Lead Materials Scientist, Plasma-Facing Components

UK Atomic Energy Authority; Clifton Hampden; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to 7%

Pension (defined benefit)

Annual leave + privilege days

Flexible working

Site closure days

Job summary

UK Atomic Energy Authority’s Materials Division seeks a Senior Scientist to lead the development, testing and qualification of copper alloys, tungsten and other plasma-facing materials for fusion power plants. You’ll guide material performance data generation to support STEP and collaborate across academia and industry.

The role focuses on Cu-alloy heatsink materials, with broader leadership of materials requirements for fusion reactor operation.

Qualifications

• PhD degree in a relevant subject or equivalent learning across an HNC / apprenticeship / base degree plus work experience.
• Significant previous research-oriented experience in a laboratory environment / materials research group / experimental campaign.
• Ability to work well within a team and to readily articulate complex technical information to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Ability to deliver high-quality results to tight timescales and budgets.
• Fluent written and spoken English
• Digital literacy across MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Responsibilities

• Organise, lead and coordinate short and long-term projects (Project >£100k), arranging specimen/data procurement, scope of work, funding and resources for sample preparation, testing and modelling.
• Deliver high quality, novel research and engineering in the field of nuclear materials through own endeavour and creative input.
• Compile and present results within technical reports and internal meetings, contributing as a lead author in high-impact publications.
• Lead in the definition of materials requirements for operation in a fusion power plant, collaborating closely and building a network not just with internal stakeholders but with other fusion and fission partners in both academia and industry.
• Build and provide leadership and management to, a small team of material scientists or PhD students, providing direction and allocating them to projects (Project >£100k) as required.
• Manage relationships with external collaborators (including universities, public sector research establishments and industry in fusion and fission related fields) and customers, in order to complement UKAEA's internal capability.
• Lead on the contribution to the development and positive reinforcement of UKAEA's knowledge base, design rules and practices in the area of materials & nuclear physics research and development.
• Propose, lead bids and secure funding and contribute to delivery of novel projects (Project >£100k) aligned with internal strategy (e.g. STEP, EUROfusion, EPSRC, PhD, Masters placements, graduates)
• Represent UKAEA at both domestic and international conferences, as well as at various meetings and functions as required.
• Participate in a national working group in a specialist area of nuclear related science (e.g. EUROfusion group, standards committee, benchmarking across countries).

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

English fluency

Leadership potential

Problem solving

Education

PhD or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

Job description

UK Atomic Energy Authority’s Materials Division seeks a Senior Scientist to lead the development, testing and qualification of copper alloys, tungsten and other plasma-facing materials for fusion power plants. You’ll guide material performance data generation to support STEP and collaborate across academia and industry.

The role focuses on Cu-alloy heatsink materials, with broader leadership of materials requirements for fusion reactor operation.