Senior Mechanical 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

The salary for this role is £54,376 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance)  and onsite working is expected for  min 2 days.

This role can be based at can any of the following sites; Rotherham, West Yorkshire  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.

The Role

The In-Vessel Engineering section at UKAEA plays a key role in advancing the integrated design of fusion in-vessel systems, as well as overseeing their integration, verification, validation, and structural integrity. This role involves planning, coordinating, and executing design or analysis work on in-vessel systems, either by directly performing the tasks or by guiding others. It promotes the use of best practices and tools, while also contributing to their continuous development by providing technical leadership and expertise. The position may involve managing projects and teams, overseeing the delivery of work packages, and producing technical reports, all while ensuring compliance with design standards.

Are you seeking an exciting opportunity to make a real impact? Join our team and help shape the future of fusion energy. As a Senior Mechanical Engineer, you will manage and execute design substantiation in collaboration with the technical lead and the Chief Engineer's delegate. You will coordinate resources to deliver technical project activities and support the application of systems engineering to work packages. Additionally, you’ll ensure compliance with relevant design codes and legislation throughout the process.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Interface with multiple disciplines and act as the primary technical interface or contract project manager for projects valued up to £1m.
• Support project initiation by advising on make/buy decisions, and assist with budgeting and scheduling.
• Ensure timely delivery of assigned work packages within specification and budget by managing technical scope and quality.
• Oversee the production of technical documentation, review and approve documents, and coordinate documentation for systems.
• Leverage expertise across various fields to make, present, and recommend design trade-off decisions, taking pragmatic design risks, including novel or cross-discipline solutions.
• Prepare and present materials at design and readiness reviews, and specify work for tender to the supply chain, ensuring technical specifications and evaluation methodologies are met.
• Manage equipment installation and testing within integrated systems, ensuring safe work practices, and assess supplier-provided equipment based on inspection and test data.

Essential Requirements:

• A relevant engineering degree or equivalent, with experience working to design standards and codes.
• Demonstrable experience in engineering design, analysis, solid mechanics, and a strong understanding of engineering materials and their properties.
• Proven expertise in structural and thermal engineering, materials, manufacturing methods, testing activities, and experimental validation.
• Experience in at least one of the following areas: Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing; Multiphysics Engineering Analysis; Structural Integrity; or Verification, Validation, and Qualification.
• Strong communication, technical writing, and interpersonal skills, with a track record of building positive working relationships and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of environmental factors such as vacuum, radiation, high temperatures, and transient magnetic fields, and experience preparing bids, proposals, and overseeing technical design and manufacturing in subcontract organizations.

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and women. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI 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.

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