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Mechanical Engineer – Cambridge and Antarctica

Employer
British Antarctic Survey
Location
Cambridge but with periods at sea or in polar regions.
Salary
Starting from £30,357 per annum.
Closing date
3 Mar 2019

Job Details

Mechanical Engineer – Cambridge and Antarctica

Job reference: BAS 29/19

Contract type: Full Time

Duration: Open-Ended Appointment

Salary: Starting from £30,357 per annum.

Benefits: We offer generous benefits

Team: Marine engineering team

Location: Cambridge but with periods at sea or in polar regions.

Closing date: 3 March, 2019 11:59 pm

Do you want the opportunity to work in a small dynamic team of engineers who design, develop and build unique equipment to support our science? We are looking for an enthusiastic person who will be responsible for the specification, design and procurement of new instrumentation. Ideally you have a proven background in developing ideas using solid modelling CAD software and an innovative approach to design and prototype engineering. Experience with Autodesk Inventor would be an advantage but training will be provided for the right candidate. The work is extremely varied, designing bespoke equipment for the use in the polar-regions on land, at sea and in the air. In your role you will be the point of contact for in-coming projects taking ideas from a conceptual phase through to the final product, including documentation and in some cases field trials and support.

You have to be able to work in a team with both internal staff and external collaborators as well as sub-contractors. You will have a flexible approach and be able to manage your own work load and work to tight deadlines when required.

You will be based mainly in Cambridge, but you will visit and work in the polar regions supporting a range of science programmes either on our new state of the art polar science vessel the RRS Sir David Attenborough, on one of our Antarctic stations or possibly deep field.

If you are a person who likes to work in a challenging and varied environment and have a range of engineering skills and experience we would like to hear from you.

Purpose

The role of the Mechanical Engineer is to take the professional lead with regard to mechanical engineering within BAS.

Qualification

ONC / HNC in Mechanical engineering (or equivalent).

The job will be based in Cambridge but with periods at sea or in polar regions. It is essential that the individual appointed to the job is flexible, able to work under their own initiative and as part of a team. The person must be physically fit and able to travel and work in the Polar Regions.

To ensure that the job holder has the breadth of knowledge necessary for this role, it is expected that candidates will have a formal qualification and in mechanical engineering together with extensive practical experience of mechanical design and systems. Knowledge of computer aided design systems is essential to this role. BAS will provide training, both on and off job where necessary.

Duties

Technical duties:

  • Specification, design and procurement of new instrumentation.
  • Development of new systems and equipment to meet customer requirements.
  • Initiation and monitoring of in-house projects to ensure design standards are achieved.
  • Ensuring installations on BAS ships, aircraft and Antarctic Stations are completed to specification and on schedule. Supporting systems in the field including provision of all necessary spares and maintenance.
  • To act as a point of contact for in-coming projects.
  • Management of mechanical projects to ensure objectives are achieved and delivery schedules are met.
  • Preparation of work plans to include project work, small job requests.
  • Liaison with other members of the group, Staff and external collaborators.
  • Ensuring external contractors meet specified objectives. Monitoring the use and selection of sub-contractors to ensure that quality and standards are achieved.
  • Management of the preparation of documentation including manuals, reports, method statements and inter-departmental procedures. It is essential that the individual appointed to the job is able to undertake a wide range of tasks and duties.
  • Other duties as appropriate and as required by the Head and the Director.

Management Responsibilities:

  • To act as a point of contact for in-coming projects.
  • Management of mechanical projects to ensure objectives are achieved and delivery schedules are met. Preparation of work plans to include project work, small job requests.
  • Liaison with other members of the group, Staff and external collaborators.
  • Ensuring external contractors meet specified objectives. Monitoring the use and selection of sub-contractors to ensure that quality and standards are achieved.
  • Management of the preparation of documentation including manuals, reports, method statements and inter-departmental procedures. It is essential that the individual appointed to the job is able to undertake a wide range of tasks and duties.

- Other duties as appropriate and as required by the Head and the Director.

To Apply

On-line application forms and further information are available on our website at by clicking APPLY.

These are also available from the Human Resources Section, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET. Tel: (01223) 221508.

Please quote reference: BAS 29/19

Closing date for receipt of application forms is: 3rd March 2019

Interview date: 11th march 2019

Proposed start date: As soon as possible.

BAS is an Equal Opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and promoting equality in careers in science, we hold an Athena SWAN Bronze Award and have an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme of activity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. People from ethnic minorities and disabled people are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the job. We are open to a range of flexible working options including part-time or full-time employment as well as flexible hours due to caring or other commitments.

Company

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, it has, for over 60 years, undertaken the majority of Britain's scientific research on and around the Antarctic continent. It now shares that continent with scientists from over thirty countries.

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British Antarctic Survey enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. We employ a wide range of skilled science, operational and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica, on ships and aircraft as well in the Arctic.  We work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet.  There are many opportunities to grow a successful career at BAS.  

Engineering and technology is critical to the success of polar research. Our world-leading research depends on the expertise of a wide range of specialists who work in Antarctica, onboard our ships, and in our Cambridge offices.

Mechanical engineering

Mechanical engineers work hand-in-hand with scientists to provide bespoke frontline science support across an exciting, diverse range of research programmes. Along with other specialist engineers, projects can include airborne survey systems (radar and cameras), meteorology instruments, hot water drilling equipment, ice coring machinery, space weather sensors such as very low frequency receivers, and even penguin weighbridges!

Mechanical engineers are based at Cambridge, and can be deployed on ships or stations, or into remote fieldwork locations.

Electrical engineering

Like mechanical engineers, electrical engineers work closely with scientists and other engineers to deliver unique pieces of equipment to support frontier science, as descibed above.

Electrical engineers are based at Cambridge, and are frequently deployed on ships or stations, or remote fieldwork locations.

IT engineering

IT engineers provide equipment and support for everyone in the organisation. Some IT engineers work alongside mechanical and electrical engineers on bespoke equipment for frontier science, as above. Others are service desk engineers and network engineers whose critical role is to keep business systems up and running.

Predominantly based in our Cambridge offices IT engineers acan also spend time on ships or stations in the polar regions.

Marine engineering

BAS employs two types of marine engineers:  a Cambridge-based team who are responsible for refitting and maintenance of all the science, propulsion and navigation equipment onboard ships;  and mariners such as the Chief Engineer, 2nd, 3rd and 4th engineers who work at sea to ensure ships equipment and systems run smoothly while on polar research or operational missions.

Aircraft Engineering

BAS operates two aircraft types (DHC-6 and DHC-7) primarily in the Antarctic, but also worldwide. BAS holds the necessary regulatory approved CAMO (Continued Airworthiness Management Organisation) function for these aircraft.  As such BAS has a small cell of dedicated aircraft engineering management staff within the Air Unit, based at Cambridge, to assure continuous airworthiness compliance, oversight, control and give direction to our contracted aircraft engineers on any work necessary to maintain and assure continued airworthiness in service in the world’s most challenging operating environments. The direct aircraft scheduled maintenance and rectification is accomplished through our approved contracted aircraft engineering entities, currently based in Canada.

Vehicle mechanics

Operating stations and vehicles in extreme climates such as the polar regions requires skilled mechanics and technicians to maintain, repair and deploy vehicles including Snowmobiles, Pisten-Bullys and Bulldozers. Mechanics can be based at Cambridge for five months before being deployed to support operations in Antarctica.

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Company info
Website
Location
High Cross
Madingley Road
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
CB3 0ET
GB

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