Specialist Materials Engineer - Experimental

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 ground breaking 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

What to expect in our recruitment process:
For a step-by-step overview of how we hire from application to offer please see our Recruitment Process page: careers.ukaea.uk/join-us/recruitment-process

The salary for this role is £48,290 (inclusive of a Specialist Allowance). Onsite working is expected for 3 days a week, however, we actively support requests for flexible working.

This role can be based at any of the following sites; Rotherham, South Yorkshire with occasional domestic travel.

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

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference? Join our team and contribute to the future of fusion energy. As a Specialist Materials Engineer – Experimental, you will play a pivotal role in advancing the understanding and qualification of materials required for current and future fusion power plants. Working within the Applied Materials Technology Group, you will contribute to the delivery of validated material property data and associated research technologies that support the development of fusion devices and commercial fusion energy.

As a recognised subject matter specialist, you will independently deliver moderate to complex research activities, applying best practice in materials testing technologies and advanced measurement techniques to assess materials performance. You will develop innovative research methodologies, provide specialist technical advice within your area of expertise, and review and approve technical outputs to support high-quality engineering decisions. This role offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of materials engineering, collaborating with experts across fusion technology while helping to solve some of the most complex challenges in the transition towards sustainable energy.

Core Responsibilities:

• Plan, design and deliver medium- to high-complexity experimental research using advanced materials testing technologies to support fusion materials development.
• Lead experimental work packages, defining test strategies, managing resources, timelines and budgets, and providing specialist technical guidance on materials testing.
• Develop and apply innovative materials testing methodologies and scientific computing tools (e.g. Python, MATLAB) to improve experimental capability and data analysis.
• Disseminate research through technical reports, publications, presentations and collaboration with academic, industrial and research partners.
• Support the development of colleagues through mentoring, knowledge sharing and technical guidance.
• Promote safe, collaborative and responsible research practices in line with UKAEA values and FAIR data principles.

Essential Requirements:

• PhD in a STEM-related discipline or substantial relevant industrial experience in materials engineering or a related field.
• Experience using scientific programming languages, including scripting languages (e.g. Python, MATLAB) and compiled languages (e.g. C++, Fortran).
• Familiarity with materials modelling and simulation techniques, including their applications, benefits, limitations and associated data uncertainties.
• Practical experience in one or more of the following areas: mechanical testing, physical testing, miniaturised testing, classical strength of materials, or mechanisms of material failure (e.g. creep, fatigue and fracture).
• Demonstrable experience applying FAIR data principles within a research or engineering environment, including approaches such as version control (e.g. Git) and research data repositories (e.g. Zenodo).
• Excellent communication and collaborative working skills, including technical reporting, scientific publications, and supporting less experienced colleagues.
• Ability to apply initiative, creativity and attention to detail to resolve technical challenges, improve processes and deliver effective solutions.
• Strong planning, organisation and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage competing workloads.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience working in a fusion-related field or environment.
• Working towards Chartered status with a relevant professional body, with demonstrated progress towards achieving this.

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 to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce. We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, while ensuring all appointments are made on merit.

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.