Theoretical Scientist

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 offering two exciting Physicist roles to support our deterrence programmes as we expand our mission space. These roles will develop the right candidates with their scientific careers offering exciting opportunities to develop our radiation detection and uncertainty quantification capabilities.
Location: Reading area - we are in the located between Reading and Basingstoke, with onsite parking. There are good bus links between Reading, Basingstoke, and Newbury.
Package: £31,000 - £46,000 ( depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)
Closing Date : 18th January 2024
If we receive an exceptionally high level of applications, this vacancy may close early, so don't delay, apply now!
The Role:
The Radiation Science Group is tasked with supporting the hardness and vulnerability aspects of our deterrence mission space, identifying, assessing, and understanding threats to the deterrent and looking to the future and the next generation of systems.
The group uses a model-based engineering approach to support core missions with the models being underpinned by science lead activities, i.e., developing and validating new models and codes, verifying them through experiments and assessing the certainty associated with the methods. The roles therefore encompass skills from experimental, theoretical and computation branches of physics and are a great opportunity for the right candidate with a passion for physics.
There are two exciting roles available within the Radiation Science Group:
1 - A role supporting the whole group by independently assessing the experimental and modelling activities undertaken and seeking to increase our confidence in our overarching assessments. The right candidate would be trained and developed into this role with a strong mathematics or statistics background preferred but not essential.
2 - A role supporting or leading (depending on experience) an area of radiation detection and measurement focusing on investigating low energy photon and electron fields. The right candidate will be trained and developed into this role and would ideally have experience and interest in X-ray and electron detection and measurement.
The expectation is the right candidate will grow into the role with experience being seen as an advantage. Training and development of practical skills will be part of the role as required.
The roles will support flexible working with an expectation that the candidate will spend some time working at AWE main site each week and that the place or work is driven by the needs of the programme.
Key Accountabilities

• Working within the Radiation Science Group understanding the general aspect of our mission space and linking these to developing the specific capabilities required for the radiation detection and uncertainty quantification areas.
  
• Ensuring data collected through radiation experiments is the most relevant and of the highest standard. Developing links with external technical partners in both academia and industry to ensure the best available techniques and technologies are being utilised.
  
• Developing mathematics and statistical skills for error and sensitivity analyses.
  
• Developing a knowledge of statistical techniques for experimental design and workflow assessment.
  

Key Responsibilities

• Collecting and managing data through innovative techniques at sate of the art facilities in the UK, USA and Europe as appropriate.
• Owning the development of the areas and expanding the capabilities in accordance with programme needs.
• Using appropriate software and data capture tools to record data and suitable analyses.
• Providing suggestions for improvements for team workflows with a view to being able to expand this to all workflows within the group.
• Optimising experimental and trial designs and supporting (potentially leading) the delivery teams.
• Working safely, securely, and cleanly to the appropriate quality standards.
• Analysing scientific data to assess confidence in the data obtained and the method by which it was.
• Becoming a chartered member of the Institute of Physics or Institute of Mathematics as part of our wider scientific deterrence strategy.

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

• Essential - Degree level knowledge in Physics (2:1 or above), Mathematics or statistics
  
• Desirable - Post-graduate qualificationsconnected with working on radiation detection and/or statistical methods.
  
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written, excellent team working ability, proactive, and highly organised.
  
• Basic appreciation of working safely on scientific experiments or trials.
  
• Willing to travel and work at other UK and overseas sites as required.
  
• Understanding and working knowledge of the:
  
  • Radiation detection and measurement techniques.
    
  • Statistical analysis of data sets.
    
  • Broad understanding of basic physics concepts including material properties, radiation field analysis, electronic systems, and electromagnetic phenomena.
    
  • Broad understanding of basic statistical analyses.
    
  • Working with Linux based operating system
    
  • Basic scripting/coding skills
    
  • Knowledge of Python, C, C++, Matlab
    
  • Experience of GEANT4 or MCNP modelling would be advantageous.
    

What will you get from us?
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 (including Bank Holidays).
  
• 9-day working fortnight - our employees have every other Friday off work.
  
• Flexible working hours.
  
• 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.
  
• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
  
• 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 market leading contributory pension scheme (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 savings.
  
• 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.
  

Important things you need to know:

• Interviews will be 90 minutes in length and will be held over Microsoft Teams. You will be required to prepare a 10-minute presentation in advance.
  
• • Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE.
  

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* Agencies: Please note that we do not out-source our recruitment
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.