Deep Specialist HPC Computational Engineer

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme (final salary)

Annual leave 25 days

Flexible working options

Job summary

UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) seeks a Deep Specialist HPC Computational Engineer to lead software development for nuclear and multi-physics applications. You will guide research, secure funding, and manage projects within CME, advancing computing architectures and large-scale simulations.

You will mentor teams, present at conferences, and contribute to publications while developing collaborations across the Authority and with external partners.

Qualifications

• PhD in computational/physical science with strong publication record or software contributions.
• Extensive HPC experience using high-performance computing systems and at least one compiled language (C++, Fortran, C, Rust) or advanced scripting (Julia, R, Swift).
• Experience leading distributed teams and mentoring across projects.
• Strong background in numerical analysis and relevant software libraries; track record in software development or research.
• Experience in testing strategies (verification/validation) for fusion codes; ability to assess new algorithms.
• Significant experience in technical reviews and approvals for large-scale software projects or journals.

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead technical contributions to modelling, simulation and UQ activities.
• Review and approve technical outputs from teams of 4–10 people.
• Oversee development of state-of-the-art software suites with quality standards.
• Design strategy for deployment on new computing architectures.
• Publish high-impact research and present at conferences; target first-author papers.
• Collaborate internationally to evolve codes for exascale systems.
• Lead proposals and secure funding for new programmes; manage consortia.
• Lead international projects and grow research collaborations.

Skills

PhD in computational science

HPC experience

C/C++/Fortran

Julia/R/Swift scripting

Distributed team leadership

Research publications

Education

Doctorate degree in computational/physical science

Job description

Deep Specialist HPC Computational Engineer

Overview of Responsibilities

About us

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 organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.

About the job

The Computational Materials and Engineering (CME) Unit within UKAEA’s Computing Division delivers research, development and technical support across high-performance computing, engineering and scientific computing, AI, machine learning and advanced simulation technologies for the fusion programme. In this role, you will lead the development and maintenance of software capabilities supporting computational nuclear and multiphysics applications, while driving research, collaboration, funding and adoption of emerging technologies. You will provide technical and strategic leadership, manage projects and resources, represent UKAEA nationally and internationally, and help shape future research directions while developing expertise and collaborations across the Authority.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Plan and lead technical contributions to workstreams in modelling, simulation and uncertainty quantification activities for UKAEA programmes
• Review and provide approvals for the technical output of teams of 4-10 people
• Oversee development of state-of-the-art software suites, ensuring adherence to established quality standards
• Design technical strategy for development for, deployment on, and evaluation of new and emerging computing architectures
• Produce consistently high levels of high-impact output. Present research at conferences including regular oral or invited conference presentations, high quantity and quality of publications, generally two to three first author journal papers per year
• Collaborate with national and international partners on developing and evolving codes to exploit peta- and exa-scale systems
• Actively seek new research and funding opportunities, leading proposals. When successful implement new programmes supported by funds outside UKAEA, leading consortia
• Lead international projects, develop new collaborations, and maintain and grow our research at the international cutting edge
• Perform your own research into novel numerical methods and algorithms with applicability within fusion and beyond
• Act as a source of advice to other divisions and programmes. Support wider skills development, providing training across the organisation relating to specialism

What You’ll Bring

• At least a doctorate degree (or equivalent qualification) in a computational, mathematical or physical science discipline with a strong publication track record or contribution to relevant software library (or equivalent experience in either a commercial or research environment)
• Significant demonstrable experience using high-performance computing systems and of at least one compiled level language (e.g. C++, Fortran, C, Rust) or advanced scripting language (Julia, R, Swift Parallel Scripting), as evidenced through contributions to software packages
• Experience in working in and leading a distributed team in both mentoring and managing roles, either as a project or technical manager
• Significant demonstrable experience and international reputation in one or more relevant computational engineering fields. Solid foundation in mathematics, especially numerical analysis, demonstrated by extensive publication records or contributions to relevant software libraries
• Experience of the development and implementation of testing strategies (verification and validation) and an ability to assess new algorithms which could be applicable to fusion based codes
• Demonstrable significant experience in performing technical review and approval of contributions to large-scale software projects or journals

Benefits

• A salary of £71,815 (inclusive of a £7,700 specialist allowance)
• Up to 7% corporate performance bonus
• Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave plus 2.5 ‘privilege’ days; 8 Bank Holidays
• Additional 3 days of site closure over Christmas break
• Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions

Our commitment to ED&I

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, inclusion and accessibility, and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce. Please email [e-mail] if you have any questions or require adjustments to help you participate fairly in our recruitment process, for example changes to the way we interview or share information. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates. We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All appointments are made on merit and further information can be found here.

Salary

£71,815 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension

Programme

Programme Department Computational Materials and Engineering Discipline Engineering Site Location Type of Employment Full-time Reference Number REF4624Q