HPC Computational Engineer
UKAEA Culham or Rotherham or Cumbria, United Kingdom, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Full-time
Department: Advanced Computing
Salary: £36,397 to £52,293 (inclusive of MPP) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
Confirmed Grade: Level 4 / Level 5
Site Location: UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire or Rotherham, Yorkshire

Company Description

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.

Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and Stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA are at the forefront of realising energy from fusion, working with industry and research partners to deliver the ground-breaking developments that will underpin tomorrow's fusion power stations with the aim of bringing fusion electricity to the grid.

As we work towards our mission and goals, UKAEA has devised values (Innovative, Committed, Trusted and Collaborative) that capture the spirit of how we work.

Job Description

Who are we looking for?

As an HPC Computational Engineer you will develop software solutions to address complex modelling challenges in the engineering of fusion reactors. You will interface with problem owners and through co-design you will create solutions which embrace scalability at its core. Your work will directly impact our ability to perform complex calculations at scale.

Please note that this role is split over two levels and the Level 4 offers a salary of £36,397 - £38,620 (inclusive of MPP) and the Level 5 offers a salary of £49,396 - £52,293 (inclusive of MPP). Your level will be assessed as part of the interview process.

What will you be responsible for?

As an HPC Computational Engineer you will support the work of the Advanced Engineering Simulation (AES) group. You will have some expertise in the numerical and practical aspects of software development for the development of tools for engineering applications (e.g. finite element, finite volume, iso-geometric analysis, Monte Carlo, discrete ordinates). In the role you will take ownership of particular tools or physics domains and support developments in the area of digital engineering.

This role will allow you to develop engineering (and physics) software, with a focus on performance and scalability. You will interface with engineers and scientists working on particular problems, and through co-design come to efficacious solutions to problems.

Key areas of responsibility will include:

Level 4

- Support the migration of codes to new computing architectures
- Perform detailed code analysis including performance evaluation (e.g. roofline analysis)
- Support users in containerisation of their codes
- Contribute to development of performant and highly scalable engineering codes

Level 5

- Lead small teams of 4-6 people (L5)
- Help develop and support a MBSE approach with state of the art PLM systems, and design digital twins for existing and forthcoming devices
- Perform your own research into novel numerical techniques with applicability within the fusion community and beyond
- Project reporting and ensuring project milestones are met in a timely manner and within budget
- Actively seek out new research and funding opportunities

Additional Information:

LOCATION

UKAEA Culham or Rotherham or Cumbria, United Kingdom

Qualifications

Essential Skills & Experience:

- At least a Masters degree in a computational, mathematical or physical science discipline or equivalent experience e.g. BSc/BEng + workplace experience
- Demonstrable experience of at least one compiled level language (e.g. C++, Fortran, C, Rust) or advanced scripting language (e.g. Julia, R, Python, Swift Parallel Scripting)
- Good experience of the UNIX operating system, particularly the command line interface
- Knowledge of modern software engineering processes
- Ability to work within a diverse team, but willingness to take significant personal responsibility
- Demonstrable experience in numerical methods (e.g. linear algebra, von Neuman stability analysis)
- Demonstrable experience of implementing numerical algorithms, e.g. in software libraries or as standalone code
- Knowledge of parallel programming techniques - such as MPI, openMPI
- Experience in the use of code profiling and optimisation tools on UNIX platforms

Level 5

- Ability to work within a diverse team, but willingness to take significant personal responsibility
- Experience in leading a team either as project or technical manager

Desirable Skills & Experience:

- Knowledge of parallel programming techniques - such as MPI, openMPI
- Experience in the use of code profiling and optimisation tools on UNIX platforms
- Demonstrable experience in one or more relevant computational engineering fields (e.g. CFD, FE methods, computational electromagnetics)
- Knowledge of OpenMP, MPI and/or Monte Carlo techniques
- Experience in the use of data visualisation
- Experience in the use of debugging and code optimisation tools on UNIX platforms

Level 5

- Familiarity with and experience in the use of either or both commercial (e.g. ANSYS, CATIA) or open (e.g MOOSE, GMSH) software packages supporting engineering design
- An interest and knowledge of Uncertainty Quantification and its impact on design solutions

Additional Information

What we offer

Our comprehensive benefits package includes a vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive, an Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, Flexible working options including family friendly policies, Emergency paid leave, Generous annual leave allowance (30.5 days) increased with length of service, wide range of career development opportunities, outstanding defined benefit pension scheme; Corporate bonus scheme and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly from individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, including nationality and citizenship, people with disabilities and women. The Executive Team with support from our ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, is actively promoting EDI and taking steps to increase the diversity of our people through reinforcing best practice in recruitment and selection, and revaluating approaches where it is clear we can remove barriers to success.

Please be advised that this vacancy is due to close on 17/12/2022. We may close earlier than this date if large or sufficient numbers of applications are received.

Please note all employees working at the UK Atomic Energy Authority will be required to complete an online Disclosure Certificate application as part of their clearance - The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks will show the details of all current criminal convictions or will confirm that there are no such convictions.

Note for applicants who are applying for employment with UKAEA either from outside the United Kingdom or who have spent time outside the United Kingdom in the last five years. Please visit the UK Government website. If the country you are resident in or have resided in is not listed on this website or that the UK Government is not aware of how to obtain a criminal records check from that state then we are unable to process your application.