Senior HPC Computational Engineer - Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear Inst; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

UKAEA's Culham Campus in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, seeks an STRIDE - Advanced Specialist HPC Computational Engineer to advance modelling and simulation for future fusion energy systems. You will lead high-performance computing efforts, develop novel numerical methods and maintain scientific software, collaborating with world-leading researchers.

The role combines technical leadership with cutting-edge research, delivering impactful outputs through publications, proposals and international

Qualifications

• A PhD in a computational, mathematical or physical science discipline, with a strong publication record, significant software contributions, or equivalent commercial or research experience.
• Experience in nuclear physics or nuclear engineering.
• Demonstrable experience leading technical projects, research activities or software development teams.
• Significant experience developing software in at least one compiled language such as C++, Fortran, C or Rust, or an advanced scripting language such as Julia, R or Swift Parallel Scripting.
• Strong expertise in computational engineering, numerical analysis and scientific computing, evidenced through research outputs or software development contributions.
• Significant experience using high-performance computing systems and working within UNIX environments, including command-line tools.
• Proven experience delivering computational research or engineering solutions through software development, modelling and simulation activities.
• UKAEA is an on-site organisation, and this role requires regular on-site 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead modelling, simulation and uncertainty quantification activities that support fusion research and engineering programmes.
• Develop and apply novel numerical methods and algorithms for advanced computational challenges.
• Lead the design, development, testing and maintenance of scientific software and perform code reviews to maintain quality.
• Drive the evaluation, deployment and optimisation of emerging computing architectures and technologies.
• Develop computational approaches that support digital twins of current and future fusion systems.
• Deliver high-impact research outputs, including peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
• Contribute to research funding proposals and identify opportunities for new technical collaborations and projects.
• Support and coordinate international research activities with academic, industrial and programme partners.
• Oversee the technical output of small teams and ensure delivery of agreed project milestones.
• Provide specialist technical guidance and contribute to capability development across the wider team.

Skills

Leadership

HPC

Nuclear physics/engineering

Software leadership

UNIX

Education

PhD in computational/mathematical/physical science

Tools

C++

Fortran

C

Rust

Julia

R

Swift Parallel Scripting

Job description

UKAEA's Culham Campus in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, seeks an STRIDE - Advanced Specialist HPC Computational Engineer to advance modelling and simulation for future fusion energy systems. You will lead high-performance computing efforts, develop novel numerical methods and maintain scientific software, collaborating with world-leading researchers.

The role combines technical leadership with cutting-edge research, delivering impactful outputs through publications, proposals and international