Scientific Methods Engineer

Scientific Methods Engineer (P /

Organization: SGTS-NDA Services Team

Primary Location: Austria-Vienna-Vienna-IAEA Headquarters

Job Posting: , 6:52:24 AM

Closing Date: , 4:59:00 PM

Duration in Months: 36

Contract Type: Fixed Term - Regular

Probation Period: 1 Year

Full Competitive Recruitment: Yes

This selection exercise may be used to generate a roster of pre-approved candidates to address future staffing needs for similar functions in any of the Departments and Offices of the Organization.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: Please note that the closing date for submission of applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant's location.

Organizational Setting

The Department of Safeguards carries out the IAEA's duties and responsibilities as the world's nuclear inspectorate, supporting global efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. The primary role of the Department is to develop and implement IAEA safeguards to ensure that there is no diversion of declared nuclear material from peaceful activities and no indications of undeclared nuclear material or activities in a State as a whole.

The Department comprises nuclear safeguards inspectors, responsible for carrying out inspections and verifications of all-safeguards relevant information for nuclear facilities in over 180 States; and technical staff responsible for a wide range of activities including: developing concepts and approaches for implementing safeguards; developing and maintaining safeguards equipment; providing analytical and laboratory services for sample analysis; collecting, evaluating and analysing safeguards-relevant information; providing information and communication technology infrastructure and services; and providing programme coordination support.

The Division of Technical and Scientific Services ensures the provision of state-of-the-art equipment and related expertise for the accomplishment of the Department of Safeguards activities. Within this mandate, the Division is responsible for procurement, testing, provision, inventory control, performance monitoring and maintenance of safeguards equipment and supplies required by SGO Divisions; management of equipment development and engineering activities to meet quality and safeguards requirements; development and provision of documentation, procedures, instrumentation methods and techniques; provision of specialized technical and scientific support to inspectors and inspection activities in the field and at headquarters; and, radiation contamination monitoring of returned equipment and timely write-off of obsolete or contaminated equipment. The Division also coordinates departmental health and safety activities.

Main Purpose

Reporting to the Team Leader, the Scientific Methods Engineer provides professional expertise in the context of safeguards verification activities to support the development of scientific methodologies and procedures and field test methods and techniques and to support the development of new instruments and equipment. The Scientific Methods Engineer is further responsible for performing advanced measurements of nuclear material, executing non-routine and complex verification tasks and providing knowledge and advice to the Division including for numerical simulation.

Role

The Scientific Methods Engineer is: (1) a scientist, developing methodologies and techniques for nuclear material verification; (2) a specialist, advising the Operations Divisions and other SGTS staff on the selection and use of safeguards instruments for the measurement of nuclear materials; (3) an engineer, adapting and deploying non-destructive assay (NDA) systems in the field for non-routine and complex applications, troubleshooting and calibrating NDA equipment through numerical simulations and supporting the development of new instruments; and (4) a technical writer, developing and updating development requirements for safeguards instrumentation, specifications, procedures and other reports.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Provide specialized technical assistance, including analytical support for data interpretation and infield verification support, for advanced nuclear materials measurement techniques.

Employ the developed methodologies and techniques to enhance the functionality of safeguards equipment.

Provide specialized knowledge for the definition of user requirements, and for other elements related to the development and deployment of innovative instruments and measurement techniques, fulfilling needs requested by Operations Divisions or other SGTS Teams and as agreed at the departmental level.

Support the development of NDA equipment in coordination with the assigned development project managers.

Prepare quality controlled technical documents, testing and calibration procedures for equipment, and trip reports that detail the deployment, repair, design or calibration of instruments and related nuclear material measurement techniques.

Provide training related to the implementation of advanced nuclear materials measurement techniques.

The incumbent may perform his/her work in areas involving exposure to radioactive materials. Therefore, as an Occupationally Exposed Worker, he/she must be medically cleared by VIC Medical Service and is subject to an appropriate radiation and health monitoring programme, in accordance with the IAEA's Radiation Safety Regulations.

The incumbent may perform his/her work in areas involving exposure to radioactive materials. Therefore, as an Occupationally Exposed Worker, he/she must be medically cleared by VIC Medical Service and is subject to an appropriate radiation and health monitoring programme, in accordance with the IAEA's Radiation Safety Regulations.

