Magnets Engineering Manager

Magnets Engineering Manager | Lead One of Fusion Energy's Greatest Engineering Challenges

Are you ready to help deliver one of the most ambitious energy projects in the world?

Fusion energy has the potential to provide safe, sustainable, low-carbon power for future generations. At the heart of the UK's STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme lies a mission to demonstrate the commercial viability of fusion power and create a prototype power plant capable of transforming the global energy landscape.

To achieve this ambition, we are seeking an exceptional Magnets Engineering Manager to lead the development of one of the most critical systems within the tokamak. The magnets that confine and control the superheated plasma are fundamental to the success of the plant and represent one of the most complex engineering challenges in modern science. STEP plans to utilise advanced High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) REBCO magnet technology with innovative demountable joints, enabling both the magnetic performance required for fusion and the maintainability needed for a commercial power plant.

This is a unique opportunity to lead the design, development, testing and maturation of some of the largest HTS magnets ever conceived while helping shape the future of fusion energy.

Reporting to the Head of Tokamak Machine, you will provide technical leadership for the STEP magnet systems, acting as the focal point for magnet engineering across the programme. You will lead integrated teams comprising UKFE and UKAEA specialists as well as external partners, suppliers, research organisations and industrial collaborators.

During the current programme phase, your focus will be on maturing the magnet design, driving technology demonstrations, reducing technical risk, and building confidence in the systems that will ultimately power the world's first prototype fusion power plant. As the programme evolves towards construction, your role will expand to include greater engagement with delivery partners, supply chain development and technical oversight of major contracts.

This role offers a rare combination of strategic leadership, cutting-edge technology development and practical engineering influence. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring magnet design decisions support the overall plant architecture while balancing technical performance, manufacturability, operability and long-term commercial viability.

As Magnets Engineering Manager, you will act as the delegated Technical Authority for STEP magnets, ensuring the overall adequacy, integrity and performance of one of the programme's most critical systems.

You will lead the development of magnet concepts and design solutions that support the evolving plant design, ensuring alignment with wider engineering systems and overall programme objectives. Working across organisational boundaries, you will provide direction and prioritisation to multidisciplinary engineering teams whilst driving technical excellence throughout the design lifecycle.

A key aspect of the role will be identifying and reducing the most significant technical risks. You will guide technology demonstration programmes, prototype developments and model coil activities designed to validate critical design assumptions and increase confidence in future deployment.

You will collaborate closely with specialists across plasma physics, power and cooling systems, prototype and testing functions, commercial teams and programme delivery organisations. Your ability to bring together diverse technical experts and create alignment around common objectives will be critical to programme success.

Beyond technical leadership, you will help develop the long-term capability required to deliver commercial fusion power. This includes growing and mentoring the magnet engineering team, supporting professional development, building organisational knowledge and fostering a culture that combines scientific innovation with practical engineering delivery.

You will also play a central role in developing the future fusion supply chain, working with global manufacturing leaders, research institutions and technology partners to establish the industrial capability needed to support future fusion deployment. Your work will have a direct impact not only on STEP but on the wider fusion industry and its future growth.

We're seeking an accomplished engineering leader with significant experience in the development, delivery or operation of superconducting magnet technologies and complex engineering systems.

You will bring a strong technical foundation, ideally supported by a degree in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline and professional recognition as a Chartered Engineer or equivalent. Most importantly, you will possess the leadership skills and technical credibility required to guide highly specialised multidisciplinary teams tackling some of the world's most demanding engineering…