Experimental Physicist

If you’d like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given.

Experimental Physicist

Closing Date: 16th June 2025

Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.

Due to the classified nature of the work involved, there are limited opportunities to work from home in this role. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will spend the majority of their time working on site at AWE Aldermaston.

Package: £38,020 - £47,500 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.

Let us introduce the role

AWE is recruiting for an Experimental Physicist for the Radiation Diagnostics Team within the Technology Development Group.

This is at a time where we are developing our capability to world class standards.

AWE have an existing light ion accelerator used to deliver high energy neutrons for internal and external customers, and are looking to replace this accelerator with new capabilities utilising the latest technologies. The successful candidate would be hired at the inception of this new project stage and help to develop it from a proposal to reality.

As an applied scientist in the Radiation Diagnostics team, you will become a key part of the team maintaining, developing and running diagnostic instruments. You would be involved in (and potentially lead) projects to bring new instruments from requirements to realisation in support of experimental facilities. This will involve theoretical and computational modelling of instruments, design of hardware, data collection, analysis of data and feedback to customers, as well as experimental testing and characterisation of future and existing instrumentation.

As part of developing our capabilities to world class standards for both internal and external customers, you will be supporting national and international collaborations with AWE’s partners in and out of the United Kingdom. This collaboration will entail travel outside of AWE for conferences and experimental trials at UK and international facilities.

Who are we looking for?

We do need you to have the following:

• A degree in Physics, and a PhD or relevant post-graduate experience would be beneficial for this role.

• Strong communication skills, verbal and written, excellent team working ability, proactive, and highly organised.

• Willing to travel and work at other UK and overseas sites as required.

Whilst not to be considered a tick list, we’d like you to have experience in some of the following:

• Working in an academic laboratory or industrial setting

• Experience in one or more of the following technical areas:

  • Radiation transport modelling

  • Nuclear physics

  • Diagnostic instrument development and design

  • Robotics and automation

  • Use of machine learning techniques and tools

• Programming language such as Python or C++

You’ll need to have the ability to work calmly and constructively in a priority changing environment and be able to manage your own workload. You will also have initiative, enthusiasm, a flexible approach, and ability to work to tight deadlines.

Some reasons we think you’ll love it here:

AWE has wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• 9-day working fortnight – meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.

• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).

• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.

• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.

• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.

• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).

• Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.

• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.

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Next steps:

Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people don’t always ‘tick every box’. That’s why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you don’t meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we’d love to receive your application.

Important things you need to know:

• We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment if applications are high and the role therefore closes.
• You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. 
• We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process.
• Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.

Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions.

Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.