Senior Control Software Engineer

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 reduce climate change?  We believe that’s fusion energy.  Tokamak Energy is a leading global commercial fusion energy company based near Oxford, UK.  We have an unrivalled track record designing and operating spherical tokamaks; the optimal route to commercial fusion energy.  

In addition to fusion energy, Tokamak Energy is recognised as the leader in High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) magnet, design, numerical modelling, and prototyping.  Our dedicated HTS magnet team, in collaboration with key manufacturing partners, is focussed on becoming the leading supplier of HTS magnets to multiple markets.   

The company, founded in 2009 as a spin-off from the UK’s Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, currently employs a growing team of over 250 people with experts from the UK and around the world.  It combines world leading scientific, engineering, industrial and commercial capabilities.  The company has 70 families of patent applications and has raised $250 million, comprising $200m from private investors and $50m from the UK and US governments.  Our US subsidiary, Tokamak Energy Inc, was established in 2019.  

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

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Design and develop real-time software for energising, protecting, and controlling superconducting magnets.
• Modelling of software components used in power conversion and supporting subsystems (behavioural simulations and system modelling)
• Working with external collaborators as required to develop HTS magnet designs and HTS magnet technology.
• Taking ownership of system control software and associated embedded hardware activities ensuring the work is focussed on the project objectives.
• Taking ownership of the control system prototype development and the associated test plans
• Working with the wider team to review collected data during experiments to diagnose magnet prototype performance and steer the test campaign to ensure successful magnet testing.
• Interpreting test results and producing clear written reports.
• Ensure magnet development projects stay focussed to deliver against the defined SMART objectives of the project.
• Liaise with project and program managers as requested.
• Support commercialisation of the company’s HTS magnet technology.
• Generate and document intellectual property.

Hazard-specific / Safety-critical duties

This job includes the following hazards or safety-critical activities which will require successful pre-employment health screening through our occupational health service before the successful candidate will be allowed to start work:

• Driving on Company business
• Working with electricity (LV and SELV)
• Working with or in the vicinity of equipment that produces high magnetic fields.
• Working with cryogenic fluids (liquid nitrogen)
• Travel outside of Europe or North America on company business

Requirements

• C and C++ for control applications
• Degree or demonstrated experience in a relevant field (PhD counts as experience)
• Experience in using typical Linux tools (git, bash, etc) and using the gcc or clang toolchains
• Writing C/C++ applications for controlling and acquiring data from external hardware using Modbus, RS-232, GPIB, raw TCP/IP, CAN or other protocols
• Understanding and experience of using linear control theory (e.g. modelling SISO systems with transfer functions, tuning for closed loop stability)
• Experience with software automated testing, ideally demonstrating TDD
• Basic understanding of FPGA operation and some experience
• Good communicator with ability to work cross functionally in a collaborative manner as required to support the R&D activities and program delivery.
• Experience in presenting information to a non-specialist (but still technical) audience, with skills in manipulating and displaying data
• High degree of self-organisation, motivation, and commitment to working to defined timescales

Desirable Experience:

• Experience with Simulink Embedded and HDL Coders
• Basic understanding of power conversion (ac-dc, dc-dc, dc-ac)
• Any Embedded Linux experience
• Cross compiling for non-x86 architectures
• Networking for real-time applications
• Familiarity with the Linux kernel stack and writing Linux kernel modules
• Writing real-time C/C++ applications running under Linux with the pre-emptive kernel patch
• Experience of using CMake, Meson, auto-conf or similar tools for managing complex builds
• Experience with publish/subscribe/remote-procedure-call communication protocols

Benefits

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
• Company pension scheme
• Eligible for company share option scheme
• Company bonus scheme, discretionary, dependant on performance
• Private medical insurance after 3 months service
• Cycle to work scheme

No terminology in the advert or job description is intended to discriminate on the grounds of a person’s gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation.  Every candidate will be assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and abilities to perform the duties of the job.

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.

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.