Competencies and Expertise

Core Competencies(Competency Framework)

Name

Definition

Communication

Communicates orally and in writing in a clear, concise and impartial manner. Takes time to listen to and understand the perspectives of others and proposes solutions.

Achieving Results

Takes initiative in defining realistic outputs and clarifying roles, responsibilities and expected results in the context of the Department/Division's programme. Evaluates his/her results realistically, drawing conclusions from lessons learned.

Teamwork

Actively contributes to achieving team results. Supports team decisions.

Planning and Organizing

Plans and organizes his/her own work in support of achieving the team or Section's priorities. Takes into account potential changes and proposes contingency plans.

Functional Competencies

Name

Definition

Client orientation

Helps clients to analyse their needs. Seeks to understand service needs from the client's perspective and ensure that the client's standards are met.

Judgement/decision making

Consults with supervisor/manager and takes decisions in full compliance with the Agency's regulations and rules. Makes decisions reflecting best practice and professional theories and standards.

Technical/scientific credibility

Ensures that work is in compliance with internationally accepted professional standards and scientific methods. Provides scientifically/technically accepted information that is credible and reliable.

Required Expertise

Function

Name

Expertise Description

Safeguards

Non-destructive Assay

Ability to design, develop and implement methodologies and techniques used to verify the presence, absence, amount and unique characteristics of plutonium, uranium and spent fuel with an emphasis on gamma spectrometry and neutron coincidence counting.

Asset Expertise

Function

Name

Expertise Description

Chemistry

Chemistry

Practical experience in the preparation of samples for nuclear measurements.

Other Technical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Ability to recommend sound technical solutions for the optimal implementation of instrumentation in safeguards approaches

Safeguards

Nuclear Fuel Cycle/Nuclear Facilities

Extended knowledge of the nuclear fuel cycle.

Physics

Nuclear Instrumentation

Knowledge of the application of nuclear instrumentation for the specific purpose characterization of nuclear material.

Nuclear Engineering

Simulation and Modelling

Demonstrated skills and experience in computerized simulations of the transport of radiation, such as Monte Carlo simulations, applied to the design and calibration of NDA instruments.

Nuclear Engineering

Simulation and Modelling

Demonstrated skills and experience in the use of nuclear fuel depletion codes

Qualifications, Experience and Language skills

• Bachelor's Degree - University degree in nuclear engineering, applied physics, physics, mathematics, electrical engineering or a similar technical area.

• Minimum of five years of relevant work experience in the development, deployment, production and/or use of nuclear NDA instrumentation including demonstrated experience in:

• nuclear coincidence counting and/or gamma spectrometry;

• designing, implementing, calibrating and/or maintaining NDA systems for radioactive material characterization.
• Excellent oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.

Remuneration

The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $70212 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $ 38266*, dependency benefits, rental subsidy, education grant, relocation and repatriation expenses; Other benefits include 6 weeks' annual leave, home leave travel, pension plan and health insurance. More information on the conditions of employment can be found at:

General Information

• The IAEA's paramount consideration in the recruitment of staff member is to secure employees of the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• Staff Members shall be selected without any unfair treatment or arbitrary distinction based on a person's race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, age, language, social origin or other similar shared characteristic or trait.
• The IAEA is committed to gender equality and to promoting a diverse workforce. Applications from qualified women and candidates from developing countries are strongly encouraged.
• Applicants should be aware that IAEA staff members are international civil servants and may not accept instructions from any other authority. The IAEA is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. As part of the United Nations common system, the IAEA subscribes to the following core ethical standards (or values): Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for diversity.
• The IAEA has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and the IAEA, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Evaluation process

• The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the selection criteria stated in the vacancy announcement. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information. Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by a competency-based interview.
• Candidates under serious consideration for selection may be subject to reference and background checks as part of the recruitment process.

Appointment information

• Appointment is subject to a satisfactory medical report.
• Staff members may be assigned to any location.
• Candidates appointed to posts in the Professional and higher categories are subject to IAEA rotation policy and their maximum tour of service shall normally be seven years.
• The IAEA retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade or with a different contract type, or to make an appointment with a modified job description or for shorter duration than indicated above.