Job Description

Advanced Engineering Apprentice - Rotational

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Salary: £11,925 per annum rising incrementally to £18,402 in the fourth year

Hours: Full time (37 hours per week)

Contract Type: Fixed Term for 4 years

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

Start Date: September 2023

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has over 25 years’ experience in providing engineering apprenticeships and provides an excellent training ground to equip individuals with the relevant skills and experience for their chosen career in either mechanical, electrical or electronic engineering. We offer a competitive salary that increases annually, 4 years supervised training, additional core skills development and the opportunity to undertake overseas placements.

We are looking to recruit Level 3 Engineering Technician Product Design and Development Apprentices to join us in September 2023 at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory on our rotational engineering programme.

The successful candidates will follow an electrical biased programme undertaking 4-month placements in our ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, RAL Space, Central Laser Facility and Technology departments.

As a rotating engineering apprentice your main duties/responsibilities will include:

• Complete a prescribed programme of training to be conducted within the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
• Work under the guidance and support of your team within each placement
• Work safely and in line with established safety measures in the laboratory on a day-to-day basis
• Follow procedures and risk assessments with supervision.
• As an STFC Apprentice you will communicate with staff across STFC and at all levels. You will work as part of a team as well as working on your own. You will also represent STFC through the contact you have with your training provider
• Attend appropriate additional training to support the role and service delivery

You will be enrolled onto the Level 3 Engineering Technician Product Design and Development Pathway on a four-year apprenticeship where;

• Year 1: Your first six months will be spent training at Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS) at Culham, where you will be taught the basics of machining, welding, electronics and electrical wiring. The second six months will be spent in the workplace with one week in every four at OAS as well as undertaking on-the-job training via placements on a rotational basis in your chosen discipline, either mechanical, electrical or electronic.
• Year 2: Based at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory with block training at OAS – continuing four-month departmental placements
• Year 3-4: Will be fully in the workplace where you will further hone your skills to become an Engineering Technician

You will be required to attend OAS as required as part of your training; you must therefore be willing and able to travel independently. Excess travel costs will be covered.

Throughout your apprenticeship you will be expected to support scientists from all over the world as they continue to push back the barriers of science.

As an electrical apprentice your placements will give you skills in installing cabling, including single and 3-phase mains, large, high voltage conductor cables, 24V controls and soldering delicate components under a microscope. You will also learn about electrical containment, including trunking and conduit for a range of installation including motors, control and network circuits, as well as electrical testing, fault finding and maintenance required for the incredible scientific equipment used across the site. Opportunities are available across the site to be involved in the electrical design process using CAD software; as well as learning about Automation and Controls, producing PLC/HMI software and commissioning these systems for various applications.

As an electronic apprentice you will have the opportunity to learn about innovative state of the art high speed electronics, from single integrated circuits to huge data acquisition systems. When fully assembled these systems are used in scientific research all over the world. You will build on the core skills learnt during your first year, these include soldering, crimping, prototype board assembly, using multimeters, oscilloscopes and various other test equipment. As you progress in your apprenticeship you will move on to fault finding, analysing, designing and building electrical and electronic circuits. You will work on a large number of component technologies, ranging from high voltage electrical circuits running at thousands of volts to printed circuit boards containing components smaller than a grain of rice.

About an Apprenticeship at STFC

With training and support from experts in their fields, you’ll be enthusiastic about developing your knowledge, skills and behaviours, working towards completing your apprenticeship, gaining appropriate qualifications whilst making a real difference in your role.

If working with innovative technologies on world-leading research isn’t enough, you will develop both professionally and as a critical member of the team in an environment you won’t find anywhere else.

Our dedicated Apprenticeship Team will support you every step of the way, helping you make the most of your opportunities and to achieve the goals you already have – and those you have yet to discover!

We provide an opportunity to really pursue your interests and passion. You’ll have access to additional core skills development, access to a community of apprentices across the site, annual Apprentice awards evenings, a number of active sport and social groups across campus, and potential opportunities for overseas placements.

STFC offers a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, an outstanding index linked pension scheme, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas closure and flexible working hours.

For a list of our full benefits, please visit here:

• https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

About You

We are looking for self-motivated, hard-working and enthusiastic individuals who demonstrate an interest in engineering.

When submitting your CV and covering letter you should address yourself to this person specification, demonstrating by example how you meet the criteria contained within. Please also include any other information, which you feel is of relevance to your application.

Please state in your covering letter if you wish to be considered for more than one engineering discipline.

In order to apply for the role, we are looking for the following:

Essential:

• Achieved or predicted to achieve 5 GCSE passes at Grade C/4 or above including Maths, English and a STEM subject by September 2023 (or equivalent qualifications)
• Interest in engineering and the ability to demonstrate a basic level of knowledge and skill
• Good problem solving skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a small team.
• Good communication skills
• Self-motivated; willing to undertake the work required with the training provider and in the workplace
• Ability to work using own initiative

Desirable:

• IT literacy and working with Microsoft office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

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

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 48 months

Salary: From £11,925.00 per year

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: 2300009O

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