Fusion energy offers the potential for significant quantities of low-carbon, inherently safe, abundantly fuelled, baseload energy, supporting sustainable climate action and energy independence. While the technical challenge remains high, confidence is increasing, and the rewards of realising fusion are almost incalculable. Anticipated to come online for commercial purposes in the middle of this century, fusion offers a viable means to sustainable net zero in the UK and globally, as well as to increased energy security. The UK is currently a world leader in fusion research and development and in the drive to realise commercially viable energy from fusion, a sector with an estimated value of £tns per year.
STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UK’s flagship national programme to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant, targeting 2040, and a path to commercial viability of fusion. STEP is deliberately bold and ambitious and seeks people who want to be part of a world-changing endeavour and who have credible and relevant experiencing in delivery.
STEP is currently led by the UK Atomic Energy Authority, which has breadth and depth of expertise in fusion science, engineering and operations built over decades. Over the next year, leadership will transition to a new Company, UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. (UKIFS) to focus on the delivery of the prototype and, in so doing, the development of a fusion supply chain. From the next government investment gate, UKIFS will lead a collaborative team of industrial Whole Plant Partners who bring expertise in engineering and construction, plus UKAEA who will remain as strategic Partner providing fusion expertise.
The Role:
Reporting to the Head of Plasma Development (HoPD) you will lead the research and development needed to achieve robust control of the STEP plasma solution. In your area you will be responsible for a team of 15 – 25 full term equivalents in a matrixed organisation. Providing world-class expertise in the area of plasma control and associated sensor systems, you will develop the systems required for controllable plasma scenarios with acceptable disruption handling for the STEP Prototype and subsequent Commercial Reactor designs. Your integrated control solutions will inform the identification of integrated, high performance scenarios for fusion plasmas consistent with STEP power plant design studies.
In this role, you would be expected to:
- Engage with the wider UK plasma science programme of UKAEA, universities and international collaborators (where appropriate) to identify innovative solutions for the STEP plasma control and sensor systems (diagnostics) consistent with the plant and reactor subsystems throughout the phases of the STEP programme.
- Partner with industry where there is complementary capability.
- Engage with the Design Authority and Engineering Delivery teams to ensure compatibility with overall concept design, operational and maintenance strategy.
- Engage with national and international partners hosting tokamak and other plasma or technical facilities to reduce the uncertainty in the plasma control and sensor system solution for STEP.
- Identify areas of synergy with the ITER, EU DEMO and other fusion power plant programmes as well as activities outside the STEP programme in the Fusion and Engineering partners, leveraging international funding where appropriate.
- Identify opportunities to prototype and test aspects of the plasma control system.
The role is under the leadership of the Head of Plasma Development to drive the development of the plasma control schemas and sensor systems for robust and safe plasma operation for STEP as part of the wider Science and Technology, Engineering Delivery and Integrated Project Teams. The design will inform, and be informed by, the research carried out in the R&D workstreams. Close collaboration with the Whole Plant Analysis and the Integrated Project teams will ensure a coherent, self-consistent overall design of the STEP Concept. International collaborations in areas of mutual interest will be identified and encouraged.
Accountabilities will include:
Drive the STEP plasma control development towards robust and safe plasma operations to achieve the STEP programme objectives.
- Provide the leadership to establish a world-class team of control experts from across the UKAEA Fusion Partner and industry.
- Work at the forefront of plasma control research to develop the control schemas required for robust and safe plasma operation of STEP and projections to a commercial fusion power plant.
- Inform the requirements for actuators, identifying design solutions when they are additional to the planned plant design (e.g. beyond heating, current drive and fuelling systems)
- Work with the Plasma Modelling and Validation manager and the wider STEP team to embed plasma control into a virtual representation of STEP including plasma control fit for plasma pulse verification prior to operation.
- Enhance your team’s capabilities by working with universities, fusion laboratories and industry to develop innovative plasma control solutions.
- Lead the establishment of an integrated decision route map to identify options and converge the design of the plasma control solution, defining performance requirements for the supporting actuator and sensor systems.
- Identify international collaboration opportunities in areas of plasma control development, exploiting synergies with other fusion power plant programmes (e.g. EU DEMO) where appropriate.
Drive the plasma sensor system development to enable a robust and safe plasma operation on STEP to achieve the STEP programme objectives.
- Work with the UKAEA Fusion Partner, the wider fusion community and industry, to identify the optimal sensor system set compatible with a fusion plasma environment to safely commission the STEP plasma and its control and ensure robust operation in each of the STEP plasma operational phases.
- Work with universities, fusion laboratories and industry to develop innovative plasma sensor systems for plasma control, compatible with the hostile fusion environment in the STEP tokamak.
- Identify international collaboration opportunities in areas of sensor system development (including rad-hard), exploiting synergies with other fusion power plant programmes (e.g. EU DEMO) where appropriate.
- Lead the establishment an integrated decision route map to explore options and converge the design and technological choices of the plasma sensor systems.
Manage the STEP plasma control and sensor development team and relevant external organisations to execute the plans to time, cost and quality.
- In partnership with the Programme Manager Office, and various specialists (internal and external) support the HoPD to develop project execution plans.
- Support the HoPD to manage intellectual property
- Work with the Whole Plant Partners and external experts to set the scope and gain commitment from necessary teams to deliver the planned work scope.
- Support the HoPD to ensure robust and rigorous documentation supporting critical decisions and qualification.
- Promote the world-class R&D of the STEP programme through research outputs, consistent with UKIFS commercial requirements.
Support the Head of Plasma Development to provide world-leading fusion plasma physics expertise to support the STEP product delivery.
- Provide guidance to the STEP R&D workstreams to address gaps and inform critical decisions.
- Manage the interfaces with other STEP subsystems working across boundaries for synergistic benefit.
- Present progress in technical review meetings.
Support to the HoPD to identify commercial opportunities including in adjacent sectors, and support training requirements
- Seek synergies with adjacent sectors, learning from control applications elsewhere, and identifying wider applications of the intellectual property your team will generate.
- Identify and protect valuable intellectual property, publishing patents when appropriate
- Identify opportunities to contribute to apprentice/graduate training and development.
Embody a Leadership Mindset
- You embody a leadership mindset and a set of leadership behaviours. You embrace and embody our organisation's culture, values, and mission in all aspects of your work.
- Foster a positive and inclusive team environment that aligns with our cultural values.
- Create and support a culture of responsible innovation.
- Contribute to maintaining a respectful and collaborative workplace, valuing diversity, and promoting teamwork.
- Act as a cultural ambassador, representing our organisation's values and professionalism in interactions with colleagues, clients and stakeholders.
- Lead by example, demonstrating