Summary
Job Description for Principal Reactor Physicist:
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.
As the national laboratory for nuclear fission in the UK, we are harnessing nuclear science to solve some of the world's biggest challenges. The most important asset for our future success is our people, it is their skills, knowledge and enthusiasm that drives our work and fuels our purpose.
Whether it is accelerating a UK demonstration programme for Advanced Modular Reactors or delivering our first sustainable supply of medical radioisotopes since the 1960s, NNL will be at the forefront of game-changing advances that will help to transform people's lives, now and in the future.
A vacancy has arisen in the Nuclear and Reactor Physics team for an experienced, high calibre reactor physicist with a particular interest in undertaking and leading applied nuclear and reactor physics projects on behalf of our customers in Advanced Nuclear Technology (ANT) and current generation reactor technology. There is the opportunity for the successful applicant to lead projects multi-discipline projects. The role will also support and provide leadership in our Core Science Themes such as Reactor Technology as well as NNL Focus areas (Security & Non-proliferation and Clean Energy).
The role has responsibility for technical leadership of nuclear new build and advanced reactor physics capabilities involving technologies such as (but not limited to):
- High Temperature Gas Reactors (HTGR)
- Small Modular Reactors (SMR)
- Molten Salt Reactors (MSR)
- Research reactors and micro reactors
- Space reactor technology
The role holder will not be expected to have experience and knowledge of all of these reactor types, however sufficient relevant knowledge and experience will be required to lead technical projects or research that related to them. The role holder will work with Account Directors and Project Managers to identify, capitalise on and lead opportunities in relevant areas.
The job holder will ideally be able to demonstrate expertise and experience from the areas of core neutronics, thermal hydraulics, whole-plant assessments of nuclear plants in normal operation, frequent faults, infrequent faults and design basis faults and safety justification. The role holder is expected to have expert working practitioner experience in core neutronics or thermal hydraulics, but previous experience in any of the other areas would also be valuable.
The role holder will work closely with junior staff (or colleagues), focussing in particular on the skills and capability development of junior staff or colleagues in relevant areas of expertise. The role also has accountability for the development, delivery and deployment of software relevant to the capability where required.
The successful applicant will be required to gain SC Clearance. Location is flexible, although attendance at an NNL site will be required as deemed by work requirements specified by the line manager.
Main Responsibilities for Principal Reactor Physicist:
- Initiating and leading significant national / international customer, Science and Technology (S&T) programmes related to reactor physics, reactor technology or related disciplines.
- Perform the duties of a cross discipline technical lead and subject matter expert on projects in the area of reactor physics or fields related to the role.
- Supporting the development and progression of the capability strategy for reactor physics.
- Lead and deliver on customer projects to time, in budget, and to required environmental, health, safety, security and quality (EHSS&Q) standards.
- Delivery of technical work to a high quality including authoring, checking and approval of technical calculations, documents and presenting work performed to customers, at international conferences, or project meetings.
- Carrying out neutronics or reactor physics calculations using recognised code packages and in-house codes where required.
- Providing technical guidance to team members to support skills and capability development in reactor physics through the verifying of reactor physics assessments and knowledge transfer.
- Leading in building and maintaining strong collaborative links within NNL and with partner/ client organisations nationally and internationally (including universities, international nuclear laboratories and international nuclear research centres and supply chain partners), providing expert, authoritative advice.
- Representing NNL & UK, contributing to, influencing and leading where appropriate, national and international working or expert groups, maximising the benefit for NNL.
- Support the Capability Manager, Customer Workstream Leads and Account Directors on promotion of NNL and its work (including writing articles for scientific journals, trade magazines and NNL corporate publications, producing conference papers, and preparing presentations).
- Be actively involved in NNL improvement projects / initiatives (e.g. EHSS&Q objectives, ED&I, Knowledge Management).
Essential Criteria for Principal Reactor Physicist:
- Relevant scientific, mathematics or engineering degree combined with significant experience in the nuclear industry.
- Comprehensive knowledge of Gen IV Reactors and Advanced Nuclear Technologies (ANT) and demonstrated expertise in applying neutronics and reactor physics concepts to the analysis of problems.
- Ability to demonstrate Technical leadership including:
- Technical oversight of projects or programmes to customer requirements related to area of expertise.
