Principal Assessor - Nuclear Fire Safety Engineer

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?
Principal Fire Safety Engineer
This role will support the production of Fire Safety cases (delivered by Safety Case colleagues) in accordance with AWE Management Arrangements. The ability to think and communicate innovatively will be important in working with facility and project managers to drive effective solutions that can be delivered efficiently on time and to cost. This will be at the forefront of a wide variety of work, involving ground-breaking innovation and technical challenges across a wide range of projects associated with:

• AWE’s multibillion-pound Capital Programme of new facilities.
• Planning future systems in support of the UK’s long-term strategic deterrent.
• Maintaining and extending the life of existing facilities.
• Decommissioning of the redundant facilities.

Location - Reading / Basingstoke area
Package - £58,500 - £92,480 (depending on your suitability and level of experience)
Generous Relocation Assistance is available where eligible
Closing date for applications: 24th May 2024
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 (including Bank Holidays) of annual leave - plus every other Friday off work.
• 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

What will you be required to do?

• You will be required to conduct, and advise on, the following:
• Identification & interpretation of existing fire strategies (buildings).
• Producing Fire Hazard Assessments (including Fire Hazard Identification studies) in support of Safety Cases
• Identification of appropriate Fire Engineering solutions.
• Specification of design fires and fire modelling techniques - including verification/ validation & limits to their applicability.
• Experience and/or knowledge of fire engineering computer software, i.e. fire & smoke, transport etc (advantageous).
• Thermal properties of materials.
• Providing guidance to junior team members undertaking various Fire Safety Engineering activities.

Ideally you will have:

• Degree or Postgraduate in a science or engineering based subject and demonstrable experience of working on multi-disciplined projects.
• Proven background in Fire Safety and good understanding of fire engineered solutions
• Good knowledge of Fire Safety legislation and the relevant guidance within the UK.
• Strong interpersonal/communication skills, report writing and presentation skills.
• The drive to bring innovative ideas to bear on all aspects of projects and provide advice and solutions where relevant.
• Ability to explain technical issues and solutions in a manner that is accessible and understandable to all members of the team.
• Evidence of working within teams and prioritising workloads and meeting deadlines.

Desirable experience:

• Knowledge and experience of working on a site containing radiological, chemical and/or explosive hazards (This can be developed in role).
• Chartered engineer (or actively working toward this)
• Member of IFireE (MIFireE) or have a membership of a relevant professional body (or actively working towards this).

This is a highly rewarding position that will give you the opportunity to apply your skills and experience in support of AWE’s important mission to keep the Nation safe.
All candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role and be willing and able to work in designated areas.
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Please note that you must be a British Citizen 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.