Verification and Validation Manager

Fusion energy offers the potential for significant quantities of low-carbon, inherently safe, abundantly fuelled, baseload energy, supporting sustainable climate action and energy independence.  While the technical challenge remains high, confidence is increasing, and the rewards of realising fusion are almost incalculable.  Anticipated to come online for commercial purposes in the middle of this century, fusion offers a viable means to sustainable net zero in the UK and globally, as well as to increased energy security.  The UK is currently a world leader in fusion research and development and in the drive to realise commercially viable energy from fusion, a sector with an estimated value of trillions of pounds per year.

STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UK’s flagship national programme to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant, targeting 2040, and a path to commercial viability of fusion.  STEP is deliberately bold and ambitious and seeks people who want to be part of a world-changing endeavour and who have credible and relevant experiencing in delivery.

UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) has been established to deliver the STEP programme, and, in so doing, spearhead the development of a fusion supply chain. UKFE is a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and therefore builds upon decades of world leading expertise in fusion science, engineering and operations. Two Whole Plant Partners are currently being sort, to bring expertise in engineering design and construction.

What you will be doing

Reporting to the Head of Engineering Assurance, the Verification and Validation (V&V) Manager will be a key member of the UK Industrial Fusion Solutions senior leadership team. The V&V Manager will be responsible for defining and assuring the V&V programme for the STEP prototype plant. This will cover V&V activities across the full engineering lifecycle and across all areas of the prototype plant, including Tokamak Systems, Fuel Cycle Systems, Power and Cooling Systems, and Civil Structures. In this role, the V&V Manager will establish a clear strategic direction for V&V throughout the organisation, setting expectations that ensure all requirements – technical, functional, safety, regulatory, and operational – are evidenced via analysis, test, inspection, demonstration or review.

As this role supports V&V for a First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) fusion power plant, the V&V Manager will help develop a V&V approach suited to a prototype environment where no physical precursor exists. Requirements will evolve as the design matures and new insights emerge, demanding an adaptive, evidence-led V&V strategy that can respond to change while maintaining rigour and traceability.

Working at the interface between engineering, integrity and programme management, the V&V Manager will provide the leadership needed to ensure V&V activities are integrated, prioritised, and consistently executed across the entire engineering lifecycle. The V&V Manager will manage and grow a team of V&V Engineers, providing technical guidance and coaching. This team will work closely with the engineering delivery teams to define verification approaches, develop acceptance criteria, and maintain rigorous traceability to requirements in line with STEPs systems engineering led approach to design.

What you will bring to this role:

Lead the Design Authority’s Verification and Validation Strategy

• Define, maintain, and communicate the plant-wide V&V strategy aligned with safety, regulatory and performance requirements.
• Establish verification principles, acceptance criteria, and evidence standards for all levels of the design.
• Ensure V&V approaches are appropriate, proportionate, and fully integrated into design activities.
• Provide authoritative technical guidance on verification adequacy, evidence maturity, and requirements closure.
• Act as an advisor to the UKFE senior leadership on Verification and Validation activities.

Lead the UKFE Verification & Validation Team

• Provide leadership, coaching, and technical direction to engineers delivering V&V activities.
• Allocate resources, plan workloads, and ensure the team delivers high-quality outputs to programme timescales.
• Foster a culture of disciplined, collaborative, and proactive engineering within the V&V Team.

Oversee V&V Delivery and Technical Assurance

• Ensure Design Authority owned artefacts (plans, traceability, evidence packs, closure statements) meet internal and regulatory expectations.
• Review and approve verification approaches for Structures, Systems and Components (SSCs) worth billions of pounds, ensuring robustness and defensibility.
• Provide independent technical challenge to engineering teams regarding evidence quality and completeness.
• Maintain accurate visibility of verification progress, risks, dependencies, and non-conformances impacting requirements closure.

Represent the Design Authority in Programme, Technical, and Regulatory Interfaces

• Present V&V status, evidence maturity, and design assurance positions at design reviews and technical authority committees.
• Champion continuous improvement of V&V processes, digital tools, and evidence workflows across the organisation.
• Work closely with the Lifecycle Manager to define the V&V evidence required at each lifecycle gate.
• Work closely with the Systems Engineering Team to ensure that the V&V approach aligns with the STEP systems engineering led approach to design.

Embody a Leadership Mindset

• Role model positive leadership behaviours aligned to the UKFE and STEP values and behaviours.
• Foster a positive and inclusive team environment that aligns with our cultural values.
• Contribute to maintaining a respectful and collaborative workplace, valuing diversity, and promoting teamwork.
• Act as a cultural ambassador, representing our organization's values and professionalism in interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Lead by example, demonstrating  The Seven Principles of Public Life - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Be curious and encourage curiosity with the team.  Champion being open to new ideas, seeking data and evidence to shape strategy.
• Make informed decisions and solve problems effectively, considering diverse perspectives and organisational goals.

Essential:

• Degree Level Science or Engineering Qualification (or equivalent experience)
• Chartered member with relevant institution
• Proven ability to develop and execute large-scale V&V programmes for complex systems.
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering principles, requirements management, and model-based engineering tools.
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage complex technical interfaces.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.

Beneficial:

• Track record of creative problem solving in ambiguous or innovative environments.
• Experience of the full lifecycle for technically complex plant systems within major programmes.

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.