Civil Manager

Company Description

STEP Fusion

UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) Ltd, a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), is at the forefront of developing fusion sustainable energy. Through the design and delivery of the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme we aim to build a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040.

UKFE will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year.

Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week
, however, we actively support requests for Flexible Working.

Salary: £73,190 plus a Specialist Allowance which is non-contractual and non-pensionable, plus excellent benefits including outstanding pension.

Closing date to apply for this position: 8th July 2026.

Location:

West Burton, Nottinghamshire.

• 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.
• 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 equality and being fully inclusive.

We are seeking an exceptional Civil Manager to play a pivotal role in delivering the STEP Prototype Fusion Powerplant – one of the most ambitious and transformative engineering programmes in the world.

This is a rare opportunity to contribute to pioneering fusion technology with the potential to transform the UK economy and redefine the future of global energy.

As Civil Manager, you will work alongside the STEP Chief Architect Engineer and senior leadership team to lead the civil engineering design of the programme.

You will define and govern the strategy, technical requirements, and architectural integration of all civil engineering, infrastructure, facilities, and enabling works supporting a £10bn capital asset portfolio.

Operating within the client’s Design Authority, you will hold delegated technical authority for civil engineering decisions, ensuring design integrity, managing risk, and guiding delivery across a complex, first‑of‑a‑kind environment.

• Set & Drive Civil Design Vision
• Define and own the civil engineering strategy, design basis, and integration vision across all facilities and infrastructure
• Establish programme level objectives and architectural principles for a safe, sustainable, and constructable prototype
• Provide clear direction to ensure alignment with long‑term programme goals
• Ensure Integration & Design Integrity
• Resolve cross‑disciplinary conflicts and manage trade‑offs across engineering interfaces
• Develop strategies to address design gaps and varying levels of technical maturity
• Establish governance, standards, and assurance frameworks for civil design
• Manage impacts of design decisions on cost, schedule, constructability, and long‑term performance
• Own Technical Risk & Safety
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical risks in a high‑consequence environment
• Ensure designs balance safety, regulatory compliance, reliability, and performance
• Uphold the highest safety standards across all design and delivery stages
• Define Early Design Concepts
• Lead early stage concept development in areas of low maturity
• Translate emerging ideas into structured requirements and viable design direction
• Shape the foundation of the plant’s long‑term evolution
• Lead Cross‑Disciplinary Collaboration
• Drive integrated decision‑making across engineering disciplines and partners
• Align diverse teams around a unified plant design strategy
• Ensure coherence across systems, infrastructure, materials, and operations
• Ensure Compliance & Scalability
• Ensure designs meet all regulatory, statutory, and industry requirements
• Enable future scalability, operability, and lifecycle performance
• Support future commercial deployment pathways
• Strengthen Organisational Effectiveness
• Provide technical leadership…