Company Description
UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) Ltd is a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and is leading the delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKIFS is building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year and aims to achieve prototype first operations around 2040.
Benefits
- Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
- Corporate bonus scheme up to 7%
- Relocation allowance (if eligible)
- Flexible working options and family‑friendly policies
- Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders
- Generous annual leave 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
- Vibrant inclusive culture
- Salary £73,190 + annual allowance of £7,900
Job Description
Fusion energy offers significant low‑carbon, safe, baseload energy that supports climate action and energy independence. STEP is the flagship national programme to deliver a prototype fusion plant, targeting commercial viability around 2040.
The Role
Reporting to the Head of Plasma Development (HoPD), you will lead the research and development needed to achieve robust control of the STEP plasma solution, managing a team of 15–25 experts. You will develop systems required for controllable plasma scenarios with acceptable disruption handling for the STEP prototype and subsequent commercial reactors.
Responsibilities
- Engage with UKAEA, universities, and international collaborators to identify innovative plasma control and sensor solutions.
- Partner with industry and the Design Authority to ensure compatibility with overall concept design and operational strategy.
- Collaborate with national and international tokamak facilities to reduce uncertainty in control and sensor system design.
- Identify opportunities to prototype and test aspects of the plasma control system.
- Drive the STEP plasma control development toward robust, safe plasma operations to meet programme objectives.
- Lead the establishment of integrated decision‑route maps for control and sensor system design, defining performance requirements.
- Manage the STEP plasma control and sensor development team, ensuring timely, cost‑effective delivery.
- Support the HoPD with project execution plans, intellectual property management, and documentation of critical decisions.
- Promote world‑class R&D through research outputs aligned with UKIFS commercial requirements.
- Act as a cultural ambassador, fostering inclusive teamwork and upholding public life principles.
- Deputise for the HoPD as required.
Accountabilities
- Lead a world‑class team of control experts across UKAEA Fusion Partners and industry.
- Embed plasma control into virtual representations of STEP, including pulse verification.
- Drive sensor system development to enable safe operation through all plasma phases.
- Develop integrated decision‑route maps for sensor and actuator design, exploiting international synergies.
- Manage interfaces with other STEP subsystems for synergistic benefit.
- Present progress in technical review meetings and identify commercial opportunities.
- Support training and apprenticeship opportunities.
- Identify and protect valuable intellectual property.
Qualifications
- PhD level background in a relevant scientific/engineering discipline.
- Established world‑class expertise in plasma control and/or plasma sensor systems.
- Broad understanding of tokamak plasma physics and operations.
- International reputation with high‑quality research outputs.
- Track record of delivering complex, high‑technology projects to quality, time and budget.
- Experience leading successful collaborative research projects and building external collaborations.
- Excellent written and oral communication.
- Strategic and innovative thinker with strong team‑building and collaboration skills.
- Understanding of modern security, safety, health, environment, and quality assurance standards.
- Beneficial: experience with project‑management processes, commercial organisations, plasma‑materials‑technology boundaries, staff development, recruitment, and professional memberships.
Additional Information
We welcome applications from under‑represented groups, particularly women in STEM, individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. The role requires completion of an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks. SC clearance may be required in the future. Applicants holding an SC clearance can transfer it to UKIFS.
Applicants applying from outside the UK must review criminal record checks information at gov.uk – if the required information is unavailable, the application cannot be processed.
The closing date for applications is 31May.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
UKIFS is committed to an inclusive workplace. We actively promote equality, diversity, and inclusion and evaluate recruitment practices to remove barriers to success.
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