Question 1

What does the Senior Systems Engineer role at UK Fusion Energy involve?

Accepted Answer

The Senior Systems Engineer at UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) takes technical ownership of systems engineering work packages within the STEP programme, operating as a technical authority from requirements definition through to design integration and risk management. The role combines delivery leadership — including resource allocation and budget accountability — with hands-on systems engineering across the full plant lifecycle. The engineer will also mentor junior colleagues and shape systems engineering policy and processes within the UKFE Design Authority.

Question 2

What is the STEP programme and what is it trying to achieve?

Accepted Answer

STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UK's government-backed programme to design and build a prototype fusion power plant, targeting first operations around 2040. Delivered by UK Fusion Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), STEP aims to demonstrate commercially viable fusion energy using a compact spherical tokamak configuration. The programme is sited at West Burton in Nottinghamshire and is expected to catalyse a global fusion supply chain estimated at £7 trillion per year in long-term sector value.

Question 3

What is UK Fusion Energy and how does it relate to the UKAEA?

Accepted Answer

UK Fusion Energy Ltd (UKFE) is a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), established to lead delivery of the STEP programme. UKAEA is the UK's national fusion research organisation, with decades of tokamak operation experience at Culham in Oxfordshire, including the JET and MAST-Upgrade devices. UKFE acts as the programme delivery authority for STEP, collaborating with industrial partners and building the engineering and supply chain capability needed to construct a prototype fusion plant.

Question 4

What is the salary for the Senior Systems Engineer role at UKFE?

Accepted Answer

The published salary for the Senior Systems Engineer position at UK Fusion Energy is £58,320 per year, plus a non-contractual specialist allowance of £6,500. The package also includes an outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, a corporate bonus scheme of up to 7%, a relocation allowance where eligible, 25 days annual leave plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days in addition to UK bank holidays, and a range of flexible working and career development benefits.

Question 5

What qualifications and experience are required for this role?

Accepted Answer

UK Fusion Energy requires a relevant degree in a recognised STEM subject and professional registration as a Chartered Engineer with a recognised institution such as IfSE, IET, or IMechE. Candidates must have extensive practical knowledge of systems engineering applied across a complex programme, proven experience managing delivery through teams, and demonstrated technical authority over systems engineering deliverables. Experience coaching and mentoring junior engineers and the ability to influence diverse stakeholders are also essential.

Question 6

What level is the Senior Systems Engineer position and what does it lead?

Accepted Answer

This is a senior-level individual contributor and technical lead role within the UKFE Design Authority. The Senior Systems Engineer carries work-package-level delivery ownership — including budget and resource accountability — and acts as the technical authority for their scope, but does not carry direct line management responsibility for a team. The role provides coaching and mentoring to junior engineers and contributes to shaping systems engineering policy across the wider STEP programme.

Question 7

Where is the role based and what is the working pattern?

Accepted Answer

The Senior Systems Engineer role is based at UK Fusion Energy's site at West Burton Power Station in Nottinghamshire. The position operates on a hybrid basis, with onsite working expected for three days each week. UKFE actively supports flexible working requests, and the role is full time. The closing date for applications is June 23, 2026.

Question 8

Why is systems engineering particularly challenging on a programme like STEP?

Accepted Answer

STEP is one of the most technically complex infrastructure programmes in the UK, requiring the integration of plasma physics, superconducting magnets, tritium fuel systems, structural engineering, control systems, and power electronics into a coherent whole-plant design — many of which have never been integrated at this scale before. Systems engineering on STEP must manage thousands of interdependencies between novel subsystems developed by diverse industrial and academic partners, while maintaining requirements traceability across a decades-long delivery lifecycle. The absence of a directly comparable precedent means that the systems engineering function must also help define the processes and standards that the programme itself will follow.

Question 9

What disciplines and teams does the Senior Systems Engineer collaborate with?

Accepted Answer

The Senior Systems Engineer at UKFE operates across a broad multidisciplinary scope, collaborating with engineering teams covering plasma physics, magnet design, structural engineering, power systems, tritium and fuel cycle, and balance-of-plant. The role also interfaces with industrial partners, academic institutions, and programme management functions, and works within the Design Authority to integrate transversal requirements across these disciplines. Candidates with experience in model-based systems engineering tools — particularly Cameo Systems Modeler and the Dassault Systèmes 3DExperience platform — will be well placed to support the programme's digital engineering approach.

Question 10

How can I apply for the Senior Systems Engineer role at UK Fusion Energy?

Accepted Answer

The role is listed on Fusion Future at https://fusion-future.com/jobs/jobs-ukfe-senior-systems-engineer, where you can follow the direct link to the UKFE application portal. The closing date for applications is June 23, 2026. This role requires completion of an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal convictions check. Applicants who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years should review the UK Government's overseas criminal records check guidance before applying.

Senior Systems Engineer

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