Senior Neutronics and Radiometric Scientist

  • Full-time
  • Salary: £49,396 to £52,293 (inclusive of MPP) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
  • Site Location: UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire
  • Confirmed Grade: Level 5
  • Department: Special Techniques

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 are at the forefront of realising energy from fusion, working with industry and research partners to deliver the ground-breaking developments that will underpin tomorrow's fusion power stations with the aim of bringing fusion electricity to the grid.

Job Description

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking a driven and collaborative individual to join us as a Senior Neutronics and Radiometric Scientist, working in a high performing group to lead and grow activities, to research, solve and assess some of the most important nuclear technology challenges that directly contribute to the development of fusion energy.

You will possess extensive experience with radiation detection methods, technologies and associated analysis as well as having a significant track record of relevant academic or project work evidenced though publications or equivalent technical reports. You must have experience with projects involving nuclear analysis and will have the ability to understand and explain complex requirements, both to experienced peers and to non-specialists in a constructive manner. 

What will you be responsible for?

  • Leading the delivery of a significant portfolio of technical work areas on time and to budget, using nuclear analysis tools, such as MCNP and FISPACT-II. 
  • Leading experimental and modelling work to support the development of nuclear instrumentation.
  • May be required to manage specific operations in a radiometric laboratory, including gamma spectrometry systems, activation foil-based detectors and neutron detectors.
  • Publishing project work to a high standard and, when appropriate, in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
  • Leading the development of strong proposals to grow existing work areas and develop new areas. 
  • May manage and supervise colleagues to deliver capabilities and required work.
  • Communicating / presenting progress regularly with staff, and with academic or commercial project partners, ensuring the delivery of high-quality technical work on time and on budget, with an ability to negotiate with partners to ensure cost and timely delivery.
  • Leading identification, support and/or development of tools and methods that are aligned with work areas to support and improve analysis methods and to position the group's capabilities to meet future requirements.
  • Form, develop and maintain links with external professional networks, universities and collaborators.

Please note that you may be required to work with ionising radiation at times as a non-classified worker under the ionising radiation regulations.

Qualifications

Essential skills, experience and competence required

  • A degree in a relevant physical sciences, mathematics or engineering or degree, or equivalent
  • Demonstrable experience of managing and delivering scientific projects with multiple tasks and controlling budgets
  • Experience with projects involving nuclear analysis, for example including the application of MCNP and FISPACT-II codes
  • Excellent communication skills, written and spoken
  • Significant track record of relevant academic or project work evidenced though publications or equivalent technical reports
  • Significant experience with radiation detection methods, technologies and associated analysis

Desirable skills, experience and competence

  • Knowledge and experience with scientific programming and scripting (Fortran, python scripting)
  • Knowledge and experience of Linux operating systems, parallel computing (e.g. MPI and OpenMP) and high-performance computing
  • Knowledge and/or experience with: magnetic confinement fusion; CAD modelling software/tools
  • Higher degree or doctorate in a nuclear discipline area

Additional Information

What we offer

  • A competitive salary  
  • A culture committed to being fully inclusive, supported by a Being Inclusive Strategy and Inclusion Ambassadors 
  • An Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, with a full calendar of health and wellbeing initiatives 
  • Flexible working options including family friendly policies  
  • Emergency leave (paid) 
  • 30.5 days annual leave (including privilege days and 3 days between Christmas and New Year) increased with length of service 
  • Wide range of career development opportunities (e.g professional registration, internal promotions, coaching and mentoring programme)  
  • Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme  
  • Annual corporate bonus scheme  
  • Relocation allowance (if eligible) 

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly from individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, including nationality and citizenship, people with disabilities, (visible and hidden) and women. Our dedicated ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ (EDI) partner, with the support from our Inclusion Ambassadors, is actively promoting EDI and taking steps to increase the diversity of our people through reinforcing best practice in recruitment and selection, and revaluating approaches where it is clear we can remove barriers to success. We are easily accessible by car and are a 10-minute walk from Culham Railway Station in Oxfordshire.

Please be advised that this vacancy is due to close on 9th of April . We may close earlier than this date if large or sufficient numbers of applications are received.

Please note all employees working at the UK Atomic Energy Authority will be required to complete an online Disclosure Certificate application as part of their clearance – The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks will show the details of all current criminal convictions (convictions considered unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974) or will confirm that there are no such convictions.

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