UK Atomic Energy Authority
Senior Exhaust Code Developer

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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 £64,820 (inclusive of a Specialist Allowance). Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for flexible working.
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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
As a Senior Exhaust Code Developer, you will be responsible for developing edge modelling codes and for ensuring that UKAEA’s edge modelling capability incorporates the main features needed to reliably model advanced divertor concepts. The edge modelling codes will include multi-fluid codes to describe the edge plasma (e.g. SOLPS or EDGE2D), and kinetic Monte Carlo codes (e.g. EIRENE) to describe the neutral particles. The post-holder will work on interfacing the edge code(s) to the integrated transport modelling suite (e.g. JINTRAC).
Key Responsibilities:
- Development of edge modelling codes for existing and future fusion devices.
- Optimising code algorithms for modern computers (HPC).
- Developing interface with integrated transport modelling suite and UKAEA integrated modelling developers.
- Identifying missing modelling features needed to describe existing and future devices.
- Documenting new codes developed.
- Exploiting tools for edge modelling and/or coupled core-edge simulations to study current and future devices.
- Disseminating results and reporting findings at internal meetings, international meetings, conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.
- Building strong relations with external laboratories and universities in support of the above accountabilities.
- Supervising and mentoring placement and PhD students associated with exhaust physics.
Qualifications
Essential Requirements:
- University degree in a relevant scientific discipline with either PhD level knowledge and post-doctoral experience in edge plasma modelling, or experience developing scientific codes and algorithms for HPC.
- Demonstrable high-quality outputs in areas very relevant to the role.
- Excellent team-player with an outward facing work-ethos as they will work closely with scientists around the world.
- Demonstrable experience of independent research.
- Excellent understanding of good software engineering practices and Quality Assurance systems including version control, profiling tools, testing frameworks and debuggers.
- Knowledge and ideally experience of parallel programming.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Knowledge of SOL and exhaust physics issues.
- Excellent publication track record in area relevant to the role.


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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 to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce. We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, while ensuring all appointments are made on merit.
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.
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