Head of Computational Science & Engineering (CSE)

Overview of Responsibilities

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.
• 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.
• Wide range of career development opportunities.
• A vibrant culture committed to equality and being fully inclusive.

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

Join UKAEA as our new Head of Computational Science & Engineering (CSE)! You’ll lead our team in leveraging High Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to advance Fusion Energy delivery to the National Grid. Responsibilities include spearheading the convergence of HPC and AI/ML at the exascale for delivering high fidelity, predictive simulation and for transforming our data into invaluable information and knowledge.

You’ll lead a growing team to democratize cutting-edge computing technologies across UKAEA and its supply chain, fostering predictive capabilities in plasma and materials science and for engineering first of a kind powerplant systems. Balancing legacy infrastructure with innovative solutions, you’ll drive the development of digital twins and collaborate closely with international labs and industry pioneers.

Your role will be pivotal for scaling UKAEA’s simulation capability for the STEP and exascale era, positioning UK as a leader in actionable fusion powerplant simulation. This is a role that is both inward and outward facing and requires deep technical expertise, leadership, and a collaborative approach. You will be fostering digital maturity across UKAEA’s expanding supply chain, engaging with various stakeholders such as UKRI/DSIT/DESNZ, academia, international labs, and industry. To be successful you will need strong business acumen to secure funding and drive growth. Led by effective people, program, and financial management skills, the team is expected to grow to over 50 members. The post holder will play a pivotal role in shaping this growth, focusing upon skills development, training, and risk management to build a diverse, world-class team for the STEP delivery era.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Understanding the importance and limitations of the Fusion community’s legacy computing infrastructure and processes.
• Balancing existing commercial solutions with innovative approaches from UKAEA initiatives, academia, or industry collaborations.
• Contributing to solutions for fusion powerplant virtual engineering, ensuring alignment with short-term computing needs and long-term scalability.
• Driving the development of high-fidelity digital twins through collaboration with international labs, computing leaders, and HPC/AI centres.

Qualifications

Essential Requirements:

• Master’s degree, PhD, or equivalent experience in a relevant STEM subject.
• Extensive hands-on and leadership experience in modern software engineering, modelling, simulation, and innovation within research or engineering environments.
• Proven track record of leading large teams (20+) including experts in Computer Science, Data Science, and High-Performance Computing (HPC), cultivating new capabilities, and developing emerging leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage diverse portfolios, establishing systems for goal prioritization, budget management, and schedule adherence, while fostering agile, iterative, and quality-driven software delivery approaches.