Job Description

Overview of Responsibilities

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The salary for this role is

56,596 (inclusive of a Specialist Allowance)

.

Onsite working is expected for

3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for flexible working.



This role is based at the following site:

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

We are seeking a

Senior Mechanical Engineer

to lead the design and development of major fusion subsystems and research facilities, from initial concept through to detailed design. In this role, you'll plan and manage projects that support enhancement programs and future fusion devices, applying your expertise in engineering calculations to guide key design decisions.



You'll oversee activities such as system and component integration, installation, repair, and upgrades, while producing high-quality technical reports and ensuring all work meets rigorous design and safety standards.



If you have experience working to design standards (especially pressure vessel standards), proven ability to lead teams and supervise staff, strong communication and technical writing skills, and excellent interpersonal abilities, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Accountabilities:

Lead the design and delivery of major fusion sub-systems and enhancement programs for UKAEA facilities and future fusion devices, from concept through detailed design. Oversee engineering activities for assigned systems and components, including analysis, repair, replacement, upgrade, and validation against international and fusion-specific design standards. Manage multi-disciplinary project teams, including designers and drawing office staff, ensuring effective coordination, adherence to design requirements, and high-quality technical output. Provide technical leadership and decision-making on complex or critical engineering issues, influencing senior stakeholders and acting as a technical reference within the organisation. Plan and deliver engineering projects from specification to handover, including on-site repair and upgrade programs, procurement, contract management, and value engineering implementation. Promote excellence and development by supervising and mentoring junior engineers, improving group competencies, maintaining strong communication, and enhancing productivity through new systems and processes. Salary
56,596 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
View benefits


Programme
Department
Product Engineering
Discipline
Engineering
Site Location
UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire
Type of Employment
Full-time
Reference Number
REF3844G

Qualifications

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Essential:

A relevant engineering degree or equivalent Ability to perform exploratory design calculations using first principles Good working knowledge of structural and thermal engineering, solid mechanics and engineering materials

Desirable:

Proven capability in engineering analysis and a good working knowledge of engineering materials and their properties Experience with relevant environmental factors such as vacuum and transient magnetic fields

Additional Information

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


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 talent@ukaea.uk 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.