Magnets Technology Development Lead

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
Culham, OX14 4LY, United Kingdom
2 months ago
Job Type
Permanent
Work Pattern
Full-time
Work Location
Hybrid
Seniority
Lead
Education
Degree
Posted
18 Aug 2026 (2 months ago)

Job Description

This role is to lead our HTS magnet technology development programme to realise STEP’s HTS magnet system. STEP is likely to have the largest HTS magnets in the world and developing successful designs relies heavily on demonstrating innovative HTS magnet components in bench-scale tests and sub-scale prototypes. You’ll be responsible for delivering the STEP HTS small test coil, short cable, and magnet materials programmes at pace in order to meet the challenging timescales of the STEP ‘model coil’ programme. You’ll produce clear technology development plans and lead a multi-disciplinary team to deliver on these plans.

A good understanding of HTS magnet design and multi-physics, and proficiency in experiment design, is key: you’ll identify our magnet technology needs and execute discrete test campaigns with a ‘fail fast’ mentality. You’ll be a key interface between the STEP power plant design team, where technology challenges will emerge, and the model coil development programme, which will ultimately demonstrate these technologies at scale.

Communicating complex technical challenges and findings in a simple and effective manner to a range of audiences will be critical to success. The STEP programme has established exciting partnerships internationally and you’ll be required to work collaboratively and seek out new opportunities to expand our HTS magnets capability further.

Qualifications

Essential:

  • Relevant engineering degree or equivalent
  • Chartered status with a suitable professional institution
  • Demonstrable track record in developing technology and evidence of delivering innovative solutions to industry
  • Good understanding of HTS magnet design and HTS multi-physics, especially quench
  • Experiment design and proficient in the use of electrical and cryogenic laboratory equipment
  • Commercial awareness, project and budget management experience
  • Leading teams: excellent interpersonal skills, with experience of working in diverse, multidisciplinary teams
  • Ability to communicate effectively in both technical and non-technical terms

Desirable:

  • Demonstrable track record in developing HTS magnet technology
  • Hands-on experience with HTS materials and fabricating HTS magnets

Additional Information

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

We welcome talented people from all backgrounds who want to help us achieve our mission. We encourage applications from under-represented groups, particularly from women in STEM, people from BlackBritishCaribbean and African, Pakistani and Bangladeshi British, and other ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and neurotypical individuals. 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 organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

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

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: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants 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.

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