Plasma Control & Sensor System Manager

Fusion energy offers the potential for significant quantities of low-carbon inherently safe abundantly fuelled baseload energy supporting sustainable climate action and energy independence. While the technical challenge remains high confidence is increasing and the rewards of realising fusion are almost incalculable. Anticipated to come online for commercial purposes in the middle of this century fusion offers a viable means to sustainable net zero in the UK and globally as well as to increased energy security. The UK is currently a world leader in fusion research and development and in the drive to realise commercially viable energy from fusion a sector with an estimated value of tns per year.

STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UKs flagship national programme to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant targeting 2040 and a path to commercial viability of fusion. STEP is deliberately bold and ambitious and seeks people who want to be part of a world-changing endeavour and who have credible and relevant experiencing in delivery.

STEP is currently led by the UK Atomic Energy Authority which has breadth and depth of expertise in fusion science engineering and operations built over decades. Over the next year leadership will transition to a new Company UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. (UKIFS) to focus on the delivery of the prototype and in so doing the development of a fusion supply chain. From the next government investment gate UKIFS will lead a collaborative team of industrial Whole Plant Partners who bring expertise in engineering and construction plus UKAEA who will remain as strategic Partner providing fusion expertise.

The Role:

Reporting to the Head of Plasma Development (HoPD) you will lead the research and development needed to achieve robust control of the STEP plasma your area you will be responsible for a team of 15 25 full term equivalents in a matrixed organisation. Providing world-class expertise in the area of plasma control and associated sensor systems you will develop the systems required for controllable plasma scenarios with acceptable disruption handling for the STEP Prototype and subsequent Commercial Reactor designs. Your integrated control solutions will inform the identification of integrated high performance scenarios for fusion plasmas consistent with STEP power plant design studies.

In this role you would be expected to: 

• Engage with the wider UK plasma science programme of UKAEA universities and international collaborators (where appropriate) to identify innovative solutions for the STEP plasma control and sensor systems (diagnostics) consistent with the plant and reactor subsystems throughout the phases of the STEP programme.
• Partner with industry where there is complementary capability.
• Engage with the Design Authority and Engineering Delivery teams to ensure compatibility with overall concept design operational and maintenance strategy.
• Engage with national and international partners hosting tokamak and other plasma or technical facilities to reduce the uncertainty in the plasma control and sensor system solution for STEP.
• Identify areas of synergy with the ITER EU DEMO and other fusion power plant programmes as well as activities outside the STEP programme in the Fusion and Engineering partners leveraging international funding where appropriate.
• Identify opportunities to prototype and test aspects of the plasma control system.

The role is under the leadership of the Head of Plasma Development to drive the development of the plasma control schemas and sensor systems for robust and safe plasma operation for STEP as part of the wider Science and Technology Engineering Delivery and Integrated Project Teams. The design will inform and be informed by the research carried out in the R&D workstreams. Close collaboration with the Whole Plant Analysis and the Integrated Project teams will ensure a coherent self-consistent overall design of the STEP Concept. International collaborations in areas of mutual interest will be identified and encouraged.

Accountabilities will include: 

Drive the STEP plasma control development towards robust and safe plasma operations to achieve the STEP programme objectives.

• Provide the leadership to establish a world-class team of control experts from across the UKAEA Fusion Partner and industry.
• Work at the forefront of plasma control research to develop the control schemas required for robust and safe plasma operation of STEP and projections to a commercial fusion power plant.
• Inform the requirements for actuators identifying design solutions when they are additional to the planned plant design (e.g. beyond heating current drive and fuelling systems)
• Work with the Plasma Modelling and Validation manager and the wider STEP team to embed plasma control into a virtual representation of STEP including plasma control fit for plasma pulse verification prior to operation.
• Enhance your teams capabilities by working with universities fusion laboratories and industry to develop innovative plasma control solutions.
• Lead the establishment of an integrated decision route map to identify options and converge the design of the plasma control solution defining performance requirements for the supporting actuator and sensor systems.
• Identify international collaboration opportunities in areas of plasma control development exploiting synergies with other fusion power plant programmes (e.g. EU DEMO) where appropriate.

Drive the plasma sensor system development to enable a robust and safe plasma operation on STEP to achieve the STEP programme objectives.  

