Senior Engineering Technician

Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire

Full time / Flexible hours considered.

About Us

Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility. By accelerating electrons to near light-speed, Diamond generates brilliant beams of light from infra-red to X-rays which are used for academic and industry research and development across a range of scientific disciplines including structural biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, earth and environmental sciences.  

About the role

We now have the opportunity for a Senior Engineering Technician (Internally titled ‘Senior Beamline Technician’) to maintain and support operational and research activities.

The successful candidate will be based on Diamond’s beamline I11, which is optimised for high-resolution and time-resolved X-ray powder diffraction studies of the structure and evolution of materials under ambient and non-ambient conditions through the use of a range of in situ sample environments (e.g. variable high/low temperature, humidity, gas loading and flow). 

You will be required to work with the beamline team and other Diamond staff in providing support to the beamline’s user programme and the commissioning and development of sample cells.

Further responsibilities will include:

• Carrying out a variety of light mechanical and electrical assembly tasks (this involves building new equipment/developments for subsystems of the scientific equipment such as specialist non-ambient conditions sample environments), including one-off small-scale fabrications, machining, and modifications.
• Taking part in operational planning, liaising with, and coordinating tasks with members of other specialist technical and engineering support groups across the wider organisation to complete various works.
• Interacting with both the scientific beamline staff and facility users to ensure the beamline’s facilities and equipment can meet the scientific requirements, and you may be called upon during experiments to fault find and effect repairs or modifications.
• Proactively planning and implementing the execution of routine inspection and maintenance of the beamline as well as scheduled safety testing and managing the day-to-day running of the beamline.
• Working closely with other technical, engineering, and scientific staff to produce designs new systems, equipment or processes.

About you

Suitable candidates have significant technical experience and hold a ONC or GNVQ level 2 or equivalent qualification or an apprenticeship, though applicants with equivalent work experience will also be considered.

You will demonstrate knowledge / experience of:

• Using quality assurance procedures, work planning, risk assessments and safe systems of work.
• Interpreting mechanical drawings to produce simple engineering drawings for machining production of 3D printed items.

You should also have proven experience in one or more of the following areas; Ultra-high vacuum, cryogenics, high temperatures/pressures and the handling and use of specialist gases (including making, testing and maintaining fitments), cooling water, cranes and slings etc. for heavy lifting and

Benefits

Diamond offers an exceptional benefits package to support staff in achieving a positive work/life balance. This includes 25 days annual leave plus 13 days of statutory and company holidays, along with flexible working hours and an excellent pension scheme. Staff also have access to a range of amenities on site including a nursery, cafes, a restaurant and sports and leisure facilities.

To Apply

Please use the online application process to apply and tell us why you believe you are suitable for this role.

The initial closing date for applications is 5^th February 2023.

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