Senior Cryogenic Systems Engineer

Tokamak Energy; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £50k–£70k

25 days holiday

Discretionary bonus

Share options

Pension and protection

Health & wellbeing support

Training & career progression

Fusion energy innovation

Job summary

Tokamak Energy is seeking an experienced engineer to lead the design, implementation and operation of cryogenic systems supporting advanced superconducting magnet technology.

You will take technical ownership of cryogenic systems, define requirements, support procurement, and guide commissioning and operating readiness across laboratory to full-scale cryoplants. Joining our team means contributing to fusion energy innovation with a clear career progression and competitive salary.

Qualifications

• Experience designing, operating or maintaining cryogenic systems.
• Project ownership and technical leadership experience.
• Knowledge of cryocoolers, helium systems, LN2 systems or cryoplant infrastructure.
• Experience with scientific or advanced engineering equipment.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Take technical ownership of cryogenic systems and infrastructure.
• Define requirements and specifications for new equipment.
• Support supplier selection, procurement and installation.
• Lead commissioning and operational readiness activities.
• Monitor, optimise and troubleshoot operational systems.
• Work on systems from laboratory cryocoolers to large cryoplant installations.

Skills

Cryogenic systems ownership

Technical leadership

Cryocoolers / helium systems

Cryoplant infrastructure

Stakeholder management

Job description

Tokamak Energy is a global leader in fusion energy and high temperature superconducting (HTS) technologies. We work with governments and industry to develop and bring fusion and HTS solutions to market through innovation and strategic partnerships. A major part of this is our end to end capability in HTS systems, from design to manufacturing.

We are the Magnet Systems Partner for the UK Government's STEP Fusion programme, under a £70million contract running to 2029, working with UK Fusion Energy to deliver HTS magnet systems for the STEP prototype power plant, while also contributing to tokamak systems and plasma integration.

Founded in 2009 as a spin-out from the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Tokamak Energy is headquartered in Oxfordshire, with subsidiaries in the United States and Japan. Today, we employ over 300 people and have secured more than £280 million in investment.

We operate through three divisions{{:}}

Fusion - Fusion energy technologies, expertise and testbeds for government and private fusion programmes, including ST40, the world's highest field spherical tokamak.

TE Magnetics - HTS systems for commercial applications including fusion energy, power distribution, life sciences, and propulsion.

Ridgway Machines - Manufacturing equipment for the superconducting, electrical and wider energy sectors, enabling the rapid industrialisation of HTS products.

Tokamak Energy is a global leader in fusion energy and high temperature superconducting (HTS) technologies. We work with governments and industry to develop and bring fusion and HTS solutions to market through innovation and strategic partnerships. A major part of this is our end to end capability in HTS systems, from design to manufacturing.

We are the Magnet Systems Partner for the UK Government's STEP Fusion programme, under a £70million contract running to 2029, working with UK Fusion Energy to deliver HTS magnet systems for the STEP prototype power plant, while also contributing to tokamak systems and plasma integration.

Founded in 2009 as a spin-out from the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Tokamak Energy is headquartered in Oxfordshire, with subsidiaries in the United States and Japan. Today, we employ over 300 people and have secured more than £280 million in investment.

We operate through three divisions{{:}}

Fusion - Fusion energy technologies, expertise and testbeds for government and private fusion programmes, including ST40, the world's highest field spherical tokamak.

TE Magnetics - HTS systems for commercial applications including fusion energy, power distribution, life sciences, and propulsion.

Ridgway Machines - Manufacturing equipment for the superconducting, electrical and wider energy sectors, enabling the rapid industrialisation of HTS products.

Take ownership of complex cryogenic systems from concept to operation

We are seeking an experienced engineer to lead the design, implementation and operation of cryogenic systems supporting advanced superconducting magnet technology.

What you will be doing

• Take technical ownership of cryogenic systems and infrastructure
• Define requirements and specifications for new equipment
• Support supplier selection, procurement and installation
• Lead commissioning and operational readiness activities
• Monitor, optimise and troubleshoot operational systems
• Work on systems from laboratory cryocoolers to large cryoplant installations
• Collaborate across engineering and scientific teams

What success looks like

Within six months, you will have taken ownership of a cryogenic project and be driving delivery with minimal supervision.

Requirements

Essential

• Experience designing, operating or maintaining cryogenic systems
• Project ownership and technical leadership experience
• Knowledge of cryocoolers, helium systems, LN2 systems or cryoplant infrastructure
• Experience with scientific or advanced engineering equipment
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills

Benefits

• Salary range of £50,000 to £70,000 dependent on skills and experience and will be discussed from the outset

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays, plus discretionary festive shutdown
• Performance-led rewards including discretionary bonus, innovation and merit schemes
• Share options - a stake in our future success
• Pension and comprehensive financial protection package including death in service and critical illness cover
• Health and wellbeing support, including cash plan and 24/7 assistance
• Ongoing investment in your growth with training and career progression
• Be part of world-changing innovation in Fusion Energy

Important information for candidates

No terminology in the advert or job description is intended to discriminate on the grounds of a person's age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Every candidate will be assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and abilities to perform the duties of the job.

Pre-employment screening

Please note that the appointment of the successful candidate will be subject to standard pre-employment screening, as applicable to the post. This will include right-to-work, proof of identity and references.

Data privacy

Please note that any personal data submitted to Tokamak Energy as part of the job application process will be processed in accordance with the GDPR and related UK data protection legislation, for more information regarding GDPR please see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation

Equality of opportunity

Entry into employment with the Tokamak Energy and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria which are related to the duties of each post and the relevant salary structure. In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration. No applicant or member of staff shall be discriminated against because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.