Principal Electronics Engineer

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 that our world badly needs.

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

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 and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment. 
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, 
• Emergency paid leave, Generous annual leave allowance (30.5 days) increased with length of service,
• Wide range of career development opportunities
• A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive

The salary for this role is £63,856 (inclusive of a Market Premium Payment (MPP)) 

Job Description

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 benefit. 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.

RACE (Remote Applications in Challenging Environments) is based at Culham, within UKAEA, specialising in remote handling and automated systems. RACE’s objective is to create an internationally recognised centre of technical leadership for Remote Applications in Challenging Environments, delivering complex solutions, developing new technologies and supporting UK industry. Learn more about some of the exciting RACE projects that you can be involved with, such as JET, ITER, ESS Active Cell Facility, LongOps, and many others. 

Who are we looking for?

As Principal Electronics Engineer you will provide technical and project leadership on large, complex, cross-disciplinary projects within RACE, influencing the direction of UKAEA Projects and the customer organisation. You'll bring specialist technical knowledge and direction in a complex field of Remote Handling in a safety regulated, high-radiation and hazardous environments. You will propose, define, manage, and deliver the major projects and lead the project teams. You'll also serve as a point of authority within the specilaist disciplines whilst working on the projects and advise on technical solutions, designs and/or critical plant operational issues. 

What will you be responsible for?

• Accountable for leading the programme or project from concept through to detailed design, manufacture, installation and testing as part of the wider programme. 
• Provide expert knowledge in electronics design throughout project lifecycle in data processing, communications, and power electronics for automation. 
• Define and lead process for quality control delivery of electronic components and system integration. 
• Build UKAEA’s internal capability in electronic system delivery of enhancement programs for UKAEA’s facilities, future Fusion facilities and decommissioning challenging. 
• Author and assist in proposal creation in response to Technical Specification including costings and schedules.  Propose additional projects as well extensions and additional scope to existing projects and risk management.   

Qualifications

Essential skills, experience and competence required

• A relevant engineering degree or equivalent experience. 
• Chartered Engineer status or equivalent experience. 
• Proven track record managing engineering teams developing complex high technology systems. 
• Experience in requirements capture and validation, including a systems-based approach to designing electronic systems. 
• Proven record of delivering complex projects to time and budget. 
• Proven microprocessor and FPGA implementation experience 
• Expertise in analogue and digital circuitry 
• Experience in simulation of electronic circuitry within software and breadboarding  
• Strong first principles approach with experience delivering tolerance and lifetime calculation 
• Failure mode avoidance experience with demonstrable knowledge of associated processes - DFMEA

Additional information

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/

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.

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.