Characterisation Consultant

Amentum; Risley; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Amentum is seeking a Characterisation Consultant to join the Radiation Protection & Characterisation team on UK projects, focusing on characterisation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities and radiologically regulated sites.

You will work with experts across disciplines, develop sampling strategies, QA data, and provide robust recommendations while engaging directly with clients and regulators.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in a relevant scientific, engineering or technical discipline.
• Experience in radiological characterisation or nuclear decommissioning.
• Experience developing DQOs or SAPs.
• Strong report writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and review building and facility history files to support characterisation planning.
• Develop Sampling and Analysis Plans (SAPs).
• Develop Data Quality Objectives (DQOs) and undertake Data Quality Assessments (DQAs).
• Review analytical and radiological data, develop robust conclusions and make recommendations.
• Analyse and develop radiological fingerprints to support characterisation and waste management decisions.
• Provide advice to clients on sampling strategies, methodologies and requirements to meet project and regulatory objectives.
• Produce clear, technically robust reports, method statements, risk assessments and other project documentation.
• Represent Amentum and the characterisation project team at client, project and regulatory meetings where required.
• Work collaboratively with radiation protection, radiometrics, waste management and other technical specialists.
• Liaise with laboratories, subcontractors and other third parties as required.
• Support field-based characterisation activities and, where appropriate, undertake or support radiation and contamination surveys.
• Support the maintenance and appropriate use of radiation monitoring equipment and associated RPE/PPE.
• Contribute to business development through tender and proposal support, client relationships and identification of new opportunities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of Amentum's characterisation methods, tools and technical capability.
• Support and mentor junior members of the team where appropriate.
• Maintain and develop your own technical and professional competence.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Technical report writing

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Science/Engineering degree

Tools

GIS

Job description

At Amentum, we're not just solving problems; we're engineering the future. Our team is driven by an unyielding commitment to innovation, integrity, and collaboration, tackling some of the most significant challenges in science, security, and sustainability. If you're passionate about making a real impact and want to be part of a community that values ethical excellence, this is the place where your ambition can thrive.

Here, we believe that success comes from continuously pushing boundaries and working together to deliver on our promises. We embrace challenges with confidence and are dedicated to creating a secure and vibrant future for all.

We’ll inspire and empower you to deliver your best work so you can evolve, grow and succeed – today and into tomorrow. We offer an exciting range of opportunities to develop your career within a supportive team who always strive to do the right thing for our people, clients and communities.

People are our greatest asset, and we offer a competitive package to retain and attract the best talent.

In addition to the benefits you’d expect, UK employees also receive free single medical cover and digital GP service, family-friendly benefits such as enhanced parental leave pay and free membership of employee assistance and parental programmes, plus reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships.

Work-life balance and flexibility is a key focus area for us. We’re happy to discuss hybrid, part-time and flexible working hours, patterns and locations to suit you and our business.

The Opportunity

Amentum is looking for a Characterisation Consultant to join our Radiation Protection & Characterisation team.

This is a consultancy role supporting the characterisation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities and other radiologically regulated sites across the UK. You will work on a diverse portfolio of projects, applying characterisation techniques to support clients in understanding radiological conditions, developing robust sampling strategies and making informed decisions on decommissioning and radioactive waste management.

You will work alongside experienced specialists across characterisation, radiometrics, radiation protection and radioactive waste management, combining technical analysis with practical project delivery.

We are looking for someone who can apply sound technical judgement, produce high-quality technical outputs and confidently work with clients and multidisciplinary project teams.

Your Role

• Develop and review building and facility history files to support characterisation planning.
• Develop Sampling and Analysis Plans (SAPs).
• Develop Data Quality Objectives (DQOs) and undertake Data Quality Assessments (DQAs).
• Review and interpret analytical and radiological data, develop technically robust conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
• Analyse and develop radiological fingerprints to support characterisation and waste management decisions.
• Provide advice to clients on sampling strategies, methodologies and requirements to meet project and regulatory objectives.
• Produce clear, technically robust reports, method statements, risk assessments and other project documentation.
• Represent Amentum and the characterisation project team at client, project and regulatory meetings where required.
• Work collaboratively with radiation protection, radiometrics, waste management and other technical specialists.
• Liaise with laboratories, subcontractors and other third parties as required.
• Support field-based characterisation activities and, where appropriate, undertake or support radiation and contamination surveys.
• Support the maintenance and appropriate use of radiation monitoring equipment and associated RPE/PPE.
• Contribute to business development through tender and proposal support, client relationships and identification of new opportunities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of Amentum's characterisation methods, tools and technical capability.
• Support and mentor junior members of the team where appropriate.
• Maintain and develop your own technical and professional competence.

About You

To be considered for this role, you will have a degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant scientific, engineering or technical discipline.

• Relevant experience within radiological characterisation, nuclear decommissioning, radioactive waste management or a closely related discipline.
• Experience of developing or contributing to DQOs, Sampling and Analysis Plans or other characterisation strategies.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting analytical or radiological data.
• An understanding of relevant legislation, regulatory requirements and industry guidance relating to radioactive materials.
• Strong technical report writing skills.
• Good analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with clients, colleagues and other stakeholders.
• The ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and deliver work to agreed timescales.
• Willingness to travel to client sites across the UK as required.
• Eligibility to work in the UK and the ability to achieve the appropriate level of security clearance for our projects.

A full UK driving licence is desirable due to the requirement to support projects at client sites.

Desirable Experience

Experience in one or more of the following would be beneficial:

• Nuclear decommissioning and site restoration.
• Development and application of Data Quality Objectives.
• Sampling strategy and statistical sampling design.
• Radiological characterisation of facilities, land or radioactive waste.
• Interpretation of laboratory analytical data.
• Development of radionuclide fingerprints.
• Radiation monitoring and instrumentation.
• Health physics surveys and field-based characterisation.
• Radioactive waste sentencing and classification.
• Environmental permitting and radioactive substances regulation.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or other data visualisation tools.
• Supporting tenders, proposals and development of client relationships.

What We Are Looking For

Technical capability is important, but we are also looking for someone who wants to contribute to the continued development and growth of our characterisation capability.

You will be comfortable taking ownership of technical activities, working collaboratively across different disciplines and developing trusted relationships with clients. You will be curious, analytical and willing to challenge assumptions where the available evidence supports a different approach.

This is an opportunity to join an established characterisation capability, work on technically varied projects and contribute to the continued development of Amentum's Radiation Protection & Characterisation service offering.

Our Culture

Our values are built on a strong foundation of safety, integrity, and respect for every individual. People are at the heart of our mission, and we believe in supporting one another through a culture of care and collaboration.

We strive to create a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can thrive. Supporting mental wellbeing and fostering a sense of connection are essential to how we work.

When we embrace different perspectives and work together, we become more innovative, more agile, and more successful.

We partner with VERCIDA, for greater online accessibility please visit www.vercida.com to view and access our roles. As a Disability Confident employer, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team.