UK Atomic Energy Authority
Engineering Manager
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Engineering Manager
Engineering Manager – Strategic & Complex Fusion Projects
Company Description
By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Interested in shaping the future of cleaner, carbon-free energy?
UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) leads the world in developing fusion energy, partnering with industry and academia to deliver groundbreaking advancements. Our vision? Bringing fusion electricity to the grid—powered by tomorrow’s fusion power plants.
At UKAEA, we thrive on our core values:
- Innovative
- Committed
- Trusted
- Collaborative
Why Join Us?
Our employees benefit from:
- Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
- Corporate bonus scheme up to 7%
- Relocation allowance (where applicable)
- Family-friendly policies & flexible working (right to request from day one)
- Employee Assistance Programme & Mental Health First Aiders
- 25 days’ annual leave (plus 3 days Christmas closure, 2.5 privilege days, and UK bank holidays)
- Career development opportunities
- Dedicated commitment to equality and full inclusion
Learn more about our benefits here.
What to Expect in Our Recruitment Process?
For a detailed overview of how we hire—from application to offer—see our Recruitment Process page.
Job Description
Role Overview
Salary: £71,815 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) Location: UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire Hours: On-site for 3 days per week (flexible working actively supported)
As Engineering Manager, you will provide technical and project leadership on large-scale, strategically significant engineering projects—shaping UKAEA’s future and collaborating with clients, stakeholders, and suppliers. Key responsibilities include:
- Design, delivery, and management of complex fusion engineering projects and next-gen haemlet outcomes.
- Strategic decision-making, including scope, budgets, timelines, and risk mitigation.
- Team leadership across multidisciplinary engineering groups in enhancement programmes and next-generation fusion devices.
- Stakeholder interfacing, including collaboration with universities, suppliers, and policy bodies.
- Innovation and continuous improvement in engineering methodologies and technical best practices.
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Key Accountabilities
Project Management
- Lead and deliver major fusion system projects, from concept through detailed design, construction, and commissioning across UKAEA sites, enhancement programmes, and future devices.
- Design and direct complex, integrated engineering solutions across multiple disciplines, ensuring technical arbitration and early-stage make vs. buy decisions aligned with budgets and schedules.
- Drive project efficiency: Coordinate resources, manage timelines, adhere to scope, budget, and quality standards, and ensure all project activities follow UKAEA policy.
- Demonstrate expertise in systems engineering, selecting design substantiation methods while balancing technical risk, cost, regulatory compliance (including design standards/legislation).
- Maintain rigorous engineering documentation throughout the project lifecycle, serving as technical authority for design readiness. Lead design and readiness reviews to guarantee compliance.
- Interface with supply chain for tenders, contract management (up to £5m worth), and technical oversight of supplier equipment (through inspection, testing, and technical validation).
Engineering Strategy & Compliance
- Advise on policy, standards, and best practices within the engineering discipline, fostering systemic improvements.
- Mentor and develop in-house engineers through training, coaching, and professional networking.
- Act as a independent technical reviewer for UKAEA projects and help address breaches in best practice or quality standards.
- Foster strong ties with external organisations—including labs, universities, and professional networks—for business development and collaborative opportunities.
- Identify strategic project opportunities, support bids, and support budgets/business cases.
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Requirements
Qualifications & Experience
- Relevant engineering degree or equivalent qualification.
- Proven track record in managing high-complexity engineering projects, preferably multidisciplinary teams of significant scale.
- Experience delivering high-hazard projects in high-regulation environments such as nuclear or aerospace companies for several years with security centre clearances and/or DBS.
- Skilled in technical leadership, managing internal and external stakeholder requirements.
- Ability to guide technical specialist engineering analysis, arbitrate complex technical decisions, and act as a subject matter expert (SME).
- Chartered Engineer status or equivalent professional recognition preferred.
- Must be eligible to apply for UKAEA’s ** residential site security** requirements, and clearances, specifically Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). This will partially include a DBS check for criminal convictions and/or access to open source data searches.
Additional Information
UKAEA’s mission is clean, affordable energy for all, and we encourage applications from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM, including women, ethnically diverse candidates, and disabled employees—talent from all walks of life are welcome. All appointments are made on merit.
UKAEA is committed to being better accessible. If you need reasonable adjustments during recruitment or on working day-to-day basis, please contact careers.adjustments@ukaea.uk.
Please note: vacancies are open for 4 weeks but may close prior to this if sufficient applications have been received.
Are you ready to shape the future of energy?
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