Irradiated Fuel Analyst

Job Introduction

Job Description for Irradiated Fuel Analyst:

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 no prior knowledge of the subject area, who is keen to apply their current skills and know-how to developing technical knowledge in 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.

Our technical programmes are undertaken in high-active and non-active facilities at NNL including hot cells at Windscale where a range of experiments are performed on irradiated nuclear fuel. Opportunities will also include work in active and non-active laboratories at Central Laboratory, and non-active development facilities at Workington. The job holder will be required to comply with statutory nuclear and conventional safety and quality requirements.

Main Responsibilities for Irradiated Fuel Analyst:

• 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
• Complete technical tasks associated with work programmes on irradiated fuel, within an integrated team including modellers, experimental scientists and engineers.
• Produce accurate records of work carried out including writing technical reports and external peer reviewed publications
• Support technical leads and subject matter experts in NNL to develop experimental programmes, working in compliance with NNL processes and procedures with duties including:
  • Interpret analytical data to characterise spent fuel.
  • Perform experimental work within the agreed procedures.
  • Work with design engineers and other scientists to develop experimental equipment and procedures.
  • Maintain accurate records, reporting results to a high level of quality.
  • Contribute to the improvement of working practices.
  • Support communications with the customer and other stakeholders in order to develop the requirements of the work.
• Support delivery to 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.
• Maintain professional membership via an established UK institution with a plan to become a Chartered Scientist or Engineer.

Essential Criteria for Irradiated Fuel Analyst:

• A degree in a field relevant to the subject area of the role.
• Demonstrated experience of applying skills relevant to the role.
• An aptitude for problem solving and demonstrated experience of experimental work.
• Ability to write high quality technical reports.
• Experience of delivering to customers.
• Ability to work to high standards of quality and safety.
• Proven ability to process, analyse and present complex data.
• Demonstration of a positive attitude to safety, security and other EHSS&Q requirements. 
• Ability to work well, in a multidisciplinary team environment, as well as independently.
• 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 Analyst:

• An advanced degree in a relevant discipline.

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. 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.

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.

National Nuclear Laboratory