Control Systems Manager

• Salary: £73,190 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
• Division: UKFE - Technical
• Site
  
  Location:
  
  West Burton, Nottinghamshire

The UK Government has established UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) Ltd , a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the charge in delivering fusion energy through design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKIFS is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing of the STEP prototype.

Fusion energy, crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, is expected to be commercially viable by mid-century. The UK, led by UKIFS, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year.

Join UKIFS and the STEP programme to be involved in this ground breaking journey.

As an employee of UKIFS, you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme,details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporate bonus schemeup to 7% and aRelocationallowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment.
• Employee Assistance Programmeand trained Mental Health First Aiders,
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• A vibrantculturecommitted to being fully inclusive

The salary for this role is £73,190.

This role includes a non‑contractual and non‑pensionable specialist allowance of £7,900.

This position is to be based at West Burton, Nottinghamshire. Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week.

The STEP Prototype Plant will redefine what can be controlled in real time — bringing together a highly nonlinear plasma system with complex thermal, electrical and mechanical plant.

As Control Systems Manager, you’ll be the technical authority shaping how this ground breaking facility is controlled, protected and automated. You’ll define the integrated control approach that enables safe, stable and reliable fusion operations.

Working at the intersection of plasma physics, power engineering and advanced digital systems, you’ll bring together plasma control, plant systems, protection functions and data into one coherent vision. In this first-of-a-kind environment, the clarity and strength of the control strategy you lead will play a pivotal role in the plant’s success.

Accountability 1: Shape the Control Architecture & Integration

• Define and evolve the end-to-end control systems architecture for the STEP Prototype Plant
• Bring together plasma control, plant systems (DCS/PCS), protection, timing and data into a seamless, integrated whole
• Design for longevity — ensuring systems are maintainable, adaptable and ready for future innovation
• Set and govern clear interface definitions across teams and partners
• Identify and manage integration risks, developing smart mitigation strategies
• Lead technical reviews and guide trade-offs to optimise performance, reliability and cyber resilience

Accountability 2: Drive Control Strategy & Design Excellence

• Define the overall control philosophy and translate it into clear, scalable system requirements
• Champion innovation in control strategies, digital engineering and advanced modelling
• Design resilient sensing and control approaches for extreme environments, using smart instrumentation and model‑based techniques
• Ensure full traceability from concept of operations through to safety and regulatory expectations
• Provide technical leadership across control platforms, HMI, alarms and networks
• Shape robust verification and validation approaches — from simulation to full plant testing

Accountability 3: Embed Safety, Security & Best Practice

• Set the standard for control system design, alarm strategy and configuration management across the plant
• Embed functional safety…