Head of Neutronics (TOK180)

Location: Milton Park, Abingdon
Salary: Competitive
Job type: Permanent

Overview of the role

Working alongside other departments in Reactor Materials, Plasma Facing Components, Power Generation and Fuelling Systems this is an opportunity for a talented and natural leader to continue to build and manage a world-class team of neutronics engineers in order to support the development of key technologies needed for a Fusion Reactor. Specifically, the successful candidate will manage the group responsible for producing and analysing radiation transport models of fusion reactors.

In this role, you will:

• Line-manage the technical and computational leaders within the Neutronics team and other staff within those functions
• Organise and manage internal R&D activities and lead external collaborations with academia and industrial partners for developing neutronics methods, workflows, demonstrations, and analysis tools
• Ensure a safe system of work within the Neutronics team with relevant hazards identified, risks assessed and mitigated with adequate departmental processes in place and ensuring these are followed, including driving continuous improvement through lessons learned and quality management.
• Manage technology development roadmaps, work schedules, departmental budgets and risk registers – ensuring risks, costs and resources have adequate governance and technical oversight
• Act as the senior authority for the technical and computational Neutronics functions ensuring deliverables to programmes are On Time, On Quality, and On Cost – meeting project plans and business milestones
• Ensure all team members are suitably recruited, motivated, resourced and inspired to deliver against SMART objectives
• Represent the Neutronics (RAD) function transversely at the Reactor Technology level working alongside the Power Generation (GEN), Materials (MAT), Plasma Facing Components (PFC) and Fuelling Systems (FUEL) heads of departments to ensure a consistent, coherent, and integrated approach to technological development of reactor systems.
• Identify, develop, and protect Intellectual Property with a view to commercialisation of relevant technology

Hazard-specific / Safety-critical duties

This job includes the following hazards or safety-critical activities which will require successful pre-employment health screening through our occupational health service before the successful candidate will be allowed to start work:

• Driving on Company business
• Travel outside of Europe or North America on company business

Requirements and attributes we value:

• Technical excellence in the theory and modelling of radiation transport in matter for shielding, radiological protection, nuclear reaction rates, heating/damage and activation calculations
• A mastery in the computational methods used in radiation transport analyses – especially Monte Carlo and Deterministic methods, ideally MCNP6, GEANT4 and Attila – and the pre- and post- processing of results with structured and unstructured meshes.
• Will have recruited, built, and led high-performing teams of neutronics/radiation physicists and engineers
• Experience and/or training in hazard identification, risk assessments, and ensuring safe systems of work – driving safety standards in teams
• A proven ability to communicate technical and non-technical information effectively and persuasively at all levels: to senior management, stakeholders, collaborators, colleagues and staff
• Experience in managing complex engineering projects covering applied analysis, research, and hardware design and demonstration – ideally in developing new technologies for use in a radiation environment
• A familiarity with risk, cost and project management techniques is desirable
• A good level of knowledge of the principles of magnetically confined fusion and the technical challenges to be overcome to make fusion energy a reality – as evidenced by either academic qualifications or professional experience in fusion science or a related area.
• Knowledge of applicable international codes, regulations and good practices in the area of radiological protection and shielding and experience of compliance with the same
• A track record of accomplished technical leadership and line management through communication and buy-in to a clear vision, setting quality SMART objectives, good motivational skills and sound resource planning.
• An ability to organise one’s work independently without close supervision, being proactive in solving problems and well-reasoned decision-making skills would be strongly desirable.
• A basic awareness of the principles of Intellectual Property law and how businesses may protect their Intellectual Property would be desirable. The ideal candidate will have been listed as an inventor on multiple successful patent applications
• An academic qualification up to Masters or PhD level in Physics, Nuclear Engineering or a related area would be appropriate for this role – or equivalent vocational experience, which may be evidenced, for example, by holding an active Chartership in Physics and/or Engineering (CPhys / CEng) or international equivalents.

Benefits available to you:

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
• Company pension scheme
• Eligible for company share option scheme after 1 years’ service
• Company bonus scheme, discretionary, dependant on performance
• Private medical insurance after 3 months service
• Cycle to work scheme

No terminology in the advert or job description is intended to discriminate on the grounds of a person’s gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation.  Every candidate will be assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and abilities to perform the duties of the job.

How to apply

If you are passionate about accelerating the development of fusion power and want to join our dynamic team, please send your CV with a covering letter detailing your experience to bond@tokamakenergy.co.uk.

Important information for candidates

Pre-employment screening

Please note that the appointment of the successful candidate will be subject to standard pre-employment screening, as applicable to the post. This will include right-to-work, proof of identity and references.

Data privacy

Please note that any personal data submitted to Tokamak Energy as part of the job application process will be processed in accordance with the GDPR and related UK data protection legislation, for more information regarding GDPR please see:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation

Equality of opportunity

Entry into employment with the Tokamak Energy and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria which are related to the duties of each post and the relevant salary structure. In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration. No applicant or member of staff shall be discriminated against because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.