Senior Process Engineer

UKAEA Special Techniques Group; Rotherham; Hybrid; GBP 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Process Engineer to lead the design and development of innovative fusion sub-systems. This role offers the opportunity to drive projects from concept to detailed design, manage multidisciplinary teams, and ensure compliance with engineering standards. You will play a crucial role in shaping the future of cleaner energy by overseeing system repairs, creating technical documentation, and mentoring junior staff. Join a vibrant culture committed to equality and inclusion, with flexible working options and a generous benefits package, including a defined benefit pension scheme and corporate bonus scheme.

Benefits

Defined Benefit Pension Scheme

Corporate Bonus Scheme

Flexible Working Options

Employee Assistance Programme

Generous Annual Leave

Inclusive Culture

Qualifications

• Experience with vacuum, pressure, and high temperature factors.
• Ability to perform exploratory design calculations using first principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of fusion sub-systems and projects.
• Manage multidisciplinary project teams and oversee repairs and upgrades.
• Support and mentor junior engineers and promote effective communication.

Skills

Process Engineering Analysis

Technical Writing

Team Leadership

Design Calculations

Education

Relevant Engineering Degree

Chartered Status

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.

As an employee of UKAEA you will benefit from:

• 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.
• A vibrant culture committed to equality and being fully inclusive.

Job Description

The salary for this role is £54,376 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance - £6,000). Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for flexible working (including part-time, reduced hours).

This role can be based at the following site: UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire or Rotherham, Yorkshire.

Travel to another site may be required.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions.

The Role

As a Senior Process Engineer, you will lead the design and development of major fusion sub-systems, driving projects from concept through to detailed design. This role requires engineering analysis understanding to inform key design decisions. You’ll also oversee system or component repair, replacement, and upgrade activities, produce high-quality technical documentation, and ensure all work aligns with relevant design standards.

If you have experience leading teams and supervising staff, along with strong communication and technical writing skills, we would like to hear from you.

Additional Responsibilities:

Lead the end-to-end design of major fusion sub-systems, including enhancements for UKAEA facilities and future fusion devices, ensuring compliance with engineering standards.

Manage multidisciplinary project teams, oversee system/component repair and upgrade activities, and collaborate with systems engineers on design requirements, risk analysis, and interface management.

Develop and validate process designs using modelling, mass and energy balances, PFDs, and P&IDs, and create supporting technical documentation for major equipment.

Supervise detailed design, manufacturing, tender preparation, and contract management, applying principles of value engineering and design for manufacture.

Support and mentor junior engineers and students, promoting team development, effective communication, and technical excellence across the organisation.

Act as a technical authority, contribute to publications, ensure adherence to organisational systems, and drive improvements in group processes and competencies.

• Manage projects or oversee contracts, leading teams of up to 10 staff and supervising the training and development of junior team members.

Qualifications

• A relevant engineering degree or equivalent
• Attained or actively working towards Chartered status with a suitable professional institution.
• Ability to perform exploratory design calculations using first principles
• Proven capability in process engineering analysis and a good working knowledge of engineering materials and their properties
• Experience with relevant factors such as vacuum, pressure, high temperature

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and women. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organization. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.