Full Time/Part Time (minimum 30 hours per week)

Fixed term for 3 years

Candidates will be appointed at Band D or Band E, depending skills and experience

About the Central Laser Facility

The Central Laser Facility (CLF) is one of the world’s leading laser centres, providing scientists mainly from the UK and continental Europe with access to an unparalleled range of state-of-the-art laser technology.  The CLF has around 180 staff and its function - user facility, international research – makes it a very friendly, outgoing, externally facing sort of place.  It has a welcoming and inclusive culture, and you will find that people will naturally help and support you.

The CLF is building a new laser centre - the Extreme Photonics Applications Centre (EPAC) and is seeking new team members to help to build this and to contribute to our existing facilities. EPAC is an £81M facility that will use lasers developed by our team to drive new types of novel particle and radiation beams that can be applied to a wide range of problems in science and industry. We are looking for people like you, scientists and engineers at all stages of their careers to be a part of our friendly and enthusiastic team in the following areas (details are below):

As part of UK Research and Innovation, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of Europe’s largest research organisations and operates at a number of sites within the UK, including RAL and many more around the world. RAL is home to about 1,200 staff that work with a community of more than 10,000 scientists and engineers mainly from the research sector, which spans the scientific spectrum including energy, security, materials healthcare, life-sciences and the environment to address important challenges facing society.

STFC is an award-winning employer and RAL is a superb place to work – there is pioneering work going on all around the site and the environment, facilities and conditions are excellent.  RAL has a real buzz and the people working here have a profound sense of pride in what they achieve.  Alongside an excellent working environment and comprehensive continued professional development STFC offer’s a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas shut down, flexible working hours, a workplace nursery, an exceptional career average defined benefit pension scheme, and social and sporting activities and societies. Full details can be found on STFC’s careers pages.

About the Role

As an Optical Design Scientist, you will make contributions across the EPAC project by contributing to the design of the optical subsystems of the laser facility. You will help with the design and modelling of the propagation of the laser beams. You will ideally have knowledge and experience of using optical design software such as OpticStudio (Zemax) and be familiar with the process of optical design.

Job Role areas

• Contribute to the design of optical expansion and relay imaging systems
• Tolerance their designs to ensure robustness
• Model the impact of any thermal or other aberrations on the laser beam
• Install and commission optical systems as part of the construction of the facility.

 About You

To be considered for this role you will need to have a degree (or equivalent) in Physics or a closely related subject.

You will have experience in the operation and development of laser systems as well as experience in scientific instrument development and design.

To be considered for the Band E role you will need to have the above as well as a PhD in Physics or equivalent relevant experience and Post-Doctoral research experience.

The full person specification can be found on our website.

To Apply

Applicants are required to include a cover letter outlining their suitability for this role. Please also state where you saw this role advertised.

Applications are handled by UK Shared Business Services, to apply please visit our job board at http://www.topcareer.jobs/Vacancy/irc250526_9826.aspx. Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on +44 (0)1793 867000.

The closing date for applications is 17^th September 2019.