Principal Project Engineering Manager

Job Description

About us

Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.

About the job

Lead the engineering delivery of complex electrical projects that support the development and operation of UKAEA's power distribution networks. You'll provide senior technical direction across major work packages, working alongside project management to deliver safe, high-quality solutions within agreed scope, budget and timescales. The role also offers the opportunity to shape future site power network developments while developing engineers and strengthening engineering capability.

This role is a one-year fixed-term appointment to provide maternity cover.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the technical delivery of medium-scale and complex electrical projects throughout their lifecycle.
• Provide technical direction across work packages, maintaining effective interfaces between projects, engineering disciplines and the wider organisation.
• Define requirements, scope and technical solutions, ensuring projects meet quality, budget and programme requirements.
• Oversee engineering activities across design, procurement, manufacture, installation, commissioning, repair, replacement and upgrade of electrical systems.
• Lead design analysis, feasibility studies, validation, technical reviews and authorisation to support robust engineering decisions.
• Develop technical reports, presentations and technical papers to communicate project plans, options, progress and risks.
• Produce feasibility studies for future site power network developments to support the commercial value of Culham Campus.
• Line manage and develop a multidisciplinary team of up to eight employees, including resource planning, recruitment, objectives, performance and professional development.
• Develop junior engineers and apprentices through knowledge transfer, coaching, constructive feedback and targeted development.
• Improve engineering practices and quality standards while promoting safe working and UKAEA's commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

What You'll Bring

• An honours degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline with relevant professional experience, or an HND in an Electrical discipline (or equivalent) supported by greater breadth and depth of relevant experience.
• Significant experience delivering complex electrical engineering projects to time and budget, including major construction projects and CDM management.
• Strong capability in exploratory electrical design calculations using first principles, with significant practical experience applying engineering design standards.
• Broad and deep knowledge of engineering design processes, practices, current standards and industry best practice across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Experience managing and supervising multidisciplinary engineering teams, with responsibility for resource allocation and team development.
• A sound understanding of modern health, safety, environmental and quality assurance standards and their application within engineering projects.

UKAEA is an onsite organisation, and this role requires regular onsite presence (usually between 3-5 days in any given week) in line with business needs. We actively support flexible working arrangements where this is compatible with the role.

Benefits

We have a generous range of benefits (see the full list here) and highlights include:

• A salary of £71, 815 (inclusive of a £7,700 specialist allowance)
• Up to 7% corporate performance bonus
• Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave plus 2.5 'privilege' days; 8 Bank Holidays
• Additional 3 days of site closure over Christmas break
• Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions

Our commitment to ED&I

UKAEA's mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce.

Please email talent@ukaea.uk if you have any questions or require adjustments to help you participate fairly in our recruitment process, for example changes to the way we interview or share information. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates.

We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All appointments are made on merit and further information can be found here.