Senior Quality Manager

UK Atomic Energy Authority; Retford; On-site; GBP 66,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Outstanding pension

Relocation allowance

Flexible working

Employee assistance programme

Generous annual leave

Inclusive culture

Job summary

UK Atomic Energy Authority seeks a Senior Quality Manager for the STEP fusion programme. You will define the quality strategy, oversee governance, and ensure safe, compliant outcomes across the lifecycle from design to operation.

You will lead the SQ&MA function, interact with regulators and partners, and drive structured assurance, risk management and continuous improvement in a high-consequence engineering environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in science or engineering required and chartered status preferred.
• Strong understanding of quality management systems and lifecycle processes.
• Experience with risk-based quality decision-making and problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the STEP Quality Strategy aligned to regulatory requirements.
• Lead a high-performing quality function across engineering, operations and supply chain.
• Oversee audits, readiness reviews and compliance assessments to ensure safe, compliant outcomes.
• Champion quality and governance, engaging regulators and external assurance bodies.

Skills

Quality management

Leadership

Risk assessment

Education

Degree in science or engineering

Chartered member

Tools

ISO 9001 knowledge

Job description

• Salary: £73,190 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
• Division: UKFE - Risk Assurance and Regulation
• Site Location: West Burton or Culham
• Department: UKFE - Risk and Assurance

Company Description

The UK Government has established UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) Ltd., a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the charge in delivering fusion energy through design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) protype fusion plant. UKFE is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing of the STEP prototype.

Fusion energy, crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, is expected to be commercially viable by mid-century. The UK, led by UKFE, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Fusion Energy Ltd. will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. Join UKFE and the STEP programme to be involved in this ground-breaking journey.

Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for Flexible Working.

As an employee of UKFE, you will benefit from:

• Outstandingdefined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporatebonus schemeup to 7% and aRelocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working optionsincluding family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment.
• Employee Assistance Programmeand trained Mental Health First Aiders,
• Generous annual leaveallowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• A vibrantculturecommitted to being fullyinclusive

The salary for this role is £73,190+ excellent benefits including outstanding pension.

The closing date to apply for this position is the 31st Aug 2026.

This UKFE vacancy will be based atWest Burton,Nottinghamshire.

Job Description

The Senior Quality Manager is a key leadership role within the Safety, Quality & Mission Assurance (SQ&MA) function, responsible for defining and delivering the Quality Strategy for the STEP fusion programme. Reporting to the Head of Safety, Quality & Mission Assurance, the role provides independent confidence that systems, structures, and products are safe, compliant, and fit-for-purpose across the full lifecycle-from concept and design through manufacture, delivery, and operation.

STEP is a first-of-a-kind, high-consequence engineering programme, comparable in complexity and risk profile to advanced nuclear and space systems. In this context, quality must be designed in from the outset; opportunities to recover from failures post‑deployment are extremely limited. The Senior Quality Manager therefore establishes the frameworks, governance, and assurance necessary to achieve robust, performance-driven quality in the presence of technical uncertainty, novel technologies, and evolving regulatory expectations.

Acting as the SQ&MA focal point for quality assurance, the role ensures that management systems, assurance frameworks, and certification approaches enable safe, reliable, and high-quality outcomes at scale. The postholder will engage closely with the Design Authority, regulators, delivery partners, and independent assurance bodies to build confidence in STEP’s technical and organisational capability.

Key Accountabilities

Quality Strategy & Capability

• Define and deliver the STEP Quality Strategy, aligned to organisational objectives, regulatory requirements, and programme priorities.
• Drive consistent application of quality principles across engineering, operations, and the supply chain.
• Set expectations for structured quality and reliability tools, including design risk analysis (e.g. FMEA, DFMEA, FTA) and problem‑solving methodologies (e.g. RCA, 8D, DMAIC).
• Build and lead a high‑performing Quality function, embedding capability, resilience, and a culture of continuous improvement.

Management System & Assurance

• Provide independent assurance that management systems and governance frameworks enable safe, compliant, and high‑quality outcomes.
• Oversee assurance activities include audits, surveillance, readiness reviews, and compliance assessments.
• Ensure insights from assurance and operational performance are captured and used to continuously improve systems and processes.
• Define and oversee the strategy for product and system certification within a regulated environment.
• Ensure the development and maintenance of robust conformity evidence, including UKCA requirements, essential requirements, and technical documentation.
• Enable integration of certification and compliance activities into programme delivery and lifecycle decision‑making.
• Support engagement with regulators, notified bodies, and external assurance organisations to build confidence in STEP’s approach to novel technologies.

Quality Risk Management

• Lead the identification, assessment, and management of quality‑related risks across the lifecycle.
• Establish a structured, risk‑based approach to quality management integrated with programme and engineering decision‑making.
• Ensure alignment with safety, reliability, security, and environmental risk frameworks.
• Facilitate risk reviews and ensure timely mitigation and closure of actions.

Leadership & Culture

• Act as a senior leader within SQ&MA, influencing quality outcomes across engineering, supply chain, and delivery partners.
• Champion a culture where quality is proactively engineered and assured, reflecting the high‑consequence nature of the programme.
• Role‑model organisational values, the Seven Principles of Public Life, and inclusive leadership behaviours.
• Promote a culture of curiosity, evidence‑based decision‑making, and disciplined problem‑solving within complex, high‑uncertainty environments.

Qualifications

Degree Level Science or Engineering Qualification (or equivalent experience).

Chartered member with relevant institution.

Strong understanding of engineering principles and product lifecycle management.

In-depth knowledge of quality management systems and applicable standards (e.g., ISO9001).