Equipment Scientist

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UKAEA is seeking an Equipment Scientist at Culham to lead operation, maintenance and development of the Materials Research Facility, drive irradiation materials research, and manage a small team while coordinating with partners. The role centers on project management, resource planning and clear communication across audiences. Essential: a degree in materials science, physics, chemistry or related field; ability to juggle multiple priorities; and proven project leadership. Experience with Microstructural Kit (SEM TEM FIB PFIB) is advantageous. Onsite five days per week, salary £56,596 with Specialist Allowance, plus flexible options, pension and up to 7% bonus, relocation. BPSS/DBS checks apply; tailor your CV to highlight leadership and collaboration with impact.

Company Description

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

Job Description

The salary for this role is £56,596 (inclusive of a Specialist Allowance). Onsite working is expected for 5 days each week, however, we actively support requests for flexible working. 

This role will be based at our Culham, Oxfordshire site. 

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

As an Equipment Scientist, you will play a key role in the operation, maintenance, and development of a diverse range of scientific equipment, while contributing significantly to multiple materials research projects. Working within a collaborative and highly skilled team, you will be part of the Materials Research Facility (MRF), focused on the analysis of active materials - particularly irradiation damage in nuclear materials - as well as the design and delivery of novel experimental equipment and innovative analytical techniques.

Additional Responsibilities:

• General maintenance, management and operation of the MRF scientific equipment
• Organise and coordinate short and long-term projects, arranging equipment availability, scope of work and resources for sample preparation, testing, modelling.
• Build capability and capacity of the MRF team to ensure the right capability working against the range of equipment, ensuring deliverable are met as required
• Compile and present results within technical reports and where required at scientific conferences and through publication of high-quality research articles
• Build, and provide management to, a small team of material scientists and engineers, providing research direction and allocating them to projects as required
• Manage relationships with external collaborators (including universities, public sector research establishments and industry in fusion and related fields) in order to complement UKAEA's internal capability and enable access to additional expert knowledge and facilitate new project proposals.

Qualifications

Essential:

• A degree or equivalent experience in materials science, mathematics, physics, chemistry or related and relevant subject
• Demonstrable experience working on a range of projects with the ability to handle multiple conflicting priorities
• Evidence of project management experience including resource management and stakeholder engagement delivering high-quality results to tight timescales
• Previous experience working with Microstructural Kit is advantageous (i.e SEM, Scanning Electron Microscope; TEM, Transition Electron Microscope; FIB, Focused Ion Beam; PFIB, Plasma Focused Ion Beam)
• Ability to work well within a team and able to readily articulate complex technical information to both specialist and non-specialist audiences
• Experience within a commercial laboratory environment working with a range of scientific laboratory equipment is highly advantageous but not essential

Additional Information

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 [email protected] 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.