Senior Electronics Engineer

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 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, 
• 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
• What to expect in our recruitment process:
• For a step-by-step overview of how we hire from application to offer please see our Recruitment Process page: careers.ukaea.uk/join-us/recruitment-process

Job Description

The salary for this role is £56,596, (inclusive of a Specialist Allowance) . Onsite working is expected for 5 days each week, however, we actively support requests for flexible working. 

This role can be based at any of the following sites; Culham, Oxfordshire

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) , including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions and possibly a search of open source data. 

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 Senior Electronics Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in the Machine Control and Protection Team is responsible for systems providing electrical, electronics & control and instrumentation engineering support to machine operations and diagnostics systems. These systems include MAST Upgrade (MAST-U) machine control, real-time & hardwired protection and Personal Access Safety System (PASS). In addition, the team supports any engineering requirement for Diagnostic and Enhancement projects within MAST-U.

The post holder will troubleshoot, design and deliver high-level electrical systems to optimise MAST-U operations. The post holder will be responsible for the maintenance and upgrade of critical operational systems and lead activities within MAST-U Integrated Commissioning & Restart.

Additional Responsibilities:

•  Assist with development, commissioning, and ongoing operation of the Real-Time Protection (RTP) and MAST-U machine control systems; specify/design/implement/maintain SCADA/HMI and PLC controls for continuous (e.g., vacuum) and high-power pulsed systems; troubleshoot to ensure reliable operation.
• Modernise end-of-life analogue systems via PCB design/build/install; design/build interface cubicles to existing digital electronics; implement hardware (ADCs, interfaces, sensors) and packaging to support sensitive diagnostics; perform precision SMD soldering, bench testing, simulation, and in-situ fault finding.
•  Own documentation, version control, commissioning procedures and reports; ensure work meets schedule, budget, and quality requirements; update plans and communicate progress/risks to MAST-U leadership and MAST-UE project managers; contribute to control-system strategy with internal/external experts.
•  Lead/manage control & instrumentation work for MAST-U and support MAST-UE control projects; coordinate multi-disciplinary stakeholders (electrical/electronic/mechanical engineers, technicians, physicists) across the product lifecycle.

Qualifications

Essential Requirements:

• An honours degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or a related discipline or other equivalent and relevant qualifications or experience.  A lower qualification level may be accepted where there is significant demonstrated experience beyond the minimum below.
• Strong PCB design experience with considerations for timing, frequency and grounding
• Skilled in soldering, rework and diagnostics
• Mechanic skills for basic enclosure and fixture work
• Safe electrical working knowledge
• Soft skills: mentoring, problem-solving, system level thinking
• Ability to communicate effectively across disciplines.

Desirable:

• FPGA Coding experience would be a benefit
• C/Python programming

Additional Information

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

UKAEA's mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds who want to help us achieve our mission.  We are under-represented from some groups and so want to encourage applications in particular from women in STEM, people from Black British Caribbean and African backgrounds and from Pakistani and Bangladeshi British backgrounds. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) and Wellbeing and our EDI Networks actively promote Inclusion 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.

UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Please email talent@ukaea.uk if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information.  

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.