Senior Neutronics Engineer

Tokamak energy; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global commercial fusion energy company based near Oxford seeks a Senior Engineer to lead the technical focus on solving challenges in nuclear technologies. Responsibilities include developing radiation transport models and advancing shielding design solutions. Ideal candidates will have expertise in radiation transport codes and experience in nuclear fusion technology. This role offers competitive benefits and the chance to contribute to a sustainable energy source.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Company pension scheme

Eligible for company share option scheme

Company bonus scheme

Financial benefits including death in service cover

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Expertise in radiation transport code with experience mentoring teams.
• Experience in activation/transmutation codes and their strategic deployment.
• Knowledge of nuclear fusion technology and tokamak design principles.
• Proven ability to lead computational and experimental validation efforts.
• Capable of engaging with leadership and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead the neutronics effort to progress the design of power plant concepts.
• Support development of radiation transport/radiation effects tools.
• Characterise the ionising radiation environment of fusion energy devices.

Skills

Expertise in radiation transport code

Expertise in activation/transmutation codes

Knowledge of nuclear fusion technology

Strategic knowledge of assurance techniques

Good communication skills

Technical leadership

Advanced computational proficiency

Proactive leadership

Visionary approach

Experience in leading teams

Tools

MCNP

OpenMC

GEANT4

FISPACT-II

ORIGEN

Job description

Fusion energy requires that a number of fascinating design challenges are met. One of these is nuclear technologies; focusing on shielding, tritium breeding, material assessments and activation. We are looking for a senior engineer to lead the technical focus in solving some of these challenges by applying sound physics and engineering judgement to develop solutions which meet the design requirements. In this role, you will:

Responsibilities

• Work within the Plant Prediction and Simulation department, playing a key role in the development of 3D radiation transport models of prototype fusion energy devices and other radiation sources
• Lead the neutronics effort to progress the design of power plant concepts, including radiation shielding, breeder blanket and bioshield technology, within an integrated project team
• Advance the maturity of shielding, breeder blanket and bioshield design solutions from initial conceptualisation through to detailed design
• Support subject matter experts in Radiation Measurement and Dosimetry
• Supervise the characterisation of the ionising radiation environment (including heat, biological and absorbed dose, and differential fluence) within and around fusion-energy devices or other radiation sources
• Support the development of radiation transport/radiation effects tools to enhance the efficiency of design workflows
• Propose and perform validation and verification activities on radiation transport models
• Present technical information on the radiation environment, its effects, and the performance of shielding and breeder blankets to both expert and non-expert audiences
• Interface and collaborate with a variety of in-house and external resources

Qualifications

• Expertise in radiation transport code such as MCNP, OpenMC or GEANT4, with experience mentoring and guiding teams in advanced applications
• Expertise in activation/transmutation codes, primarily FISPACT-II, with knowledge of ORIGEN or similar tools and their strategic deployment in research and industry applications
• Experience in or knowledge of nuclear fusion technology, including in tokamak design principles and contributions to high‑impact projects
• Strategic knowledge of assurance techniques for radiation modelling results, with a proven ability to lead computational and experimental validation efforts
• Good communication skills, capable of engaging with executive leadership, stakeholders, and external partners, while effectively supporting and guiding technical teams
• Demonstrated technical leadership in solving complex problems through rigorous methodologies, fostering a culture of high‑quality planning, execution, and review
• Advanced computational proficiency, ensuring optimal use of radiation transport software, including implementation of variance reduction techniques and streamlined analytical reporting through specialised software tools
• Proactive leadership, driving projects to success under challenging objectives and compressed timelines, with an ability to set and refine strategic directions
• Self‑driven and visionary approach, able to independently make decisions while also fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary teams
• Experience in leading teams of scientists and engineers, with a track record of mentoring, developing talent, and driving collective success

What if there was a limitless, safe, clean, low‑cost energy source, providing much needed global energy security? What if that energy source could also help reduce climate change? We believe that's fusion energy. Tokamak Energy is a leading global commercial fusion energy company based near Oxford, UK. We have an unrivalled track record designing and operating spherical tokamaks; the optimal route to commercial fusion energy.

In addition to fusion energy, Tokamak Energy is recognised as the leader in High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) magnet, design, numerical modelling, and prototyping. Our dedicated HTS magnet team, in collaboration with key manufacturing partners, is focussed on becoming the leading supplier of HTS magnets to multiple markets. The company, founded in 2009 as a spin‑off from the UK's Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, currently employs a growing team of over 250 people with experts from the UK and around the world. It combines world leading scientific, engineering, industrial and commercial capabilities. The company has 70 families of patent applications and has raised $250 million, comprising $200m from private investors and $50m from the UK and US governments. Our US subsidiary, Tokamak Energy Inc, was established in 2019. Come and be a part of a dynamic and innovative team who are striving to provide a solution to one of humanity's greatest challenges: clean and sustainable energy for all.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays and 3 festive days to be used between Christmas and the New Year)
• Company pension scheme
• Eligible for company share option scheme
• Company bonus scheme, discretionary, dependant on performance
• A range of financial benefits including death in service and critical illness cover
• Cycle to work scheme

Hazard‑specific / Safety‑critical duties

• Working at height (ladders, scissor lifts, cherry pickers & scaffolding)
• Night working (11pm-6am)
• Work in hot or cold environments
• Driving on Company business
• Working with ionising radiation
• Work with cryogenic fluids including liquid nitrogen
• Working with or in the vicinity of equipment that produces high magnetic fields
• Working with materials that are managed under the control of substances hazardous to health regulations (COSHH)
• Travel outside of Europe or North America on company business