Mechatronic & Controls Technician

Salary: £42,840 (Band D) to £53,818 (Band E) per annum (dependent on skills and experience).

Hours: Full time

Contract Type: Open Ended.

Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire  

Come and do the kind of engineering that made you want to be an engineer. Stretch your technical skills while building human understanding. Promote sustainability and create new materials. And, alongside world-leading scientists, technicians and technologists, shape projects that improve lives, and daily life, in the UK and far beyond.

Put simply, come and discover the impact you can make when you’re equipped, encouraged and inspired to perform to your very best.

The ISIS Electrical and Electronic User Support Group (EEUSG) is offering a great opportunity to be part of its Mechatronics Control Section. The Mechatronics team plays a fundamental role in supporting the neutron and muon instruments and experimental equipment that rely on motion systems to carry out the vast range of experiments conducted at ISIS every year. 

As part of the mechatronics section, you will be responsible for all aspects of the support of motion control equipment on our instruments. This will include:

• Testing, commissioning, and support using a variety of different software control systems and measurement equipment.
• Planning of maintenance activities, including safe methods of work, and the keeping of accurate maintenance records.
• Assisting our mechanical teams in the building and installation of ISIS beamline motion control equipment.
• Supporting the integration of user provided equipment for experiments.
• Seeking opportunities for continuous improvement of motion control equipment that may provide better functionality or improved reliability or performance.
• Representing the section as a Mechatronics Control stakeholder at design reviews.
• The repair and maintenance of equipment including rewiring and reassembly where required.
• Providing guidance, help and encouragement to all graduates and apprentices working within the Mechatronics Support section and the wider group.
• Showcasing your work at conferences and workshops in the UK and internationally.

At UKRI Band E level, you would be required to work more independently when resolving complex maintenance issues, and to write, implement, and approve, safe methods of work. You would also be expected to take on supervision responsibilities of junior staff.

ISIS operates on a 24/7 basis when running and the group provides technical support outside of normal working hours via the on-call system. You would have the opportunity to join the other members of the group in supporting our on-call system. An On-call allowance is payable. 

Person Specification (UKRI Band D)

• Qualified HNC or above (HND, MEng, MSc, BEng) in a relevant engineering discipline or extensive experience in a relevant field of Mechatronics, Robotics, or Controls engineering.
• Demonstrable knowledge of mechatronic experience within an industrial or scientific setting that could include: (S+I)
  • Machine building and alignment of mechatronic systems.
  • Assembly of electrical systems and cabling.
  • Setup of PLC motion control systems.
• Ability to critically analyse systems and diagnose root cause failures.

 For Band E position, in addition to the above you will also be able to show:

• High level knowledge of at least two aspects of mechatronics (mechanical, electrical, and software)
• Experience with IEC 61131-3 structured text and object-oriented programming

What we offer

We are offering a whole host of benefits including:

•  30 days holiday FTE (in addition to 8 bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days)

•  flexible working hours

•  an excellent defined average salary pension scheme

•  employee shopping/travel discounts

•  excellent learning and development opportunities

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!