Rolls-Royce Fellow in Robust Nuclear Fuels (Nuclear Fuels)

Location: Manchester, United Kingdom; hybrid working arrangements may be considered. The role is open to sole British Nationals only due to security clearance and ATAS requirements.

Company

The hirify.global hosts the Nuclear Fuels Centre of Excellence within the Henry Royce Institute and collaborates with Rolls-Royce on advanced nuclear fuel research.

What you will do

• Develop next-generation cer-cer and cer-met nuclear fuel materials for future nuclear systems.
• Design, manufacture, characterise, and assess the performance of advanced fuel forms.
• Investigate relationships between fuel chemistry, microstructure, fabrication routes, thermal properties, irradiation response, and in-reactor performance.
• Combine experimental materials processing, advanced characterisation, thermophysical testing, and modelling-informed interpretation.
• Build an independent research profile, develop collaborations and proposals, publish research, and supervise students.
• Contribute to relevant undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Requirements

• PhD in materials science, nuclear engineering, chemistry, ceramics, metallurgy, physics, or a related discipline.
• Postdoctoral research associate or equivalent postdoctoral experience in the nuclear materials field.
• Strong track record in experimental nuclear materials research and ambition to develop as an independent research leader.
• Direct experience with nuclear materials, radioactive materials, representative fuel systems, or closely related nuclear-relevant materials.
• Experience in nuclear fuels, ceramic processing, high-temperature materials, powder processing, sintering, active materials handling, thermophysical property measurement, irradiation effects, or advanced microstructural characterisation.
• Sole British National status is required for security clearance and ATAS compliance.

Nice to have

• Experience with uranium-bearing ceramics or representative fuel materials.
• Background in modelling-informed interpretation of cer-cer, cer-met, or high-density fuel systems.
• Experience developing research programmes and future PhD project proposals with industry partners.

Culture & Benefits

• Five-year fellowship supporting research independence and leadership development.
• Access to specialist nuclear materials facilities and technical support through the Henry Royce Institute and Manchester's nuclear research ecosystem.
• Close engagement with Rolls-Royce on strategically important nuclear fuel challenges.
• Market-leading pension scheme, employee health and wellbeing services, and an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Annual leave plus bank holidays, additional paid Christmas closure, and local and national retail discounts.
• Supportive, inclusive research environment focused on developing people and technology.

Hiring process

• Submit a CV, publication list, covering letter, and a two-page research proposal as one document with the CV.
• The proposal should outline an independent fellowship programme supporting cer-cer and cer-met fuel development within the DoRN programme, including potential future PhD projects.