototype Powerplant, prioritising pace. In addition, you will be the main interface between the STEP Prototype Powerplant (SPP) design and the STEP Magnets technology development teams. You will also work alongside the Model Coil Programme Lead ensuring candidate technologies are integrated and validated at scale in HTS magnet prototypes.
Key Accountabilities:
* Manage delivering critical component technology which demonstrate STEP’s HTS magnet solutions at pace. Technology development projects include magnet materials selection, HTS tape selection and performance assurance, fixed and remountable magnet joints, current leads, structural supports.
* Manage delivering the HTS Small Test Coil, Cable and HTS Materials development programmes.
* Be accountable for the development and ownership of strategic technology development plans and detailed Test Plans.
* Act as the main interface between the SPP design teams and the STEP Magnets technology development project teams ensuring alignment with the engineering design needs of the SPP.
* Act as the main interface between Model Coil project teams and the STEP Magnets technology development project teams ensuring candidate technologies are developed in time to validate at scale in HTS ‘model coil’ prototypes.
* Accountable for establishing and maintaining best practice in the use of research, analysis and evaluation tools
* Accountable for contract technical specifications and scoping of major collaborations to deliver critical technology development projects
* Accountable for technology development project budgets and for delivery of projects to schedule. Working closely with STEP Magnets project management team to ensure all project activities are planned, with deliverables and major milestones clearly articulated, and resources are deployed effectively.
* Responsible for ‘failing fast’ and communicating regular progress of critical technology development projects to enable SPP design, and HTS model coil, decisions or pivots.
* Accountable for the development and ownership of Verification and Validation plans against formal SPP design Requirements and associated Risk Registers.
* Accountable for proactively identifying Intellectual Property opportunities, working closely with the STEP IP team to produce invention disclosures and patent applications, and specifying collaborative IP terms in contracts and collaboration agreements.
* Accountable for building and maintaining relationships with the HTS global community and seeking out strategic contracts and collaborations to scope out new opportunities to accelerate the STEP mission.
* Accountable for communicating complex technical challenges and technology findings in a simple and effective manner to a range of audiences.
* Able to deputise for senior managers, up to and including the STEP Magnets Engineering Manager
* Support on the development of more junior engineers in areas of expertise
* Support the organisation’s culture of equality, inclusivity, and diversity
You may be required to undertake any other duties that are reasonable and commensurate with this role that may not be specifically referred to in the above list of key accountabilities.
Qualifications
Essential:
* Relevant engineering degree or equivalent
* Chartered status with a suitable professional institution
* Demonstrable track record in developing technology and evidence of delivering innovative solutions to industry
* Good understanding of HTS magnet design and HTS multi-physics, especially quench
* Experiment design and proficient in the use of electrical and cryogenic laboratory equipment
* Commercial awareness, project and budget management experience
* Leading teams: excellent interpersonal skills, with experience of working in diverse, multidisciplinary teams
* Ability to communicate effectively in both technical and non-technical terms
Desirable:
* Demonstrable track record in developing HTS magnet technology
* Hands-on experience with HTS materials and fabricating HTS magnets
Additional Information
A full list of our benefits can be found here .
We welcome talented people from all backgrounds who want to help us achieve our mission. We encourage applications from under-represented groups, particularly from women in STEM, people from Black British Caribbean and African, Pakistani and Bangladeshi British, and other ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and neurotypical individuals. 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 organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.
Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.
For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks: If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.