Theoretical Physicist

AWE; Tadley; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Theoretical Scientist to support critical deterrence programmes. This role offers the chance to develop your scientific career while working on innovative projects in radiation detection and uncertainty quantification. You will engage in model-based engineering, contributing to the development and validation of new models and codes. With a focus on enhancing team workflows and optimizing experimental designs, this position is perfect for someone passionate about physics and eager to make a meaningful impact in a collaborative environment. Join a team that values professional growth and offers a supportive work culture.

Benefits

9-day working fortnight

Market leading contributory pension scheme

Family friendly policies

Professional Career Development funding

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance

Discounts on everyday spending

Special Leave Policy

Qualifications

• Degree level knowledge in Physics, Mathematics or statistics required.
• Post-graduate qualifications in radiation detection preferred.

Responsibilities

• Developing capabilities in accordance with programme needs.
• Analysing scientific data to assess confidence and uncertainties.

Skills

Physics

Mathematics

Statistical Analysis

Communication Skills

Teamwork

Education

Degree in Physics

Post-graduate in Radiation Detection

Tools

Python

C++

Matlab

MCNP

Geant4

Job description

Theoretical Scientist

Closing Date: 4th June 2025

Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.

Due to the classified nature of the work involved, there are limited opportunities to work from home in this role. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will spend the majority of their time working on site at AWE Aldermaston.

Package:

• Junior Physicists (recent graduates): 28,420 - 37,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)

• Experienced Physicists (PHD or graduates with post-graduate experience): 36,640 - 47,500 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.

Let us introduce the role

AWE has an exciting Theoretical Scientist role to support our deterrence programmes as we expand our mission space. This role will develop the right candidate with their scientific career, offering exciting opportunities to develop our radiation detection and uncertainty quantification capabilities.

The Radiation Science Group is tasked with supporting the hardness and vulnerability aspects of our deterrence mission space, identifying, assessing, and understanding threats to the deterrent and looking to the future and the next generation of systems.

The group uses a model-based engineering approach to support core missions, with the models being underpinned by science lead activities, i.e., developing and validating new models and codes, verifying them through experiments and assessing the certainty associated with the methods. The role therefore encompasses skills from experimental, theoretical and computation branches of physics and is a great opportunity for the right candidate with a passion for physics.

This role would support the whole group by independently assessing the experimental and modelling activities undertaken and seeking to increase our confidence in our overarching assessments.

The expectation is the right candidate would be trained and grow into this role, developing knowledge in statistical analysis and coding/modelling languages (e.g. Python, C, C++, Matlab, MCNP, Geant4).

Broad understanding of various physics concepts including material properties, radiation field analysis, electronic systems, electromagnetic phenomena and a strong mathematics or statistics background preferred but not essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Owning the development of the areas and expanding the capabilities in accordance with programme needs.

• Using appropriate software and data capture tools to record data and suitable analyses.

• Providing suggestions for improvements for team workflows with a view to being able to expand this to all workflows within the group.

• Optimising experimental and trial designs and supporting (potentially leading) the delivery teams.

• Working safely, securely, and cleanly to the appropriate quality standards.

• Analysing scientific data to assess confidence and uncertainties in the data and the methods used to obtain the data.

Who are we looking for?

Whilst not to be considered a check list, candidates should be able to demonstrate some of the following:

• Essential - Degree level knowledge in Physics, Mathematics or statistics

• Desirable - post-graduate qualifications connected with working on radiation detection and/or statistical methods.

• Strong communication skills, verbal and written, excellent team working ability, proactive, and highly organised.

• Willing to travel and work at other UK and overseas sites as required.

You'll need to have the ability to work calmly and constructively in a priority changing environment and be able to manage your own workload. You will also have initiative, enthusiasm, a flexible approach, and ability to work to tight deadlines.

Some reasons we think you'll love it here:

AWE has wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• 9-day working fortnight - meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.

• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).

• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.

• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.

• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.

• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).

• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.

• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.