Operational Analyst

Operational Analyst

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: £28,420 - £46,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)

• Junior Analyst (recent graduates): £28,420 - £35,000 (depending on your suitability and level of experience)

• Experienced Analyst (PHD or graduates with post-grad experience): £36,000 - £46,000 (depending on your suitability 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.

Closing Date: 15th January 2025

Let us introduce the role

AWE has exciting opportunities for Operational Analysts to come and join our Blast Damage Assessment Team. We have opportunities for both graduate level and experienced scientists to come and work with a highly experienced, multi-disciplinary team to analyse the effect of blast waves on buildings and infrastructure.

This is an excellent opportunity to be involved in some unique and exciting work!

You will be working in the Damage Assessment Team within the Systems Assessments Group (SAG). This multi-discipline group provides operational effectiveness and weapons effects assessments to AWE and our government stakeholders. We also contribute a range of capabilities in support of the UK's national nuclear security.

We undertake fundamental research to understand complex blast wave propagation and the associated structural response. We utilise a range of disciplines including engineering, mathematics, remote sensing, and computational physics to provide operational analysis capability to our customer community.

What will you be doing?

• Participate in the research and development of appropriate tools to predict the response of structures subject to blast loading.

  • Developing and integrating multi-fidelity computational frameworks for understanding operational effectiveness and risk.

  • Quantifying levels of uncertainty and undertaking sensitivity analysis using established methods.

  • Utilisation of HPC systems to run large scale physics codes to support the generation of data driven models and underpin bespoke assessments.

• Present your work at stakeholder meetings, conferences and support external collaborations in the UK and overseas.

Who are we looking for?

Ideally, you will have a proven track record of working in multi-discipline teams, making sound technical judgments, and delivery of technical research. You will also be able to work with and positively influence others. You should be proactive in your professional development and delivery focussed.

We do need you to have the following:

• A degree or equivalent level of experience working in a relevant STEM area.

• Excellent skills in Python or a similar programming language such as C++, Fortran or Java.

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

• Operational analysis and systems engineering.

• Analytical or experimental research methods.

• Statistics, machine learning, uncertainty quantification, data analysis or multi-objective optimisation.

• Awareness of coding standards such as PEP8 or equivalents for other languages.

• An understanding of blast engineering and protective structures including high fidelity CFD and/or FEA modelling approaches.

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'.