Head of Diagnostics and Data Controls – DDC

Tokamak Energy

Lead the Diagnostics, Data & Controls team at Tokamak Energy, a leader in fusion energy. Oversee a multidisciplinary team delivering complex programmes in a high-performance culture.

Posted 6/26/2026full-timeAbingdon • 🇬🇧 United KingdomLead💰 £80,000 - £100,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture
Own delivery of complex programmes, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned to business priorities
Shape strategy and future capability, defining the DDC roadmap and contributing to the wider Fusion Division strategy
Develop people and leaders, supporting line managers and embedding effective performance management across the function
Champion a strong team culture, guiding a technically brilliant but diverse team through ongoing organisational change
Ensure safety and compliance, leading within a high-hazard, safety-critical R&D environment
Integrate diagnostics, data and control systems, maximising experimental value and ensuring robust, reliable outputs
Drive cross-functional collaboration, working closely with engineering, operations and programme teams
Manage resources and budgets, including laboratories, infrastructure and capital investment
Build external partnerships, representing Tokamak Energy with collaborators, suppliers and the wider scientific community

Requirements

What you’ll need

Proven leadership experience managing complex technical teams, with strong emotional intelligence and the ability to lead through change
Technical credibility in a relevant field (e.g. diagnostics, instrumentation, plasma physics, complex data systems or controls)
Experience delivering large-scale, complex scientific or engineering programmes
Background in high-safety, experimental or R&D environments, with hands-on understanding of real-world system integration
Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
Degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline
Experience in fusion, plasma physics, or large-scale physics environments (e.g. tokamaks, particle accelerators, space instrumentation, etc.)
Exposure to matrix organisations or multi-team delivery environments
Experience balancing strategic leadership with operational problem-solving
Understanding of technical assurance, safety, and compliance frameworks

Benefits

Comp & perks

Salary range £80,000 to £100,000 dependent on skills and experience and will be discussed from the outset
25 days holiday + bank holidays, plus discretionary festive shutdown
Performance-led rewards including discretionary bonus, innovation and merit schemes
Share options – a stake in our future success
Pension and comprehensive financial protection package including death in service and critical illness cover
Health and wellbeing support, including cash plan and 24/7 assistance
Ongoing investment in your growth with training and career progression
Be part of world-changing innovation in Fusion Energy

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Hard Skills & Tools

diagnosticsinstrumentationplasma physicscomplex data systemscontrolssystem integrationtechnical assurancesafety frameworkscompliance frameworks

Soft Skills

leadershipemotional intelligencecommunicationstakeholder engagementcollaborationperformance managementstrategic leadershipoperational problem-solving