Criticality Scientist

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Job description

Join the UK's largest Criticality Group at AWE and develop your expertise!

We are currently looking to expand our team and seeking criticality scientists, with diverse skillsets, who are at all stages of their careers to join our dynamic team. We are proud to have such a friendly and supportive group to welcome individuals, at any stage of their career, to join our organisation, which offers excellent development opportunities for staff to progress.

Criticality Scientist

Location - Reading / Basingstoke area

Package - £33,300 - £65,000 (depending on your suitability and level of experience) + allowances

AWE (one of the best 25 big companies to work for in the UK) offers an attractive array of benefits which include:

• Market leading contributory pension scheme

• Generous holiday entitlement 270 hours a year (inclusive of Bank Holidays) plus every other Friday off

• Flexible working hours

• Salary sacrifice scheme

• Consideration for either full time or part time hours. Just let us know on your application if you wish to work part time

• Enhanced relocation package available (terms and conditions apply)

The role:

Key aspects of the role will be to provide an in-house criticality safety assessment capability in support of delivering the company's strategic objectives. This involves the delivery of criticality safety assessments during the design, operation and decommissioning phases of nuclear facilities, and in support of nuclear safety documentation as part of the Site Licence Conditions.

What will you be required to do?

• To deliver criticality safety assessments in line with the programme demand and the corporate management procedures to facilities, on time and in full

• Provide criticality support and advice to our technology centres

• Maintain and promote high personal standards in environment, safety, health, security and quality and be a great team player

• Conduct hazard/fault identification studies, articulate qualitative and quantitative criticality safety assessments and participate in the safety implementation process

• Liaise and establish strong working relationships with key stakeholders including technology centres, operational and project management, engineers and safety case teams

• Support external activities as part of the Critical Safety Authority Outreach and Science Programme i.e. deliver presentations to external conferences/symposia

• Directly Support Work with Nuclear Material and Safety Assessment Support in a nuclear baseline role

Whilst not to be considered a check list, candidates should be able to demonstrate some of the following:

• Honours Degree (or equivalent) in science, engineering or closely related discipline or equivalent level of experience

• An understanding of nuclear physics, physics of criticality, chemistry and metallurgy of fissile material

• Experience as a Practitioner able to demonstrate good engineering and scientific judgement with extensive experience in using fundamental engineering and scientific skills

• Knowledge of nuclear transport codes - Monte Carlo and deterministic methods e.g. MONK and MCNP

• An understanding of both the requirements of fissile operations within a highly regulated industry or Nuclear Licensed Site

• An understanding of the nuclear regulatory framework within the UK

• Familiarity with methodologies used in criticality safety and an overview of the different regulatory methods outside the UK

• Ability to articulate and communicate clearly and concisely technical programmes, problems and risks to internal and external stakeholders with non / technical backgrounds

All candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role.

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