Overview of Responsibilities

About us

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 organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.

About the job

Join UKAEA’s Fusion Technology division as a Senior Power Plant Modeller and help shape the design of future fusion power plants. Fusion power plants do not yet exist, so every aspect of their design must be explored and tested using digital models before anyone can start building them. We are looking for an experienced modeller to help drive this work.

You’ll lead the development of advanced modelling capabilities, combining fusion physics, engineering and software development to carry out design studies and inform engineering decisions. This is an opportunity to provide technical leadership, influence major fusion programmes, and strengthen the UK’s position at the forefront of sustainable fusion energy.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead studies of complete fusion power plant concepts and inform design decisions.
• Develop and improve power plant modelling software, mainly in Python (PROCESS and BLUEMIRA).
• Work internally and externally with experts in plasma physics, materials, mechanical engineering, fuel cycles and plant systems.
• Build models that bring together different parts of a fusion power plant and test how they interact.
• Provide technical guidance on complex modelling problems.
• Evaluate emerging developments in fusion physics, technology and systems modelling, integrating relevant advances to improve capability.
• Build national and international partnerships with academic and industrial organisations.
• Publish research findings, present at international conferences and engage with the scientific community.
• Promote UKAEA’s values by championing safety, health, wellbeing, equality, diversity and inclusion across the team and wider organisation.

What You’ll Bring

• A PhD in a relevant STEM or scientific modelling discipline, or equivalent experience in a structured research environment, supported by a substantial track record of technical achievement.
• Extensive experience in scientific modelling, including developing and resolving complex technical challenges and applying independent technical judgement.
• Demonstrable software development experience in at least one language used in scientific or engineering applications, such as Python.
• Substantial experience leading technical projects, including resource allocation, with evidence of developing colleagues and strengthening technical capability.
• A proven track record of communicating complex technical work through high-quality reports, scientific publications and engagement.

UKAEA is an onsite organisation, and this role requires regular onsite presence (3 days in any given week) in line with business needs. We actively support flexible working arrangements where this is compatible with the role.

Benefits

We have a generous range of benefits (see the full list here) and highlights include:

• A salary of £57,117 (inclusive of a 5,800 specialist allowance)
• Up to 7% corporate performance bonus
• Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave plus 2.5 ‘privilege’ days; 8 Bank Holidays
• Additional 3 days of site closure over Christmas break
• Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions

Our commitment to ED&I

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, inclusion and accessibility, and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce.

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or require adjustments to help you participate fairly in our recruitment process, for example changes to the way we interview or share information. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates.

We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All appointments are made on merit and further information can be found here.