Deep Specialist HPC Computational Engineer

• Full-time
• Salary: £71,815 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
• Division:
  Computing
• Position Grade:
  Grade I
• Department:
  Computational Materials and Engineering

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 gridby developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.

About the job

The Computational Materials and Engineering (CME) Unit within UKAEA’s Computing Division delivers research, development and technical support across high-performance computing, engineering and scientific computing, AI, machine learning and advanced simulation technologies for the fusion programme. In this role, you will lead the development and maintenance of software capabilities supporting computational nuclear and multiphysics applications, while driving research, collaboration, funding and adoption of emerging technologies.

You will provide technical and strategic leadership, manage projects and resources, represent UKAEA nationally and internationally, and help shape future research directions while developing expertise and collaborations across the Authority.

What You’ll Be Doing

Plan and lead technical contributions to work streams in modelling, simulation and uncertainty quantification activities for UKAEA programmes

Review and provide approvals for the technical output of teams of 4-10 people

Oversee development of state-of-the-art software suites, ensuring adherence to established quality standards

Design technical strategy for development for, deployment on, and evaluation of new and emerging computing architectures

Produce consistently high levels of high‑impact output. Present research at conferences including regular oral or invited conference presentations, high quantity and quality of publications, generally two to three first author journal papers per year

Collaborate with national and international partners on developing and evolving codes to exploit peta- and exa‑scale systems

Actively seek new research and funding opportunities, leading proposals. When successful implement new programmes supported by funds outside UKAEA, leading consortia

Lead international projects, develop new collaborations, and maintain and grow our research at the international cutting edge

Perform your own research into novel numerical methods and algorithms with applicability within fusion and beyond

Act as a source of advice to other divisions and programmes. Support wider skills development, providing training across the organisation relating to specialism

What You’ll Bring

At least a doctorate degree (or equivalent qualification) in a computational, mathematical or physical science discipline with a strong publication track record or contribution to relevant software library (or equivalent experience in either a commercial or research environment)

Significant demonstrable experience using high-performance computing systems and of at least one compiled level language (e.g. C++, Fortran, C, Rust) or advanced scripting language (Julia, R, Swift Parallel Scripting), as evidenced through contributions to software packages

Experience in working in and leading a distributed team in both mentoring and managing roles, either as a project or technical manager

Significant demonstrable experience and international reputation in one or more relevant computational engineering fields. Solid foundation in mathematics,…