Whole Plant Design Integration Manager

Are you an experienced engineering leader with a passion for systems thinking, technical integration, and solving complex engineering challenges? We are seeking a Whole Plant Design Integration Manager to play a critical role in delivering one of the world's most ambitious fusion energy programmes.

In this highly influential position, you will ensure that designs developed across multiple Integrated Programme Teams (IPTs) combine into a coherent, operable, maintainable and licensable power plant. Acting as the champion for whole-plant thinking, you will ensure that engineering decisions are made in the best interests of the overall programme, balancing performance, safety, cost, schedule and operational requirements.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of clean energy while working at the forefront of engineering innovation.

The Role

As the Whole Plant Design Integration Manager, you will provide technical leadership across the programme, driving integration, alignment and decision-making to ensure a viable and deliverable plant design.

You will lead a specialist team while collaborating with senior engineering stakeholders across multiple disciplines, influencing complex technical decisions and ensuring integrated solutions are achieved.

Your responsibilities will include:

Lead Whole Plant Design Integration

• Define and maintain the overall plant integration strategy.
• Establish plant-wide design principles and integration objectives.
• Ensure engineering activities align with programme requirements and governance.
• Provide independent technical recommendations to support key design decisions.

Drive Technical Integration and Design Coherence

• Resolve cross-disciplinary engineering challenges and competing design solutions.
• Develop and improve integration processes, standards and working practices.
• Own plant-level spatial integration, including layout, clash management and infrastructure interfaces.
• Ensure technical baselines remain consistent, traceable and aligned.

Facilitate Integrated Decision-Making

• Chair technical forums and lead evidence-based decision-making.
• Balance competing priorities across engineering, operations, safety and programme delivery.
• Build consensus across teams and provide clear recommendations where trade-offs are required.
• Escalate key decisions and risks with clarity and confidence.

Manage Plant-Level Risks and Emerging Challenges

• Identify integration risks, technical uncertainties and system interactions.
• Assess emergent behaviours arising from complex plant interfaces.
• Ensure assumptions, dependencies and technical debt are effectively managed.
• Support informed decision-making before major design commitments are made.

Safeguard Technical Integrity Through Change

• Evaluate the whole-plant impact of design and configuration changes.
• Maintain alignment between approved baselines and evolving designs.
• Protect design intent while supporting programme evolution and innovation.

About You

We're looking for a strategic engineering leader with the ability to see the bigger picture while navigating complex technical detail.

You will bring:

• Significant experience leading complex, multidisciplinary engineering programmes.
• Strong systems engineering and integration expertise.
• A broad understanding of engineering disciplines, technologies and large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience managing technical interfaces, trade-offs and integration risks.
• The confidence to challenge constructively and influence senior stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and relationship-building skills.
• Sound engineering judgement and a commitment to technical excellence.

Experience within highly regulated industries such as nuclear, fusion, aerospace, defence, energy or major infrastructure programmes would be advantageous.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to work on a globally significant programme developing next-generation fusion energy technology. You'll work alongside world-class engineers and scientists, helping deliver a pioneering project that has the potential to transform the future of sustainable energy.

If you're motivated by solving complex engineering challenges and shaping innovative solutions on a programme of national importance, we'd love to hear from you.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Degree in engineering, physics or related discipline (or equivalent experience) and Chartered Engineer status (or equivalent).
• Experience delivering and integrating complex engineering systems within major capital projects, high-hazard or highly regulated environments. (e.g. Fusion, Nuclear, Aerospace, Defence etc.)
• Demonstrable experience of whole-plant design integration, multidisciplinary engineering and management of complex technical interfaces, including consideration of layout, operability, maintainability, constructability and commissioning.
• Proven ability to lead technical decision-making, manage engineering risks and opportunities, and apply systems-thinking across the full engineering lifecycle from requirements through to verification, validation and commissioning.
• Experience operating within engineering governance and assurance frameworks, with strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and communication skills across organisational boundaries.

Beneficial:

• Design Authority experience.
• Systems engineering methodologies and tools.
• Safety case, licensing or regulatory engagement.
• Remote maintenance, asset management or lifecycle engineering experience.
• Development of engineering standards, policies or integration frameworks.
• Track record of innovation and collaboration in complex engineering programmes.
• Professional network within fusion, nuclear or related high-integrity engineering sectors.

Additional Information

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

UKFE is committed to being accessible. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. Whilst not required at this time, there is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance, that clearance can be transferred to UKFE.

As we work towards our mission and goals, guided by our principles, STEP has six behaviours that are intended to capture the spirit of how we work: 

• We champion safety 
• We all matter 
• We act as one 
• We embrace change 
• We are pioneering 
• We deliver 

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.

 

Company Description

The UK Government has established UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) Ltd , a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the charge in delivering fusion energy through design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKFE is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing of the STEP prototype. 

Fusion energy, crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, is expected to be commercially viable by mid-century. The UK, led by UKFE, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Fusion Energy Ltd. will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. Join UKFE and the STEP programme to be involved in this ground breaking journey. 

As an employee of UKFE, you will benefit from: 

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert. 
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible). 
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment. 
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders,  
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• Wide range of career development opportunities 
• A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive 

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/  

The salary for this role is £73,190 plus a Specialist Allowance which is non-contractual and non-pensionable + excellent benefits including outstanding pension.

This position is based at West Burton, Nottinghamshire

For more information on UKFE, visit: https://careers.ukaea.uk/wp-content/uploads/download/UKIFS_CandidateRecruitmentPack.pdf 

The closing date for this advert is set for the 20th November 2026.