Company Background

What if there was a limitless, safe, clean, low-cost energy source, providing much needed global energy security? What if that energy source could also help reduce climate change? We believe that’s fusion energy. Tokamak Energy is a leading global commercial fusion energy company based near Oxford, UK. We have an unrivalled track record designing and operating spherical tokamaks; the optimal route to commercial fusion energy.

In addition to fusion energy, Tokamak Energy is recognised as the leader in High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) magnet, design, numerical modelling, and prototyping. Our dedicated HTS magnet team, in collaboration with key manufacturing partners, is focussed on becoming the leading supplier of HTS magnets to multiple markets.

The company, founded in 2009 as a spin-off from the UK’s Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, currently employs a growing team of over 250 people with experts from the UK and around the world. It combines world leading scientific, engineering, industrial and commercial capabilities. The company has 70 families of patent applications and has raised $250 million, comprising $200m from private investors and $50m from the UK and US governments. Our US subsidiary, Tokamak Energy Inc, was established in 2019, and was recently selected to be part of the U.S Department of Energy milestone-based fusion development program, which was established to support private companies in bringing fusion energy to technical and commercial viability in the 2030s.

Come and be a part of a dynamic and innovative team who are striving to provide a solution to one of humanity’s greatest challenges: clean and sustainable energy for all.

Tokamak Energy are pleased to be offering opportunities through the UKAEA fusion industry summer placements for 8 weeks starting from June to early September 2024. To learn more about the programme, please visit: UKAEA Fusion Industry Programme.

About the opportunity: Active alignment and error correction for laser-based plasma diagnostics

Plasma diagnostics on fusion devices require precise and sensitive equipment to be fielded in incredibly harsh environments, suffering from strong magnetic fields, electromagnetic noise, vibrational instabilities, extreme temperatures, and extreme radiation fluxes. These issues will only be exacerbated on future, larger fusion machines, so actively corrected for their effects on plasma diagnostics is crucial.

This project involves developing alignment corrections for our laser-based diagnostics, which are used to measure the plasma density and its 100-million-degree temperature. The student will become familiar with laser beamline design, assembly, and characterisation. They will then use data acquisition, data analysis, electronics, and control software to develop the technology, and combine it with feedback techniques from control theory to correct for alignment errors. They will also develop their mechanical design knowledge to rapidly prototype and test equipment.

Requirements

• Studying for a Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. physics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering).
• Interest and knowledge within experimental physics and instrumentation.
• Comfortable writing and developing code in a scientific programming language (e.g. python, MATLAB, C++).
• Good communication skills with ability to work collaboratively with team members.
• Motivated and enthusiastic with the ability to work independently.
• Good initiative with the ability to solve problems.
• Good planning and organisation skills.

Before applying, please make sure you fill in the Fusion Industry Programme, UKAEA application form.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday pro-rata (plus bank holidays) per annum

No terminology in the advert or job description is intended to discriminate on the grounds of a person’s age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Every candidate will be assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and abilities to perform the duties of the job.

Important information for candidates

Pre-employment screening

Please note that the appointment of the successful candidate will be subject to standard pre-employment screening, as applicable to the post. This will include right-to-work, proof of identity and references.

Data privacy

Please note that any personal data submitted to Tokamak Energy as part of the job application process will be processed in accordance with the GDPR and related UK data protection legislation, for more information regarding GDPR please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation

Equality of opportunity

Entry into employment with the Tokamak Energy and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria which are related to the duties of each post and the relevant salary structure. In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration. No applicant or member of staff shall be discriminated against because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Working arrangements

Please note this role does offer hybrid working, our model sets out a minimum 60% onsite / 40% home working split.

Part time working or job share options will be reviewed on an individual basis.