Support Technician

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Salary: £25,702 to £27,938 per annum (dependent on skills and experience). A Specialist of Allowance of up to £2000 per annum is also available for this role.
Hours: Full time, 37 per week
Contract Type: Permanent Position
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire.

Together our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society. Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

STFC’s ISIS Neutron and Muon facility is a leading centre of material science excellence. The facility performs cutting edge research into the structure and properties of materials at an atomic and molecular level. It is the most productive research centre of its type in the world. Each year we welcome around 2000 visiting scientists who complete over 600 experiments.

The Role:

A hands-on active approach is key to the success of this role, utilizing a high level of independent problem solving skills. A team-player with excellent interpersonal skills will excel at the role, which is customer facing and requires interaction with many contractors and other teams around site.

You will provide day-to-day high-tech operational support to the Helium Recovery Manager and the Sample Environment Cryogenics team, ensuring that all aspects of the ISIS Helium Recovery and Liquefaction Plant is on line and producing sufficient gas and liquid helium to enable our cryogenic systems to be routinely operating at any one time. The role involves logistical support for the management and distribution of liquid helium and nitrogen across the ISIS facility. The role also provides technical support to the helium recovery plant and ancillary cryogenic systems. Full training will be given.

Main duties:

• Technical support of the Helium Recovery system, including gas recovery and liquefaction.
• Filling of helium vessels in the Helium Recovery facility.
• Logistics management and delivery of helium vessels around the ISIS facility by vehicle.
• Installation of dewars on to helium recovery infrastructure within the ISIS facility.
• Routine maintenance of equipment, using techniques such as helium leak detection.
• Fitting of auxiliary equipment.
• Liaising with external suppliers, ordering of consumables and sundries.
• Accurate record keeping.
• Small project based work.
• Wider support of the facility’s cryogenic operations as appropriate.

The below criteria will be assessed at Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential Criteria:

• Level 3 qualification (e.g. BTEC ONC) or equivalent experience (S&I)
• Basic mechanical skills (S&I)
• Basic PC literacy including Microsoft Office (S&I)
• Good team working and communication skills with the ability to work autonomously and alone when required (S&I)
• Ability to work in a radiation area (I)
• Ability to work overtime when required (I)
• Ability to perform in a time-critical delivery focused environment (I)
• Valid UK driving license (I)

Desirable Criteria:

• Demonstrable knowledge of the helium recovery process (S&I)
• Basic practical knowledge in cryogenics (S&I)
• Basic practical knowledge in vacuum technology (S&I)
• Experience working in a mechanical or electrical field (S&I)
• Experience working to, or drafting, technical drawings (S&I)

Our Benefits:

We are offering a permanent position that provides a whole host of family friendly benefits including; 30 days holiday (in addition to bank holidays), an excellent pension scheme, employee shopping/travel discounts, a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business-support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe’s largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what’s possible.