Fuel Performance Physicist

Job Introduction

A vacancy has arisen in the Nuclear and Reactor Physics team for a high calibre, motivated scientist or engineer with expertise relevant to fuel performance modelling. This individual will help NNL deliver high quality, innovative products and services to its customers in both the UK and overseas. In addition, he/she will contribute to nuclear R&D which is helping to shape UK energy policy and strategy towards a low carbon future.

Candidates must be qualified fuel performance physicist and have the ability to: (a) critically interrogate large amounts of technical information relating to a complex problem, and identify the key issues and resources; and (b) solve complex problems in an innovative manner, using physics/engineering theory, experimental data, computer programming, and available information and tools (e.g. computer software).

Main Responsibilities

• Deliver technical work to the satisfaction of customers, with delivery to time, cost and quality
• Foster and maintain key relationships (internal and external) to ensure effective and efficient project delivery
• Provide specialist technical support to the BEIS Advanced Fuel Cycle Programme and other customer projects ensuring the delivery of high-quality outputs
• Keep abreast of the latest technical as well as commercial developments in the field which are relevant to the team
• Ensure that work scopes are effective to answer the customer’s needs and outputs meet NNL and customer standards
• Represent NNL (or the UK) at international working groups overseas or international collaboration meetings as required, supported by a technical lead (as required)
• Actively support in improvement initiatives including enabling change activities within the team and wider NNL
• Comply with all legislative, regulatory and company policies and procedures appropriate to the role

• Take responsibility and be pro-active in the development and application of appropriate technical and managerial processes and systems applicable to their work area

The Ideal Candidate

Essential Skills/Qualifications

• BSc. degree (min 2:1), or equivalent in a Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, or a relevant discipline

•  Demonstrable Fuel Performance experience with up to date technical knowledge in this technical area

• Proven track record of driving and delivering Fuel Performance programmes or projects

• Experience of using ENIGMA, TRAFIC or other Fuel Performance modelling software

• Knowledge/Experience of Fortran and/or programming languages such as C or Python.

• Experience using UNIX/LINUX operating systems

Desirable Skills/Qualifications

• PhD in relevant discipline (physics, engineering or mathematics)

• Post-Doctoral experience in a relevant discipline (physics, engineering or mathematics)

• Valid UK driving license

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