Mechanical Design Engineer & Section Leader

Abingdon Road, Culham, UK
Full-time
Salary: £52,293 (inclusive of MPP) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
Site Location: UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire
Confirmed Grade: Level 5

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 our world badly needs.

UKAEA leads the way in realising fusion energy, partnering with industry and research for groundbreaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid, which will be supported by tomorrow's power stations. In pursuit of our mission, UKAEA embraces core values: Innovative, Committed, Trusted, and Collaborative.

Job Description

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 of 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.

The salary for this role is £52,293 (inclusive of a Market Premium Payment (MPP)

UKAEA’s pay arrangements and grading structure are currently under review as part of a transformation project and proposed multi-year pay deal. UKAEA aims to introduce a new grading structure in 2024. This will enable us to lead the delivery of sustainable fusion energy and maximise the scientific and economic benefits. Now is a great time to join the organisation and be part of the journey.

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

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference? Join our team and contribute to the future of fusion energy.

As the Mechanical Design Engineer & Section Leader, you will play a pivotal role in leading a Mechanical Engineering Design Section within the Design Office Group. You will be involved in various UKAEA engineering programmes, each with unique design challenges, providing scope to grow and develop both your technical and line management experience.

You will need to be an experienced Design Engineer with a sound understanding of CAD tools and their application in developing complex engineered products. You will advise on technical solutions for designs and perform engineering calculations to support design decisions.

You will have line management responsibilities, so you must display excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively matrix manage and develop a team of designers from early careers to highly experienced professionals.

Additional Responsibilities:

Within your section, you will need to manage approx. 10 people working within a matrix management structure as a centralised support function to the business. You will be one of three Section Leaders in this group.

You will mentor and develop a team of Designers and Design Engineers, identify development opportunities, set objectives, and plan career development and professional development in line with personal aspirations and organisational requirements.

You will need to be able to propose, define, manage and deliver major projects for fusion devices and related technology.

You will also:

- Lead design projects on major fusion systems and related technologies, from concept to commissioning.
- Ensure the delivery of projects within the agreed scope, time and budget. Manage and deploy resources effectively, forecast and communicate the requirements to resource managers.
- Lead design reviews for the engineering solution, engaging all relevant disciplines, including design authority, manufacturing, installation, operations, etc.
- Lead the recruitment of designers and Design Engineers, both UKAEA employees and agency-supplied workers.
- You will be adept at actively seeking and able to implement opportunities for improvement.

Please note:

As part of your role, you could be asked to work in radiation-controlled areas or in beryllium controlled areas. Full training and medical assessments will be provided if this is necessary.

On occasion, you may be appointed as design authority through delegation from the Office of the Chief Engineer Department.

Qualifications
Essential Requirements:

- A relevant engineering degree or equivalent
- Excellent understanding and experience using CAD tools (CATIA or similar)
- Good understanding of design standards, including GD&T and BS 8888:2020
- Demonstrable experience supervising other staff

Additional Information

For a full list of benefits and to apply, select the apply button to be taken through to the UKAEA careers pages.

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.