Principal Control & Instrumentation Engineer

UK Atomic Energy Authority; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative energy organization based in Edinburgh seeks a Principal Control & Instrumentation Engineer to lead the delivery of complex electrical control and instrumentation projects. The role emphasizes communication and project management skills, requires a degree in Electrical Engineering, and offers flexibility in working arrangements including hybrid options. Candidates with Chartered Engineer status or Functional Safety qualifications are preferred. Join us to contribute toward the development of groundbreaking clean energy solutions.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

Corporate bonus scheme

Flexible working options

Generous annual leave allowance

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• A Degree in Electrical / Electronic Engineering or related discipline and relevant professional experience.
• Broad understanding of design, engineering processes, standards, and best-practice.
• Experience working in high hazard Industrial environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex EC&I projects from concept to delivery.
• Set direction and advise on design and operational strategies.
• Create and implement new technical standards and processes.
• Mentor junior engineers and represent UKAEA externally.

Skills

Communication skills

Project management

Electrical engineering

Control systems

Education

Degree in Electrical / Electronic Engineering

HND in Electrical / Electronic discipline

Job description

Company Description

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 groundbreaking 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.

Benefits

• 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.

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

Job Description

This role is based at Culham, Oxfordshire. Onsite working is expected, however we can also discuss hybrid working where possible, depending on business needs.

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

The Control and Instrumentation Group is responsible for leading, proposing, defining, building, commissioning, and maintaining electrical, control and instrumentation systems, both at a small and large scale for UKAEA projects and programmes. We are seeking a technically exceptional Principal Control & Instrumentation Engineer. The focus of this role is to lead and enable successful development, delivery, operation, maintenance, and enhancement of the H3AT (Hydrogen‑3 Advanced Technology centre) Project's advanced electrical, control and instrumentation systems, ensuring compliance with current legislation and codes of practice.

As Principal Control & Instrumentation Engineer, you will provide high‑level technical leadership and innovation in a complex, often unprecedented field. You will be responsible for delivering high‑impact solutions on time and within budget.

If you have excellent communication and technical writing skills, along with a proven track‑record of successfully delivering complex Electrical, Control & Instrumentation projects on time and within budget, we'd like to hear from you.

Overview

The Principal Control & Instrumentation Engineer is responsible for leading the delivery of complex technical projects. A summary of key responsibilities is outlined below. Full details are provided in the Job Description.

• Lead complex EC&I projects from concept to delivery, including critical systems with site‑wide or external impact.
• Setting direction and advising on design, installation, and operational strategies.
• Create and implement new technical standards, processes, and risk mitigation where no formal procedures exist.
• Represent UKAEA externally, contribute to technical development, and mentor junior engineers.

Qualifications

Essential:

• A Degree in Electrical / Electronic Engineering, or a related discipline, and relevant professional experience in an E,C&I engineering role. Or an HND in an Electrical / Electronic discipline, or equivalent qualification level, with a greater breadth and depth of experience / knowledge.
• A broad and deep understanding of design and related engineering processes, practices, current standards, and industry best‑practice.
• A good understanding and willingness to work to modern standards in health, safety, environment, and quality assurance.
• Experience of working within high hazard Industrial environment.
• Good communication and influencing skills with the ability to work and communicate with an interdisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, technicians, and external stakeholders.

Desirable

• Chartered Engineer status with a suitable professional institution.
• Functional Safety qualifications (e.g. TÜV Rheinland FSEng).

Additional Information

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 who want to help us achieve our mission. We are under‑represented from some groups and so want to encourage applications in particular from women in STEM, people from Black British Caribbean and African backgrounds and from Pakistani and Bangladeshi British backgrounds. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) and Wellbeing 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.

UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Please email [e-mail] 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.