• Work with the UKAEA Fusion Partner the wider fusion community and industry to identify the optimal sensor system set compatible with a fusion plasma environment to safely commission the STEP plasma and its control and ensure robust operation in each of the STEP plasma operational phases. 

• Work with universities fusion laboratories and industry to develop innovative plasma sensor systems for plasma control compatible with the hostile fusion environment in the STEP tokamak. 

• Identify international collaboration opportunities in areas of sensor system development (including rad-hard) exploiting synergies with other fusion power plant programmes (e.g. EU DEMO) where appropriate. 

• Lead the establishment an integrated decisionroutemapto explore options and converge the design and technological choices ofthe plasma sensor systems. 

Manage the STEP plasma control and sensor development team and relevant external organisations to execute the plans to time cost and quality. 

• In partnership with the Programme Manager Office and various specialists (internal and external) support the HoPD to develop project execution plans.
• Support the HoPD to manage intellectual property
• Work with the Whole Plant Partners and external experts to set the scope and gain commitment from necessary teams to deliver the planned work scope.
• Support the HoPD to ensure robust and rigorous documentation supporting critical decisions and qualification.
• Promote the world-class R&D of the STEP programme through research outputs consistent with UKIFS commercial requirements.

Support the Head of Plasma Development to provide world-leading fusion plasma physics expertise to support the STEP product delivery.

• Provide guidance to the STEP R&D workstreams to address gaps and inform critical decisions.
• Manage the interfaces with other STEP subsystems working across boundaries for synergistic benefit.
• Present progress in technical review meetings.

Support to the HoPD to identify commercial opportunities including in adjacent sectors and support training requirements

• Seek synergies with adjacent sectors learning from control applications elsewhere and identifying wider applications of the intellectual property your team will generate.
• Identify and protect valuable intellectual property publishing patents when appropriate
• Identify opportunities to contribute to apprentice/graduate training and development.

Embody a Leadership Mindset 

• You embody a leadership mindset and a set of leadership behaviours.  You embrace and embody our organisations culture values and mission in all aspects of your work. 
• Foster a positive and inclusive team environment that aligns with our cultural values. 
• Create and support a culture of responsible innovation. 
• Contribute to maintaining a respectful and collaborative workplace valuing diversity and promoting teamwork. 
• Act as a cultural ambassador representing our organisations values and professionalism in interactions with colleagues clients and stakeholders. 
• Lead by example demonstrating The Seven Principles of Public Life - () 
• Make informed decisions and solve problems effectively considering diverse perspectives and organisational goals. 

In addition you will be required to deputise for the Head of Plasma Development.

The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities and you may be required to undertake other reasonable tasks or duties requested.

Qualifications :

What skills and experience youll bring to us: 

 

Essential:

• PhD level background in relevant scientific/engineering discipline
• Established world-class expertise in plasma control and/or plasma sensor systems (diagnosics) including the impact on technological choices
• A broad understanding of tokamak plasma physics tokamak operations.
• International reputation including high quality research outputs in the field of expertise
• A strong proven track record of delivering complex high technology projects to quality time and budget (k100s) including collaborative projects.
• Experience of leading successful collaborative research projects and of building external collaborations including international.
• Excellent written and oral communication
• Strategic and innovative thinker
• Excellent team-building and collaboration skills
• A good understanding and willingness to work to modern standards in Safety Health and Environment and Quality Assurance

Beneficial:

• Experience and knowledge of project management processes
• Experience of working with commercial organisations
• Experience of working across the plasma-materials-technology boundaries.
• Leadership of a research team within a large multi-million project
• Experience in line-management staff development and recruitment.
• Member or fellow of recognised professional body (e.g. IoP)
• An understanding of modern project management tools and a willingness to adopt organisational approaches to project management.

Additional Information :

We welcome applications from under-represented groups particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds and individuals with disabilities. Our Executive team supported by our Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

UKIFS is committed to being accessible. Please email 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.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. Whilst not required at this time there is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance that clearance can be transferred to UKIFS.

As we work towards our mission and goals guided by our principles STEP has six behaviours that are intended to capture the spirit of how we work: 

• We champion safety 
• We all matter 
• We act as one 
• We embrace change 
• We are pioneering 
• We deliver 

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks: If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time