Senior Mechanical Support Technician

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Science and Technology Facilities Council

Mechanical Support Technician

Salary: £42,840- £47,124 per annum (depending on skill set and experience)
Hours: Full time (37 hours per week)
Contract Type: 2 x Open Ended Positions
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire.

ISIS is the world's most productive spallation neutron source - providing beams of neutrons and muons to enable scientists to study the structure and properties of matter for the benefit of science and engineering in the UK and abroad.

The ISIS Experimental Operations Division needs to recruit three support technicians to provide technical support to visiting scientist to ISIS, conducting the supply and maintenance of sample environment equipment.

We are currently looking to recruit two Mechanical Support Technician's (24000097) / Senior Mechanical Support Technician's to work in the Pressure and Furnace Section. This role will be working as part of a small team providing technical hands on practical support to visiting scientist at ISIS, supporting gas handling, high pressure and high temperature experimental systems.

ISIS operates four 50 day cycles per year, during these cycles ISIS operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week so some paid overtime is required for this post and in addition on-call is required for this role with Additional allowances paid.

Please be aware that on occasions you will be working in classified radiation areas and in relevant science support laboratories and beamlines.

Your Responsibilities:

• Off-line preparation, maintenance and testing of sample environment equipment, such as high temperature furnaces and gas handling pressures systems.
• Installation and commissioning of sample environment equipment on neutron and muon instruments.
• Fault-finding and efficient provision of solutions once fully trained.
• Work as part of a wider support team, along with some of the world's leading scientists to help deliver scientific experiments.
• Contribute to development projects for new sample environment equipment.
• Comprehensive experimental support, including round the clock trouble shooting/ fault finding and repair of equipment. Providing on-call cover during user program.
• The ISIS facility runs four 50 day cycles each year so a flexible approach to working will be essential to meet our support role requirements.
Contacts and Communication
• You will be interacting on a daily basis with support staff, engineers, in house scientists and visiting international scientists.

Personal Skills and Attributes

You will have a rounded practical mechanical engineering background. A good knowledge of the properties of materials and knowledge and experience of mechanical assembly and test of delicate precision equipment. You will be highly motivated and able to work well as part of a team. Show hands on mechanical assembly and test experience, a willingness to learn new skills and techniques, have a highly motivated attitude and able to work to deadlines. Experience of gas handling and/or high temperature techniques would be helpful in the role but not essential as detailed training will be provided in these disciplines.

The criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S) and/ or Interview (I).

• HNC or equivalent in a relevant subject (S)
• Mechanical Apprenticeship or relevant technical training and experience (S)
• Advanced level of practical knowledge and experience of mechanical engineering practices including the ability to work from engineering drawings (S&I)
• Advanced level of practical knowledge and experience of assembly and test procedures of delicate and precision engineering equipment, specifically in gas handling, high pressure or high temperature systems. (S&I)
• Ability to express technical detail to scientists and engineers (S&I)
• Bring ideas and solutions to develop the sections gas handling, high pressure and high temperature systems. (I)
• Computer literate, working knowledge of Microsoft office (I)
• Calmness when working with conflicting deadlines and priorities (I)

For any further information or questions about the role please contact Chris Goodway - Chris.Goodway@stfc.ac.uk.

Employee Benefits:

We are offering a permanent position with a whole host of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
• Employee shopping/travel discounts.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

As one of Europe's largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We're proud of the impact we make. And we're committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You'll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you'll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you'll discover just what a difference you can make when you're equipped and inspired to excel.

We're a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don't, ask questions that others won't, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it's at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It's very often ground-breaking. And it's endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.

For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/

You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/

About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.