Job Title: Radiation Shielding Team Leader
Location: Milton Park, Abingdon (OX14)
Salary: Competitive
Job Type: Full Time, Permanent
The Company aims to accelerate the development of fusion energy by combining two emerging technologies – spherical tokamaks and high-temperature superconductors.
The Company was originally established in 2009 to design and develop small Spherical Tokamaks and compact fusion reactors for a range of applications. Since then, the strategy has evolved to prioritise building a pilot plant to exceed fusion energy breakeven.
The Role:
The commercialisation of fusion requires that a number of fascinating technical challenges are met. One of these is radiation shielding. The size, and performance, of a spherical tokamak is strongly dependent on reducing the thickness of the shield that protects the superconducting coils from the 14.1MeV fusion neutrons. Provision of a bio-shield is also essential.
They are looking for a team leader to manage a combination of in house and external resource to model and validate designs of novel radiation shields to the specific needs of spherical tokamaks. They will also have responsibility for bio-shield engineering.
Main Responsibilities:
- Build, and provide leadership for, the radiation shielding team
- Work with the Research and Technology director, other R&T group team leaders, and the tokamak physics team to develop shield functional specifications
- Identify a variety of concepts spanning novel to relatively mature technology that might meet these specifications
- Use sound scientific and engineering practice to identify and mitigate the technology gaps associated with these concepts
- Deploy numerical modelling and experimental validation as appropriate
- Work with other team leaders to select the final candidates for incorporation into protype reactors
Contacts and Communication
- Reports to the Research and Technology Director
- Responsible for Radiation Shielding group line management
- Responsible for the management of collaborations with academic and commercial organisations
Personal Skills and Attributes:
- At least three years of technical team leadership experience
- Ability to communicate effectively with peers and senior management
- Sufficient general technical knowledge to translate scientific objectives into sound engineering practice
- In depth knowledge of radiation shielding
- Knowledge of current manufacturing methods and materials
- Demonstrated track record of practical and innovative engineering in a technology development environment
- Experience with technical risk assessment
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of the health & safety requirements relevant to the role
- Highly motivated to deliver against challenging objectives in a compressed timescale
- Ability to contribute effectively in a multi-disciplinary team of engineers and scientists
- Willingness to learn new techniques and technologies
- Organized approach to complex problems
- Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision
- Proactive attitude
- Self-starting and self-reliant
- Ability to devise and operate effective project schedules
- Creativity and innovation
Key Requirements:
Essential:
- Degree in a physical science
- PhD in a physical science, or equivalent industrial experience
- Extensive experience of technical team leadership
- In depth knowledge of radiation shielding
- Good general technical knowledge
- High power density thermal management
- Good communicator with team and senior management
- Demonstrated experience in a comparable environment
- Evidence of product or preferably technology development in a high-tech industry
Desirable:
- Project management qualifications
- Materials science and engineering
- Knowledge of tokamak radiation shielding, especially regarding high energy neutrons
Benefits:
- 25 Days Holiday (plus bank holidays)
- Company Pension scheme: Company contribution of 5% of salary after 3 months’ service
- Eligible for company share option scheme after one years’ service
- Company bonus scheme, discretionary, dependent on performance
- Private medical insurance after 3 months’ service
- Childcare voucher scheme
Please click the APPLY button to send your CV and Cover Letter for the role.
Candidates with the experience or relevant job titles of: Radiation Protection Engineer, Health and Safety Supervisor, Radiation Shielding, Radiation Physical Barriers Technician, Nuclear Radiation Protection Engineer.
