Criticality Safety Assessor – Nuclear Physics

Job title:

Criticality Safety Assessor – Nuclear Physics

Company

Atomic Weapons Establishment

Job description

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?For nearly 70 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK’s ultimate deterrent – Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?Join AWE in the UK’s largest Criticality Safety Group to support safe nuclear operations in defence of the nation and develop your nuclear career!We are currently looking to expand our Criticality Safety Group and are seeking committed, talented people who want to work in the field of nuclear criticality science and safety. We welcome applications to join our dynamic team as Criticality Safety Assessors from people with diverse skillsets and backgrounds and who are at any stage of their career.Our goal is to grow our internationally recognised, highly capable, friendly, and supportive group to meet the increasing demands of a challenging programme of work in support of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.Location: Aldermaston, West Berkshire (RG7 4PR).We are located between Reading and Basingstoke, with onsite parking.Although flexible working is available, it is anticipated that successful candidates will spend the majority of their time working on site at AWE Aldermaston during their working hours. Flexibility with start and finish times is available and commonly used.Salary Packages:Junior Criticality Safety Assessor (university graduate or relevant nuclear safety/operations experience)£31,000 – £35,000 plus role related allowance(s) (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)Experienced Criticality Safety Assessor (PhD graduate or university graduates with some relevant experience or significant relevant nuclear safety/operations experience)£38,000 – £46,000 plus role related allowance(s) (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)Closing Date: 5th September 2024The Criticality Safety Assessor Role:As AWE’s Criticality Safety Group, our role is 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, which form a part of our nuclear safety documentation that satisfies our Nuclear Site Licence Conditions.The Criticality Safety Assessor role is multidisciplinary and involves the combination of a strong technical understanding of the nuclear physics of criticality with a working knowledge of writing safety assessments, as well as familiarity of, and interaction with, many other professional disciplines.A Criticality Safety Assessor applies nuclear physics knowledge and uses nuclear data to solve complex problems; uses Monte Carlo computer codes; and undertakes Hazard Identification and fault analysis to find out how a criticality could occur.Typical Criticality Safety Assessor Responsibilities:Deliver criticality safety assessments to facilities in line with the programme demand and our internal company procedures;Maintain and promote high personal standards in environment, safety, health, security and quality as well as professional conduct in-line with our core behaviours;Engage and collaborate with stakeholders from technology centres, operations, project management, engineers, and conventional safety case teams;Directly support work with nuclear material through criticality safety assessment support in a nuclear baseline role which is a key nuclear safety requirement.Training and development is provided to learn the skills required to become a competent Criticality Safety Assessor. This involves a mixture of training exercises and on-the-job training as well as visits to nuclear facilities on site.There are also many additional opportunities for staff to diversify their work including:Delivering criticality safety training courses to workers on site;Undertaking facility inspections to appraise operational performance against criticality safety good practice;Regular knowledge transfer activities and continuous professional development opportunities;Opportunities to specialise in support for specific technology centres.Who Are We Looking For?We will need you to have:Honours Degree (or equivalent) in science, mathematics, engineering or a closely related discipline or an equivalent level of work experience.Examples of being able to communicate technical problems, clearly and concisely, to stakeholders with technical/non-technical backgrounds.Desirable experience/skills (development in these areas provided through training for successful candidates):An understanding of relevant technical topics which include: nuclear physics, physics of criticality, mathematics, statistics, chemistry and metallurgy of fissile material;Experience of demonstrating good engineering and scientific judgement with experience in using fundamental engineering and scientific skills;Knowledge of particle transport codes – Monte Carlo and deterministic methods e.g. MONK and/or MCNP;An understanding of the requirements placed upon fissile operations within a highly regulated industry on a nuclear licensed site;An understanding of the nuclear regulatory framework within the UK and/or an overview of the different regulatory methods outside the UK;Familiarity with assessment and analysis methodologies used in the field of criticality safety.What will you get from us?AWE has a range of benefits to suit you. These include:9-day working fortnight – every other Friday off work.208 hours of annual leave plus Bank Holidays.A market leading contributory pension scheme – we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your own contribution.Life insurance of 4 x your annual salary.Consideration for flexible working arrangements so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle.Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave – 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave – 4 Weeks Full Pay.Opportunities for Professional Career Development that include funding for the annual membership of a relevant professional body, access to mentors and training.Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending savings.Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring for your family.Important things you need to know:You must be a British citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 10 years.Interviews will be 90 minutes in length and will be held over Microsoft Teams. You will be required to prepare a 10-minute presentation in advance.Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE.#LI-KTPlease note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.

Expected salary

Location

Aldermaston, Berkshire

Job date

Sat, 10 Aug 2024 06:26:41 GMT

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