Maintenance Manager

The UK Government has established UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) 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 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 UKFE, 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 UKFE and the STEP programme to be involved in this ground‑breaking journey.

As Maintenance Manager
, you’ll be the technical authority for plant maintainability, defining how the STEP Prototype Plant is designed to be maintained from day one. You’ll shape key design decisions across the tokamak and wider plant, ensuring maintenance is safe, efficient and achievable in a first‑of‑a‑kind power plant.

As an employee of UKFE, you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment.
• Employee Assistance Programme and 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.
• Wide range of career development opportunities.
• A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive.

A full list of our benefits can be found here

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.

In a fusion power plant, maintainability isn’t just important — it’s fundamental. The ability to inspect, repair and replace components in a high‑radiation environment will shape the plant’s architecture, availability and ultimately the cost of electricity it produces.

• Define and lead the maintenance architecture for the STEP Prototype Plant.
• Own the maintenance requirements, strategy and assurance approach to demonstrate safe, efficient and timely maintenance.
• Build a clear, plant‑wide maintenance model that supports high availability and commercial performance.
• Develop a first‑of‑a‑kind maintenance approach for both the spherical tokamak and balance of plant.
• Establish the maintainability case, ensuring targets for availability, outage duration and lifecycle performance are achievable.
• Embed design‑for‑maintainability principles (access, modularisation, remote handling) into the evolving plant design.
• Communicate maintenance strategy, risks and trade‑offs clearly to stakeholders and leadership.

• Lead a cross‑programme approach to embedding maintainability into plant and system design.
• Work closely with engineering, tokamak and plant teams to shape design decisions early.
• Ensure maintenance considerations influence layout, segmentation, component design and operating concepts.
• Promote a strong, shared mindset of design‑for‑maintainability across teams and partners.

• Identify and manage risks linked to first‑of‑a‑kind maintenance challenges.
• Define and deliver a roadmap for maintenance technologies, including remote handling, tooling and processes.
• Shape and prioritise R&D programmes with partners to mature key capabilities.
• Bring in global best practice from nuclear and remote maintenance environments.
• Drive innovation to solve the…