We are looking for an experienced and innovative Environmental Testing & Degradation Mitigation (ETDM) Manager to lead a high-profile environmental qualification and degradation mitigation programme valued at approximately £6 million over three years. This strategic leadership role will play a pivotal part in ensuring that materials, components and systems can withstand the demanding environments encountered within a fusion power plant.
Working closely with the Fusion Partner (UKAEA), universities, research organisations and industrial partners, you will drive the generation of the environmental performance evidence needed to support design substantiation, regulatory compliance, inspection and maintenance strategies, and long-term plant reliability.
The Opportunity
As the recognised subject matter expert for environmental durability and degradation risks, you will sit at the intersection of materials science, reliability engineering, systems engineering and experimental validation.
You will lead multidisciplinary teams to develop environmental testing programmes, identify degradation mechanisms, assess risks to plant performance, and implement mitigation strategies that support the successful delivery of the STEP Prototype Plant and future commercial fusion facilities.
This role focuses on non-irradiated environmental degradation and qualification, working in close partnership with irradiation science and materials modelling teams to ensure a joined-up approach to materials qualification.
Key Responsibilities
Environmental Testing Strategy & Programme Leadership
- Develop and own the environmental testing and degradation qualification strategy for critical STEP systems, materials and components.
- Define testing roadmaps aligned with product development milestones, design maturity and regulatory requirements.
- Lead the planning, prioritisation and execution of component and system-level environmental test campaigns.
- Work closely with the Design Authority to ensure evidence generation supports key engineering and qualification decisions.
Degradation Assessment & Mitigation
- Lead investigations into degradation and failure mechanisms including:
- Thermal fatigue and ratcheting
- Creep and creep-fatigue interaction
- Embrittlement
- Corrosion, oxidation and stress corrosion cracking
- Erosion and sputtering
- Hydrogen and tritium-related effects
- Electrical insulation ageing and breakdown
- Seal, coating and joining degradation
- Develop practical mitigation strategies through:
- Material selection and qualification
- Surface engineering and coatings
- Design improvements
- Environmental controls
- Inspection, maintenance and replacement planning
- Ensure test findings are translated into design requirements, materials databases and lifecycle models.
Programme Delivery & Resource Management
- Develop and maintain a long-term ETDM strategy aligned with programme objectives, timescales and funding profiles.
- Manage programme budgets and forecasts, ensuring delivery against technical, schedule and cost targets.
- Provide robust justification for future investment and resource requirements.
- Ensure all activities remain focused on supporting STEP materials qualification and design substantiation objectives.
Innovation & Economic Impact
- Foster a culture of technical excellence and innovation.
- Identify opportunities to apply novel qualification approaches beyond the fusion sector.
- Promote effective management of intellectual property, inventions and patents.
- Encourage publication and dissemination of research where appropriate.
Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting
- Build strong communication pathways across the STEP programme and wider stakeholder community.
- Present technical progress and strategic updates to senior leadership and programme boards.
- Contribute to technical reviews, advisory groups, business planning activities and government reporting.
- Represent the programme at conferences, industry forums and technical collaborations.
Leadership
- Create an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing team culture.
- Provide leadership across multidisciplinary technical teams and external partnerships.
- Champion organisational values and act as a role model for professional excellence.
- Make sound, risk-informed decisions that support programme success.
About You
We are seeking a recognised technical leader with a strong track record in environmental qualification, materials degradation, reliability engineering or a related discipline.
You will bring:
- Degree qualification in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry or a related field (PhD desirable).
- Significant experience leading complex R&D, testing or qualification programmes within highly regulated or safety-critical industries.
- Strong understanding of material degradation mechanisms and lifetime assessment methodologies.
- Experience developing and delivering environmental testing strategies and qualification programmes.
- Expertise in one or more sectors such as fusion, nuclear, aerospace, energy, oil & gas, defence or advanced manufacturing.
- Proven ability to influence technical direction and support engineering decision-making.
- Experience managing multidisciplinary teams, budgets and external collaborations.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Desirable Experience
- Knowledge of fusion energy systems and extreme operating environments.
- Familiarity with high heat flux systems, vacuum environments, cryogenic systems, corrosive coolants or tritium-related challenges.
- Experience supporting design reviews, FMEA/FMECA activities and safety assessments.
- Understanding of irradiation-assisted degradation and materials modelling approaches.
- Track record of publishing technical research, securing patents or managing intellectual property.
Why Join Us?
This is a rare opportunity to influence one of the most ambitious engineering programmes in the world. You’ll help solve some of the toughest materials and reliability challenges in fusion energy while working alongside leading experts from industry, academia and government.
Join us and help deliver the technologies that could power a sustainable future.
