Engineering Analysis Group Lead

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 £71,815 (inclusive of a Specialist Allowance).

Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for flexible working. 

This role is based at the following site: Culham, Oxfordshire

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 Engineering Analysis Group Lead, you will play the pivotal role of leading the Engineering Analysis Group, which provides the specialist staff and technical expertise needed to support complex substantiation and qualification work across UKAEA projects and programmes.  The Group Lead oversees the management of work and development of the employees in the Group. They provide strategic management and planning to provide a framework of processes and methods for effective delivery and development of engineering analysts. They engage with senior project and programme managers to develop strategic relationships and ensure timely and effective support. 

The role holder provides specialist technical knowledge and direction in a technical field relating to the use or development of computer aided engineering (CAE) tools.  They are responsible for developing team leads capable of managing the provision of technical leadership for the design substantiation of complex products and systems with demanding performance requirements.  They are also responsible for implementing and improving quality processes relevant to Engineering Analysis and Simulation. 

Key Accountabilities: 

Technical / Professional 

• Act as a Technical Reference for all divisions in areas of knowledge, with an emphasis on use and/or development of computer aided engineering (CAE) tools. 
• Defines and ensures implementation of processes and standards to ensure design, analysis and qualification work on major fusion sub-systems is effectively managed and delivered from concept through to detailed design. 
• Act as arbitrator on technical conflicts concerning analysis across all UKAEA divisions. 
• Actively promote the capability and expertise of the group across all UKAEA divisions and external partners. 

Project Management 

• Ensure effective management of analysis and qualification activities for projects or work packages, including direct intervention to “add value” where needed. 
• Lead the technical delivery of engineering solutions, identifying and complying with relevant legislation, codes and site procedures / practices. 
• Ensure that detailed designs are appropriately qualified (by computation or experiment), working with engineering analysts as necessary, and ensure appropriate adherence to international and fusion-specific design standards. 

People Management 

• Ensure that the workload and development of group employees is effectively managed, ensuring team leads maintain alignment with the Integrated Engineering Department’s objectives and UKAEA’s organisational mission and strategies. 
• Drive capability development of engineering analysis staff, ensuring that engineering analysis coaching and training is undertaken so that staff are up to date with the latest techniques and design codes. This includes developing training plans for all employees involved in engineering analysis. 
• Establish strategic relationships with clients across the divisions to ensure early identification of analytical support and definitions of work packages and adequate budgets to complete the work given. 

Essential: 

• A relevant engineering degree or equivalent experience. 
• Achieved Chartered Engineer Status or NAFEMS PSE (Professional Simulation Engineer) Certification at Advanced level.  Other professional status certifications will be considered on their merits. 
• Experience in direct line management and development of engineers. 
• Experience in managing large qualification work packages involving multiple analysts of different disciplines. 

Desirable: 

• Experience in quality management of engineering analysis work. 
• Experience delivering analytical work for fusion-related projects. 

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.