Internal Vacancies

The salary range for this position is £43,902 (Grade 4C).

If you have any queries regarding the position itself please contact nnlearlycareers@uknnl.com

Please be aware that all new appointments will be made in-line with the PLC ‘New’ terms & conditions. Therefore, if you are not already on PLC ‘New’ terms & conditions and you are selected and accept this role, there will be changes made to your contractual terms. The terms and conditions of the role will be made clear in the offer letter. 

If you have any queries about the impact of applying for this role on your terms & conditions, pay, pension or benefits, please contact the HR Support Team.

Job Description

This is where your skills play a critical role in keeping everyone safe. Working in Safety, Security & Safeguards gives you the chance to make your mark on some hugely interesting projects. UKNNL does work that nobody else in the sector is doing, and this means we need experts like you to make it possible, whilst keeping everyone safe. We’re committed to using nuclear science to benefit society for years to come. This means that you can build a long and successful career here whilst playing a meaningful role in delivering cleaner energy, reducing waste and keeping colleagues and the public out of harm’s way.

As the national laboratory for nuclear fission in the UK, we are harnessing nuclear science to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. 

UKNNL are looking to expand our existing team of engineers who perform structural analysis work to support our clients in the civil nuclear power industry.

In this role you will be required to carry out a wide range of structural integrity assessments using commercial finite element codes. This will include Impact Assessment Analysis, Fitness for Service, Fracture Mechanics and Remnant Life Assessments to appropriate British, American or European design codes.

To join the UKNNL Post Doctorate programme you will have a PhD in impact assessment or structural integrity.

In addition, you will possess a degree in engineering, maths or physics with a strong understanding of fundamental engineering principles. 

You will have the right to work in the UK and be able to achieve SC level security clearance (this includes but is not limited to identity, employment, financial and criminal record checks plus 5 years’ worth of UK residency).

Main Responsibilities

We are developing the next generation of technical experts. Not only will you receive the opportunity to work on challenging and exciting projects, but you’ll continually learn from skilled and knowledgeable industry experts who are leaders in their field. We will help you become everything you can be, by challenging, stretching, and pushing you to your limits while supporting you every step of the way.

You will manage all aspects of technical projects, including project delivery, commercial awareness and management of project staff. In this customer facing role you will work directly with client engineers.

You will have a familiarity of linear and non-linear impact assessment analysis using ANSYS, ABAQUS, LS-DYNA or equivalent. 

Your duties will include: 

• Carrying out structural integrity assessments of new and existing nuclear plant and equipment
• Numerical modelling and the use of commercially available Finite Element codes
• Completing assessments to ASME III and relevant British Standards such as BS7910
• The presentation of results to customers
• Solving complex technical problems through lateral thinking

UKNNL recognises that academia and industry are very different environments, our Postdoctoral Development Scheme will smooth the transition whilst supporting you as you take your first steps towards becoming a Subject Matter Expert.

Your two-year scheme will provide the opportunity to develop your technical knowledge and skills whilst providing you with an insight into UKNNL’s strategy and direction. You will receive an overview of how the company operates and delivers its projects. 

You will undertake personal development through training aligned to your personal development plan and understand your strengths, weaknesses, and behaviours. You will receive a personal budget to support your development within your field of expertise. 

From day one you’ll have a role in a technical team involved in delivering real customer projects. You will have direct sight of the value that your skills and knowledge have to our industry and by extension our society. The Postdoctoral Development Scheme runs alongside your role, providing you the space and skills to develop in a commercial environment whilst helping you decide how to advance your technical expertise.

Our two-year programme is designed to give you:

• An introduction to UKNNL so you understand where we sit in the wider context of the nuclear industry and how we work
• An introduction to the technical expertise at the core of our business so you understand how your expertise interrelates with our wider technical portfolio
• A clear pathway of technical development
• Commercial awareness of the Business Operations of UKNNL
• Opportunity to network with mid-career professionals and experts
• Mentoring to achieve chartered status with your chosen professional body
• A choice of development activities tailored to you and your career aspirations
• Membership of a cohort of early career professionals to provide support in developing within the company
• The support of a dedicated early careers team and our strong, thriving early careers community.

You will be based at our office in Risley, Cheshire. This role allows for hybrid working with the flexibility to work from home on some of your working days.

As part of the selection process for the Post Doctorate programme you will complete a Technical Interview against the skills and competencies required for this role.