Internal Vacancies

The salary range for this position is £49,675 to £51,526 (Grade 4B).

If you have any queries regarding the position itself please contact Stephanie Campbell.

Please be aware that all new appointments will be made in-line with the PLC ‘New’ terms & conditions. Therefore, if you are not already on PLC ‘New’ terms & conditions and you are selected and accept this role, there will be changes made to your contractual terms. The terms and conditions of the role will be made clear in the offer letter. 

If you have any queries about the impact of applying for this role on your terms & conditions, pay, pension or benefits, please contact the HR Support Team.

Job Description for Irradiated Fuel Scientist:

NNL is where your understanding of reactors fuels the nation. As part of our Fuel Reactor & Reprocessing capability, you’ll play a vital role in developing the UK fuel cycle in line with advances in new technology and new processes. As old reactors reach the end of their lifespan, we need experts like you, with the technical skills to virtually model scenarios that not only enable us to explore new ways of managing the inputs and outputs of reactors, but also pave the way for the implementation of smaller, cleaner revolutionary new reactors. This is a place where you can use your knowledge and expertise to do long term meaningful work for years to come.

The Fuel Performance and Storage team is concerned with understanding the properties and behaviour of nuclear fuel. The team applies and coordinates expertise in the physical, chemical, nuclear and metallurgical properties of fuel in order to ensure safe and efficient irradiation, handling and disposal.

This job makes a direct contribution to sustainable nuclear power generation, supporting the UK’s objective for clean and secure energy production. The team’s work assures the safe and efficient operation of nuclear fuel in addition to providing the technical underpinning for long-term management and disposal of irradiated fuel after discharge from reactors. 

The position is suitable for a scientist or engineer with relevant experience for the subject area, including knowledge of the properties of irradiated fuel. The successful candidate will work as part of a team of technical specialists and national experts, investigating fuel properties, developing fuel examination methods and applying irradiated fuel performance knowledge to a wide range of challenges. The role is primarily concerned with performing work associated with ensuring the safe handling, storage and ultimate disposal of irradiated fuel.

Working with the technical lead for the area, the position supports the technical leadership of spent fuel studies at NNL, which includes the provision of specialist technical knowledge related to the evaluation of irradiated fuel properties, advising internal and external stakeholders. 

The role supports the leadership of a wide range of technical programmes undertaken in active and non-active facilities at NNL including hot cells at Windscale, active and non-active laboratories at Central Laboratory, and non-active development facilities at Workington. The role includes the technical co-ordination and delivery of tasks within the spent fuel and PIE area to agreed time, cost and quality requirements.

Training will be provided to develop as a task supervisor, providing safety supervision of work undertaken in development of equipment for examining irradiated fuel. 

Main Responsibilities for Irradiated Fuel Scientist:

• To carry out designated work packages to standards of safety, cost, quality and time adhering to NNL’s values and behaviours and maintain a high nuclear professionalism standard.
• Following appropriate training and experience, responsible for the safety supervision of work (task supervisor).
• As a subject matter specialist, conduct technical tasks associated with work programmes on irradiated fuel, within an integrated team including modellers, experimental scientists and engineers.
• As a project deputy technical lead, develop experimental programmes working in compliance with NNL processes and procedures with duties including:
  • Manage the analysis of analytical data produced to characterise spent fuel.
  • Leadership of self-contained packages of work, with guidance from the Technical Lead for a programme.
  • Technical supervision of experimental work within the agreed procedures.
  • Manage accurate records, reporting results to a high level of quality.
  • Contribute to the improvement of working practices.
  • Communicate with the customer and other stakeholders in order to develop the requirements of the work.
  • Maintain a good level of awareness of developments in the subject area.
• Take a leading role in science programmes as part of NNLs internal science & technology programmes related to irradiated fuel examination. 
• Identify opportunities for innovation, technology development and / or customer service.
• Professional membership via an established UK institution or a plan to become a Chartered Scientist or Engineer.

Essential Criteria for Irradiated Fuel Scientist:

• Advanced Degree in science-based discipline, or relevant equivalent experience.
• Experience with techniques used for examining irradiated fuel – or comparable inspection techniques used elsewhere. Alternatively, candidates should be able to demonstrate a significant interest and aptitude for developing understanding of such techniques. 
• A good awareness of characteristics of irradiated fuel and / or significant interest in developing this. understanding further based on demonstrated aptitude.
• A track record of innovation and improvement in a technical area.
• Demonstrated evidence of applying academically acquired knowledge in practical applications.
• Excellent data-taking / analysis skills, aptitude for experimental work.
• Demonstrated positive attitude to safety, security and other EHSS&Q requirements.
• A demonstrated enthusiasm for upholding high safety and technical quality standards. 
• Excellent communication and team working skills.
• Positive attitude to learning / development.
• Ability to work in collaboration with others, developing ideas that have been proposed by others within the team, whilst providing technical leadership.
• A pro-active and flexible approach to delivery in making sure that requirements and expectations are met.
• Ability to obtain SC level security clearance (this includes but is not limited to identity, employment, financial and criminal record checks plus 5 years’ worth of UK residency).

Desirable Criteria for Irradiated Fuel Scientist:

• Prior experience of techniques applicable to examination of irradiated fuel (in-cave or underwater).
• Understanding of irradiated fuel properties.