Principal Scientist

Job Introduction

Job Description for Principal Scientist:

This is where your skills play a critical role in keeping everyone safe. Working in Safety, Security & Safeguards gives you the chance to make your mark on some hugely interesting projects. NNL does work that nobody else in the sector is doing, and this means we need experts like you to make it possible, whilst keeping everyone safe. We’re committed to using nuclear science to benefit society for years to come. This means that you can build a long and successful career here whilst playing a meaningful role in delivering cleaner energy, reducing waste and keeping colleagues and the public out of harm’s way.

The purpose of the role is to provide hands on technical leadership to help further develop the Thermal and Structural Modelling capability and provide strategic direction that will help support the future civil nuclear power industry.

Role Responsibility

Main Responsibilities for Principal Scientist:

• Understands and delivers NNL’s EHSS&Q and Assurance objectives.
• Develops a new customer base to help bring in new opportunities for the team.
• Supporting the Capability Manager in shaping the future strategic plans aligned to the rapidly developing UK Nuclear landscape.
• Support project teams through providing hands on technical leadership and direction to help successful delivery.
• Ensuring all projects comply with team’s robust Quality Assurance standards.
• Maintain and improve the skills plan for the capability and produce a strategic training plan in light of future opportunities.
• Manage their own workload and deliver high standards of technical work to time, cost and quality.
• Checking and authorising technical projects for the team.
• Mentoring and developing technical skills of younger members of the team.
• Strong academic links that can bridge the gap between research modelling tools and commercial tools.

The Ideal Candidate

Essential skills for Principal Scientist::

• M.Sc/Ph.D in Science, Mathematics or an Engineering subject.
• Demonstrable experience in technically leading teams whilst successfully delivering multiple projects within the nuclear industry or related transferrable industry.
• Technical breadth and depth of knowledge in the field of Structural Integrity (linear and non-linear static and dynamic assessments) and Heat Transfer.
• Experience with IAEA Transport Regulations.
• Expert in solving Finite Element problems using commercial modelling tools such as Ansys Mechanical, Ansys APDL and LS-Dyna.
• Expert in using programming tools such as Python, MATLAB and Mathcad.
• Experience of developing and delivering strategic training plans to enhance the capability function.
• Extensive experience in application of design code requirements to verify mechanical structures subject to finite element analysis.

Desirable skills for Principal Scientist::

• Experience with Fracture Mechanics, Life Assessment, Damage Tolerance Assessments, and Fitness for Service Assessments using R5, R6, BS7910 or API-579.
• Experience with specifying seismic design requirements and verification of seismic designs.
• Evidence of peer reviewing technical work in the area of Structural Integrity and Heat transfer.
• Evidence of external publications in high impact journals.
• Familiarity with RWM and GDF disposal criteria.
• SC cleared or ability to become so.

About the Company

Grounded in robust science and decades of experience, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is the authoritative voice in the UK and beyond for technological development within the nuclear power sector.

Our unparalleled understanding of the science, challenges and opportunities makes us an unrivalled authority and partner in the field, providing experts, technologies, and access to cutting-edge facilities to organisations around the world.

Harnessing potential technologies and translating them into to industry-ready solutions means our pioneering approach spearheads international improvement and technological progress.

We work on projects as small as drilling a hole to analyse underground wastes with our integrated micro drilling technology, or as large as developing state-of-the-art power systems for spacecraft, based on radioactive materials

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.

National Nuclear Laboratory