Senior Hot Cell Technologist

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £57,117 incl. £5,800 specialist

Up to 7% corporate performance bonus

Final salary defined benefits pension

25 days annual leave plus 2.5 days; 8.

Flexible working options

Job summary

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is seeking a Senior Hot Cell Technologist for the Materials Research Facility at Culham, Oxfordshire. You will lead the operational aspects of hot cells, advise on irradiated materials, and oversee sample preparation for large-scale research campaigns.

You will ensure safety, regulatory compliance, and high-quality technical documentation, while training the Operations Team and coordinating with customers, scientists, and multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• An engineering related degree or equivalent experience within a high-hazard industry.
• Experience handling radioactive materials, including remote operations / use of manipulators in hot cells and radioactive waste processing.
• Awareness of, and experience working within, a Technical Management System.
• Ability to work effectively with customers, scientists, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to manage and direct third-party maintenance activities.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing the operation and maintenance of the hot cells to ensure works are carried out in line with regulations and in a timely manner.
• Acting as the stakeholder for all hot cell related projects
• Leading on technical aspects to resolve issues where complex requirements need to be considered and mitigate the associated risks
• Write, review and manage key technical documents for the hot cells including safety and process documents, technical specifications for procurement activities as well as procedures and processes
• Ensure that the MRF Operations Team are well trained and competent to use the hot cell equipment, ensuring appropriate delegation is in place

Skills

Engineering degree

Radioactive materials handling

Technical Management System

Stakeholder collaboration

Third-party maintenance management

Education

Engineering-related degree

Job description

Senior Hot Cell Technologist

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 Materials Research Facility (MRF) is a unique facility who’s primarily goal is to facilitate the characterisation of irradiated material in a timely manner to promote advancement of the industry both nationally and internationally. Joining an incredibly collaborative and supportive team, you will take the lead on the operational aspects of the hot cells and act as a subject matter expert advising on irradiated materials. You will oversee the collection and preparation of highly radioactive samples for a large-scale research campaigns, using advanced scientific equipment to process smaller samples.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Overseeing the operation and maintenance of the hot cells to ensure works are carried out in line with regulations and in a timely manner
• Acting as the stakeholder for all hot cell related projects
• Leading on technical aspects to resolve issues where complex requirements need to be considered and mitigate the associated risks
• Write, review and manage key technical documents for the hot cells including safety and process documents, technical specifications for procurement activities as well as procedures and processes
• Ensure that the MRF Operations Team are well trained and competent to use the hot cell equipment, ensuring appropriate delegation is in place

What You’ll Bring

• An engineering related degree or equivalent experience within a high-hazard industry
• Experience handling radioactive materials, including remote operations / use of manipulators in hot cells and radioactive waste processing
• Awareness of, and experience working within, a Technical Management System.
• Ability to work effectively with customers, scientists, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to manage and direct third-party maintenance activities.

UKAEA is an onsite organisation, and this role requires regular onsite presence (usually between 3-5 days in any given week) in line with business needs. We actively support flexible working arrangements where this is compatible with the role.

Benefits

• A salary of £57,117 (inclusive of a 5,800 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.

Programme Details

• Programme Materials (MRF)
• Discipline Engineering
• Site Location UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire
• Type of Employment Full-time
• Reference Number REF3811A