Engineering Lifecycle Manager - UKIFS

UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) Ltd, a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), is at the forefront of developing fusion sustainable energy.  Through the design and delivery of STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme we aim to build a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040.  

UKIFS will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. 

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

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/  

For more information on UKIFS, visit: https://careers.ukaea.uk/wp-content/uploads/download/UKIFS_CandidateRecruitmentPack.pdf 

As an employee of UKIFS 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.
• 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.

The salary for this role is £70,505  (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension.

The closing date to apply for this position is the 20th of October.

This UKIFS vacancy can be based at either of our sites; West Burton, Nottinghamshire or Culham, Oxfordshire

 A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/  

For more information on UKIFS, visit: https://careers.ukaea.uk/wp-content/uploads/download/UKIFS_CandidateRecruitmentPack.pdf 

Fusion energy offers the potential for significant quantities of low-carbon, inherently safe, abundantly fuelled, baseload energy, supporting sustainable climate action and energy independence.  While the technical challenge remains high, confidence is increasing, and the rewards of realising fusion are almost incalculable.  Anticipated to come online for commercial purposes in the middle of this century, fusion offers a viable means to sustainable net zero in the UK and globally, as well as to increased energy security.  The UK is currently a world leader in fusion research and development and in the drive to realise commercially viable energy from fusion, a sector with an estimated value of £tns per year. 

STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UK’s flagship national programme to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant, targeting 2040, and a path to commercial viability of fusion.  STEP is deliberately bold and ambitious and seeks people who want to be part of a world-changing endeavour and who have credible and relevant experiencing in delivery. 

STEP is currently led by the UK Atomic Energy Authority, which has breadth and depth of expertise in fusion science, engineering and operations built over decades.  Over the next year, leadership will transition to a new Company, UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. (UKIFS) to focus on the delivery of the prototype and, in so doing, the development of a fusion supply chain.  From the next government investment gate, UKIFS will lead a collaborative team of industrial Whole Plant Partners who bring expertise in engineering and construction, plus UKAEA who will remain as strategic Partner providing fusion expertise.  

The role:

The STEP Engineering Lifecycle Manager will own the definition, deployment and evolution of the STEP Engineering Lifecycle, ensuring consistent alignment and technical integrity across engineering disciplines and lifecycle phases. 

Directly influencing a uniquely innovative space, the role holder will actively shape a systems-oriented lifecycle from first principles, translating new and existing artefacts and principles into gates, reviews, and outcomes that support Engineering delivery to standards such as ISO 15288. 

Leading the dialogue with a diverse range of stakeholder, the Lifecycle Manager will ensure implementation of a wide range of requirements into a lifecycle that supports; 

• Robust planning, options analysis, verification and validation 

• Pathways for technology of varying readiness and maturity levels from production intent systems to first-of-a-kind technologies 

• A variety of different technologies and scientific specialities from Superconductors through to Civils 

• Strict regulatory and standards needs 

• Proactive analysis of technological readiness, compliance, and maturity levels 

• Implementation in PLM systems 

The Lifecycle Manager will take the lead in securing buy-in with a range of stakeholders across the programme, noting requirements across functional areas and selecting a best-for-programme approach; leading to a behaviours-based approach to Engineering governance underpinned by clear, effective and well adopted Lifecycle.  

The role holder may also lead key forums where lifecycle decisions are made, ensuring that the lifecycle maintains consistent and proportionate rigour, reflects best for programme and maintains a golden thread between elicitation the evolving design intent. 

Key areas in which the role holder may operate/influence include: 

• Roadmaps (Product and Technology) 

• Engineering Lifecycles 

• Planning and plans 

• Configuration and change 

Your main areas of duty will include:

Develop and manage the Engineering Lifecycle;

• Create and maintain the Engineering Lifecycle and its supporting strategies, defining its place at the core of the Engineering effort, through expert technical knowledge and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
• Take account of and aggregate a wide range of potentially applicable lifecycle requirements and standards, honing a first-of-a-kind Fusion Engineering lifecycle that is elegant, efficient and rigorous. 
• Align wholly with the Design Authority, operationalising requirements from codes, standards and verification needs to prove demonstrable Engineering rigour.
• Pragmatically handle the as-is stage of developing systems in the concept phase as well as handling the to-be state of a mature Engineering organisation in later lifecycle phases, operating in a multi-partner environment.

Lifecycle Leadership;

• Directly understand the needs of the wider cross-team, leading functional leads through the process of eliciting and understanding potential requirements arising from the use of various technologies and requirements.
• Establish the golden thread between the desired lifecycle phases, inputs, outputs and deliverables from all lifecycle phases and roadmaps. 
• Be the face of lifecycle activity within the organisation, providing advocacy, expertise and leadership into functional areas, ensuring broad alignment and adherence to the STEP lifecycle(s) 
• Manage meetings and associated activities, deputising where required, to ensure that the spirit of the intended activities are enacted at every lifecycle phase. 

Lead multi-disciplinary teams; 

• Provide leadership over the integrated Engineering lifecycle environment, taking account of WPP and supplier needs to ensure a robust approach to lifecycle(s). 
• Lead functional delivery teams and IPTs to produce fit-for-purpose procedure and documented ways of working. 
• Mentor champions within the wider organisation to ensure enterprise engineering lifecycle behaviours are part of the daily routine and ubiquitous in engineering mindset. 
• Work to define the methods by which Engineers will demonstrate to the Design Authority that ways of working account for best practice, industry expectations, codes and standards. 
• Work with systems engineering and PIMS teams to ensure the to-be vision for lifecycle activity is fully understood and represented in our systems and artefacts. 

Embody a Leadership Mindset (example of detail); 

• Regardless of your formal position, you embody a leadership mindset 
• and a set of leadership behaviours.  You embrace and embody our organisation's culture, values, and mission in all aspects of your work. 
• Foster a positive and inclusive team environment that aligns with our cultural values. 
• Contribute to maintaining a respectful and collaborative workplace, valuing diversity, and promoting teamwork. 
• Act as a cultural ambassador, representing our organisation's values and professionalism in interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. 
• Lead by example, demonstrating integrity, professionalism, and ethical behaviour. 
• Make informed decisions and solve problems effectively, considering diverse perspectives and organisational goals. 

The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities and you may be required to undertake other reasonable tasks or duties requested. 

Essential:

• A university graduate in a STEM or similar subject. 
• Possess a deep knowledge of Engineering lifecycles in a through-life delivery context. 
• Experience in delivering, or extensive knowledge of delivery of systems in an ISO 15288 or similar lifecycle model. 
• Experience working in a PLM-Centric environment and the embedding of key lifecycle activities within these tools. 
• Ability to shape and define processes and systems from first principals. 
• Experience working in a diverse multi-partner organisation. 
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication abilities.

Beneficial: 

• Systems Engineering experience.
• Experience in a safety critical environment; aerospace, defence etc. 
• Knowledge of approaches such as Advanced Product Quality Planning. 
• Experience in new product introduction. 

For more information on UKIFS visit : https://careers.ukaea.uk/wp-content/uploads/download/UKIFS_CandidateRecruitmentPack.pdf

We welcome talented people from all backgrounds who want to help us achieve our mission. We encourage applications from under-represented groups, particularly from women in STEM, ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and neurotypical individuals. Our Executive team, and our EDI Networks actively promote Inclusion and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

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.

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants . If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.

We have a number of exceptional opportunities available at the moment, to view them all please visit Careers - STEP.