Methods Development Engineers

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?
For nearly 70 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK’s ultimate deterrent - Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.
It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?
AWE is looking for Methods Development Engineers to help assist or lead a new capability in the rapidly expanding Aerothermal Analysis team.
These are great opportunities to join a team responsible for researching, prototyping and down-selecting new computational methods for implementation into our bespoke analysis tool suite (including CFD, material response and trajectory solvers); ensure acceptability of code deliveries; and develop workflow automation processes & scripts.
The successful candidates will manage their workload, act as a technical mentor to junior engineers, and work closely with our contractors who will implement the selected developments into the release version of the code suite. As these roles will require understanding of the needs of analysts, an engineering or physics understanding would be beneficial.
Role: Methods Development Engineers (50% hybrid working possible)
Location - Reading Area
Closing date: 11th January 2024
Salary: £35,720 - £60,000 (dependent on experience)
As part of our People Promise, AWE (one of the best 25 big companies to work for in the UK) has a range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• Time to recharge your batteries with 270 hours of annual leave (plus every other Friday off work)
• Consideration for flexible working arrangements so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know on your application if you wish to work part time
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development that include funding for the annual membership of a relevant professional body, access to mentors and training
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
• A generous defined contribution Group Personal Pension (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your own contribution)
• Life Assurance
• 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 for your family
• A host of voluntary & core benefits to suit your health and wellbeing - more information available on our careers site
• Relocation package available (terms and conditions apply)
• Potential opportunities to travel with work for conferences and collaboration

Successful Candidates will be responsible for:

• Researching, prototyping and down-selecting (in conjunction with analysts) novel methods/ capabilities for implementation into our analysis tool suite, including into CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), material response, and trajectory solvers
• Conducting horizon scanning of new capabilities that may be beneficial to the team, and support analysts in determining the long-term strategy for capability development
• Working with our code developers to enable them to implement down-selected capabilities into the tool suite
• Conducting acceptance testing on new code, and develop new test cases for implementation into automated acceptance testing
• Ensuring availability of the code suite across our High-Performance Computing (HPC) platforms
• Ensuring the code suite adheres to the relevant software quality practises
• Developing scripts to help analysts automate workflow process
• Aiding analysts with tracking down bugs and feeding back to our code developers
• Supporting the technical development of junior team members
• There will be opportunity to work with peer organisations in the UK and internationally
• For the right candidate, there will be opportunity to use the codes to run analyses

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

• An understanding of and aptitude for developing software code for engineering applications (translating engineering requirements into code requirements)
• A history of developing code using modern OO programming languages (experience of C/C++, Python and FORTRAN 2008+ would be beneficial)
• Knowledge of working on Linux/Unix, HPCs and with parallelised codes
• Use of software engineering tools and best practices (IDEs, version control and code repositories (e.g. Git)
• A good technical degree, preferably in Engineering or a physical science
• Membership of a professional institution would be beneficial
• Ability to solve problems in making computational models and methods work
• Willingness to mentor junior members of the team
• Sound interpersonal skills, with an ability to interact with staff at all levels and also with other technical disciplines
• Ability to produce and present clear and concise reports and presentations for customers, peers, programme management, and external meetings
• An ability to work both individually and as a member of a team to tight deadlines
• To be meticulous and methodical
• To be highly self-motivated
• You must be able to attend our Aldermaston site for at least 50% of your time

Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the security clearance required for the role and be willing and able to travel within the UK and overseas as required.
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Please note that you must be a British National to apply for a role with us.
Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.