Interim Head of Programme – Materials Science & Engineering at UK Atomic Energy Authority

South Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

05 May, 26

Salary

91173.0

Posted On

04 Feb, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Engineering, Leadership, Project Management, Materials Research, Compliance, Strategic Direction, Multi-disciplinary Design, Technical Leadership, Resource Estimation, Scope Control, Safety Management, Innovation, Communication, Governance, Systems Engineering, Machine Certification

Industry

Research Services

Description

Company Description 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. Job Description Materials research at UKAEA spans both fundamental and applied work, supporting the Authority’s international reputation while developing materials for future fusion reactors and power plants. The Materials Division’s programme, supported by around £12m per year in DESNZ, EPSRC and STEP funding and guided by the UK Fusion Materials Roadmap, aims to design, test and demonstrate improved materials for tokamak-based fusion systems. Until 2024, this work was delivered by the Materials Science and Engineering and Fusion Materials Interfaces teams using the Materials Research Facility (MRF), a £50m national facility for handling irradiated materials on a non-licensed site. From 2025, the growing programme requires further expansion, including the continued development of MRF alongside two new facilities: MRF II (the J41 Project) and MRF III (the Irradiated Magnet Test Centre), each with an investment of around £12m. Core responsibilities Lead the development and delivery of new engineering capability across the Materials Division. Produce non-commercial business case inputs for MRF II and III, aligned to the UK Fusion Materials Roadmap, including a ~£45m proton beamline proposal. Align divisional engineering plans with internal and external stakeholders to support UKAEA mission and goals. Develop and extend engineering policy, ensuring compliance with QSHERA requirements across multiple site contexts. Report progress and performance to UKAEA ExCo, funders, and senior external stakeholders. Contribute to divisional business planning, budgeting, people reviews, and resource scoping, including asset capitalisation with Finance. Build and lead a resilient, inclusive, and appropriately scaled engineering capability with suitably qualified personnel. Line manage senior engineering leads across MRF I–III, fostering performance, innovation, and proactive communication. Provide technical leadership to establish the Division as the UK’s leading facility for irradiated materials research. Oversee commissioning and State 2 conversion of engineering systems across MRF I, leveraging wider UKAEA capabilities where appropriate. Deliver major infrastructure milestones, including hot cell commissioning by end-2025 and integration of legacy and new facilities. Establish robust governance, systems engineering processes, and machine certification oversight in line with UKAEA standards. Qualifications Degree in an engineering discipline with a strong track record in research environments; Chartered Engineer preferred Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary design activities across mechanical, electrical, and electronic engineering Experience with CE/UKCA requirements, ideally including machine certification Strong leadership experience, including managing large teams and providing strategic direction Solid project management capability, including resource estimation, scope control, and delivery to agreed timelines Experience in high-hazard environments, with the flexibility to manage uncertainty while maintaining safe and effective technical delivery Additional Information A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/ but highlights include: £91,173 base salary Final salary defined benefit scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution 25 days annual leave, plus 3 days Christmas closure, 2.5 privilege day and 8 Bank holidays Flexible and hybrid working options 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. Further information can be found here. UKAEA is committed to being accessible. Please email [email protected] if you require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis. Salary: £91,173 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension Division: Materials Site Location: UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire Confirmed Grade: Level 7 Department: Materials - MSE

Responsibilities

Lead the development and delivery of new engineering capability across the Materials Division while aligning divisional engineering plans with stakeholders. Oversee major infrastructure milestones and establish robust governance and engineering processes.