Be at the heart of actionFly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.

Apply Now

Plasma Diagnostician Physicist - Spectroscopy

Tokamak Energy
Abingdon
7 months ago
Applications closed

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.

 

Overview

Following our exciting $52 million upgrade programme for our ST40 spherical tokamak in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, we are looking to further grow the depth and breadth of our team.

This role will involve contributing to the design, research and development (R&D) and procurement activities of spectroscopy diagnostics and experimental data analysis. You will assist in design, operation, exploration and maintenance of spectroscopy instrumentation operating in a wide range of wavelengths (near-IR, visible, UV, VUV< X-ray) as well as other plasma diagnostic systems. Critically, you will ensure that these designs and operations will meet the functional, safety and quality requirements at all times while also meeting the requirements as specified by the project.

Responsibilities

  • Provide technical expertise for the R&D, specification, procurement, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of assigned diagnostic systems and work in close collaboration with teams supporting these efforts.
  • Provide technical expertise in designing and interfacing the instruments to data acquisition and other systems.
  • Ensure that regular calibrations and completed and updates of the data are available as needed for other systems such as data acquisition and plasma control systems.
  • Perform analysis of the experimental data delivered by diagnostics.
  • Manage contracts and resources allocated to spectroscopic diagnostics.

Requirements

Essential

  • Masters/PhD degree in physics or related field otherwise bachelor’s with experience.
  • Strong knowledge of spectroscopy.
  • Experience in design and development in experimental physics.
  • Experience in programming in MATLAB, Python or similar, including data analysis, interpretation and reporting
  • Ability to work on own initiative or as part of a multi disciplinary team.
  • Excellent planning and organisational skills, able to juggle multiple and conflicting priorities

Desirable

  • Electronics design.
  • High power experimental systems.
  • Optical ray tracing software (e.g. Zemax).
  • Fusion related technologies such as Ultra High Vacuum (UHV).
  • Analysis of plasma diagnostics data

Benefits

  • Salary dependent on skills and experience and will be discussed from the outset
  • 28 days (inclusive of festive break) holiday plus bank holidays
  • Eligible for discretionary performance related bonus
  • Share options scheme
  • Pension scheme
  • Financial benefits – including; group life insurance, critical illness, health cash plan and discount scheme 
  • Innovation and Merit bonuses
  • Investment in training and development to support career progression
  • Opportunity to work on and contribute to world class innovation

 

Hazard-specific / Safety-critical duties

  • Working with ionising radiation
  • Regular manual handling
  • Working with electricity (LV only, operators must prove competence prior to use)
  • Working with electricity (LV & HV, operators must prove competence prior to use)
  • Work with or in the vicinity of cryogenic fluids including liquid nitrogen
  • Working with or in the vicinity of equipment that produces high magnetic fields
  • Working with or in the vicinity of class 3B or 4 lasers
  • Working with materials that are managed under the control of substances hazardous to health regulations (COSHH)

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 address climate change?  The answer is fusion energy – the power of the stars. Tokamak Energy is a leading global commercial fusion energy company based near Oxford with have an unrivalled track record designing and operating spherical tokamaks; the optimal route to commercial fusion.

In addition to fusion, Tokamak Energy is recognised as a world leader in transformative High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnet technology. Our dedicated HTS magnet team, in collaboration with key manufacturing partners, is focussed on enabling new levels of performance and becoming the leading supplier of HTS magnets to multiple markets, including renewable energy, medicine, science and propulsion in water, land, air and space. 

The company, founded in 2009 as a spin-off from UK Atomic Energy Authority, currently employs a growing team of over 260 people with experts from the UK and around the world.  It combines world leading scientific, engineering, industrial and commercial capabilities.  The company has more than 75 families of patent applications and has raised $335 million, comprising $275m from private investors and $60m from the UK and U.S. governments.  Our U.S. subsidiary, Tokamak Energy Inc, was established in 2019.

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

 

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.

 

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Quantum Computing Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Need To Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK quantum computing hiring has shifted from credential‑first screening to capability‑driven evaluation. Employers now value provable contributions across the stack—algorithms & applications, compilation & optimisation, circuit synthesis, control & calibration, hardware characterisation, error mitigation/correction (QEM/QEC), verification/benchmarking, and hybrid HPC/quantum workflows—plus the ability to communicate trade‑offs, costs and feasibility to non‑quantum teams. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews and how to prepare—especially for quantum algorithm engineers, quantum software/compilers, experimentalists, quantum control & firmware, cryo/readout engineers, quantum error correction researchers, verification/benchmarking specialists, and quantum‑adjacent product managers. Who this is for: Quantum algorithm/applications engineers, compiler/optimisation engineers, control/firmware engineers, experimental physicists & hardware engineers (superconducting, trapped ion, photonic, spin/neutral atom), cryogenics & RF/microwave, QEC researchers, verification/benchmarking specialists, quantum‑HPC orchestration engineers, and product/BD roles in the UK quantum ecosystem.

Why Quantum Computing Careers in the UK Are Becoming More Multidisciplinary

Quantum computing has long been considered an elite subfield of physics and computer science. But as quantum technologies advance—from fault-tolerant hardware to quantum algorithms and quantum cryptography—they’re moving closer to real applications in finance, materials simulation, optimisation, cryptography and more. As this transition happens, UK quantum computing careers are becoming increasingly multidisciplinary. Quantum systems are no longer just the domain of physicists and quantum software engineers. If quantum technologies are to be trusted, adopted and regulated, professionals must also incorporate expertise in law, ethics, psychology, linguistics & design. In practice, quantum computing projects now intersect with data governance, risk, human interaction, explainability and communication. In this article, we’ll explore why quantum computing careers in the UK are shifting to multidisciplinary roles, how these five supporting fields intersect with quantum work, and what job-seekers & employers should do to keep up in this evolving frontier.

Quantum Computing Team Structures Explained: Who Does What in a Modern Quantum Department

Quantum computing has shifted from lab curiosity to the next frontier of high-impact computing. Across the UK, universities, national labs, start-ups, and established tech and finance firms are building quantum teams to explore algorithms, design hardware, and deliver quantum-ready software. As momentum grows, so does the need for clear, robust team structures. Because quantum R&D spans physics, engineering, computer science, and product, ambiguity about who does what can slow progress, increase risk, and inflate costs. This guide maps the typical roles in a modern quantum computing department, how they collaborate across the research-to-product lifecycle, skills and backgrounds UK employers expect, indicative salary ranges, common pitfalls, and practical ways to structure teams that move fast without breaking science.