- Work package scoping and delivery of significant and technical programmes and projects.
- Technical development of scientists and engineers.
- Demonstrable evidence of providing technical advice to customers in the area of reactor physics.
- Significant practical experience in using nuclear codes such as:
- Neutronics Codes - (e.g. SERPENT, CASMO/SIMULATE, WIMS, PANTHER, SCALE).
- Particle Transport Codes - (e.g. MCNP, GEANT4, OpenMC).
- Demonstrated positive attitude towards Health & Safety, Security, Environment, and Quality requirements.
- Proven ability to understand and influence key stakeholders and shape and drive the agenda.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively across different sectors with diverse external stakeholders including Universities.
- Professional membership / Chartered Physicist, Engineer or Scientist or actively working towards Chartership.
- 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 Principal Reactor Physicist:
- Relevant PhD or post graduate MSc degree in nuclear physics, reactor physics or nuclear engineering or equivalent desirable.
- Experience of using UNIX / LINUX operating systems.
- Knowledge of programming (C++, Python and / or Fortran or other relevant languages).
- Knowledge and experience in using some codes such as:
- Thermal-hydraulics Codes- (e.g. COBRA, RELAP, TRACE, OpenFoam, StarCCM, or comparable and equivalent).
- Whole-plant modelling of normal operation, frequent faults, infrequent faults, Design Basis faults.
- Severe Accidents & Fault studies - (e.g. Fault tree, MAAP, Melcore or comparable and equivalent).
- Knowledge and experience of safety case justification.
Why join us?
NNL isn't just a place where you can do career-defining work that makes a real-world impact. It's also a place where you'll feel appreciated and valued. We're creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is free to be themselves and feel like they belong. We put your wellbeing first, we push you to reach your potential, and we do everything possible to help you feel safe, supported and inspired.
We also offer a range of employee benefits:
- Sector leading Family-Focused Policies: celebrate life events, including enhanced maternity and paternity leave and a week off for your marriage.
- NNL offers attractive pension plans. If you contribute 5%, NNL contributes 15%. Alternatively, if you choose not to contribute (0%), NNL will still contribute 10%.
- Annual Leave: Benefit from 25.5 days of leave, plus 4 extra days to be taken during Christmas shutdown, plus Bank Holidays.
- Reduced gym membership with discounts of up to 25% from 3,700 gym and leisure providers across the UK
- Company Bonus: Be rewarded for your contributions.
- Learning Opportunities: Enhance your skills through excellent development programmes.
- Employee Assistance: Access support for personal and professional challenges.
- Cycle to Work: Stay active and eco-friendly.
- Life Assurance: Ensure peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
- Enhanced Sick Pay Benefits: Receive support during illness or injury.
- Access to 'Mydiscounts' which has a range of special offers and discounts from more than 200 suppliers, including medical insurance and dental insurance.
- Health Care: Health savings plan which allows you to claim money back on visits to the dentist, optician and/or physiotherapist (limits apply).
About The Company
NNL is an incredible place to work. A place where people do things that have never been done before. A place where people push boundaries to further themselves, the business and society as a whole.
This is a place where personal and professional opportunities are limitless. If you want to change the world, if you want to tackle climate change, if you want to help advance medical science, if you want to help put things in space, if you want to answer the big questions, if you want to work with extraordinary materials, if you want to meet great people, learn new skills, challenge yourself, work flexibly, and build a long successful career with the power to make a real impact… you can do it all here.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
NNL has a vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (ED&I) where NNL aims to be an inclusive workplace that attracts diverse talent through transparent and equal policies and procedures, providing reasonable adjustments as appropriate. We want you and the diverse mix of people that we employ, customers that we service and stakeholders that we influence to feel valued. We encourage a workplace culture where everyone can thrive with a sense of belonging and the ability to access to workplace in a way which works for you.
Recruitment Agency Notice
We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List (PSL) for the provision of recruitment services. Only agencies on our PSL may provide CVs and only when the role is released to them by our recruitment team. We will not accept unsolicited CVs from suppliers not currently on our PSL. We explicitly reserve the right to add candidate details from unsolicited CVs from non-PSL agencies into our own candidate database and to pursue/hire such candidate(s) without any obligation, financial or otherwise, to the agency concerned.
