Nuclear Physicist

Job Introduction

Job Description for Nuclear Physicist:

NNL is where your understanding of reactors fuels the nation. As part of our Fuel Reactor & Reprocessing capability, you’ll play a vital role in developing the UK fuel cycle in line with advances in new technology and new processes. As old reactors reach the end of their lifespan, we need experts like you, with the technical skills to virtually model scenarios that not only enable us to explore new ways of managing the inputs and outputs of reactors, but also pave the way for the implementation of smaller, cleaner revolutionary new reactors. This is a place where you can use your knowledge and expertise to do long term meaningful work for years to come.

As the national laboratory for nuclear fission in the UK, we are harnessing nuclear science to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. The most important asset for our future success is our people, it is their skills, knowledge and enthusiasm that drives our work and fuels our purpose.  

Whether it is accelerating a UK demonstration programme for Advanced Modular Reactors or delivering our first sustainable supply of medical radioisotopes since the 1960s, NNL will be at the forefront of game-changing advances that will help to transform people’s lives, now and in the future. 

A vacancy has arisen in the Nuclear and Reactor Physics team for a motivated, high calibre nuclear physicist with a particular interest in undertaking applied nuclear physics projects in NNL focus areas such as Health & Nuclear Medicine (H&NM), Security & Non-Proliferation (S&NP) and Clean Energy, as well as supporting nuclear decommissioning work as part of a core role within the team. Nuclear physics is one of the key activities in the support of current nuclear technology and the development of future UK nuclear technologies. Therefore, this role feeds into and influences the wider shaping of UK energy policy and the strategy for moving towards a low carbon future. 

Specific areas of work for this role could include but are not limited to providing specialist technical support in the nuclear physics area ensuring the delivery of high-quality outputs:

• Developing experience in a variety of techniques and coding languages to support the NNL science and technology programme by contributing to development of novel methods. These range from advancing the use of well-established techniques, to maintenance of codes or developing new methods.
• Adapting existing codes to the identification of radionuclides for future medical treatments - Coordinating and delivering experiments with UK and international facilities to provide underpinning data or validation for codes.
• Supporting the operation and decommissioning of legacy UK facilities with specialist computational codes.
• Supporting the delivery of specialist training courses that help to protect UK and global nuclear infrastructure.
• Assessing and advising on how current or future technologies can be applied to unique challenges across the industry.

The role provides the opportunity to develop a well-rounded understanding of nuclear physics, combined with an understanding of techniques that are used to investigate such properties. The combination of these areas supports the development and delivery of programmes to assure the safe operation of current and future nuclear applications across the whole industry.

The successful applicant will work closely with specialists in the team, who will provide mentoring and encourage development in skills and knowledge. Support to achieve membership and chartership of a relevant professional institute will be given, if not already a member of such an organisation.

The location for this role is flexible and can be based at Sellafield, Workington, Preston and Risley but travel to Sellafield will be expected when required.

Main Responsibilities

Main Responsibilities for Nuclear Physicist:

• Provide specialist technical support to subject matter experts primarily in the area of Nuclear Physics to include Health & Nuclear Medicine (H&NM), Security & Non-proliferation (S&NP), Clean Energy Focus Area (CEFA) and Nuclear Decommissioning.
• To carry out designated work packages to standards of safety, cost, quality and time adhering to NNL’s values and behaviors and maintain a high nuclear professionalism standard.
• Carry out analysis and verification of results to an acceptable quality
• Provision of specified services to internal/external customers to agreed standards.
• Ensures all relevant legislative, regulatory and company procedures are understood and adhered to when delivering projects working within limits, e.g. budgetary, safety, quality, risk, security etc, applicable to the role.
• Where appropriate, may contribute to or lead the estimation of project budgetary information and procedures.
• To lead, support or collaborate in various meetings under guidance of subject matter experts as appropriate.
• Produce accurate records of work carried out including technical reports and peer reviewed publications.
• Where appropriate will maintain good contacts with individuals / organisations at all status levels internal and external to the company.
• Take responsibility and be pro-active in the development, application, review and assessment of appropriate technical processes and systems applicable to their work area.
• Engagement and collaboration with national and international institutions, representing NNL as appropriate.
• Maintain professional membership via an established UK institution with a plan to become a Chartered Scientist, Physicist or Engineer.

The Ideal Candidate

Essential Criteria for Nuclear Physicist:

• A Post graduate MSc degree (with focus on nuclear engineering or nuclear physics or equivalent) combined with experience in the industry.
• Demonstrated positive attitude towards Health & Safety, Security, Environment, and Quality requirements.
• Good communication and team working skills.
• Demonstrated ability applying logical and physics concepts to the analysis of problems.
• Demonstrated evidence of applying academically acquired knowledge in practical applications combined with an interest in nuclear science.
• Ability to obtain 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).

Desirable Criteria for Nuclear Physicist:

• Relevant PhD in nuclear physics or nuclear engineering or equivalent desirable.
• Some nuclear related experience of working internationally preferable.
• Ability to work collaboratively across different sectors with diverse external stakeholders including Universities.
• Member or Associate Member of a professional institution.
• Chartered Physicist, Engineer or Scientist or actively working towards Chartership.
• Experience of using UNIX/LINIX operating systems.
• Knowledge of programming (C++, Python and/or Fortran or other relevant codes) with some practical experience in using nuclear codes such as:
  • Depletion/Activation codes – (e.g. FISPIN, FISPACT II, ORIGEN).
  • Particle Transport Codes – (e.g. MCNP, GEANT4, OpenMC, SERPENT).
• Experience of designing, developing and/or carrying out physical experiments to support nuclear projects.

About The Company

Grounded in robust science and decades of experience, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is the authoritative voice in the UK and beyond for technological development within the nuclear power sector.

Our unparalleled understanding of the science, challenges and opportunities makes us an unrivalled authority and partner in the field, providing experts, technologies, and access to cutting-edge facilities to organisations around the world.

Harnessing potential technologies and translating them into to industry-ready solutions means our pioneering approach spearheads international improvement and technological progress.

We work on projects as small as drilling a hole to analyse underground wastes with our integrated micro drilling technology, or as large as developing state-of-the-art power systems for spacecraft, based on radioactive materials

NNL has a vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (ED&I) where NNL aims to be an inclusive workplace that attracts diverse talent through transparent and equal policies and procedures. We want you and the diverse mix of people that we employ, customers that we service and stakeholders that we influence to feel valued. We encourage a workplace culture where everyone can thrive with a sense of belonging.

Recruitment Agency Notice

We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List (PSL) for the provision of recruitment services. Only agencies on our PSL may provide CVs and only when the role is released to them by our recruitment team. We will not accept unsolicited CVs from suppliers not currently on our PSL. We explicitly reserve the right to add candidate details from unsolicited CVs from non-PSL agencies into our own candidate database and to pursue/hire such candidate(s) without any obligation, financial or otherwise, to the agency concerned.