Mechanical Design Engineer Edinburgh, Scotland
Job description
Salary: Band D £31,931 to £34,709 per annum (dependent on skills and experience). An additional specialist allowance of up to £4000 per annum is also available for this role.
Hours: Full time
Benefits: 30 days holiday, in addition to 8 bank holidays, 2.5 privilege days and Christmas shut down. Defined average salary pension. Excellent Learning and Development opportunities
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh
Closing Date for applications 26.02.2023
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 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 UK Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh is currently looking to recruit a mechanical design engineer join our dedicated team of engineers. In this role you will be working as part of a team supporting our existing instrument program, including the development of instruments for the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), as well as further Earth observation and space telescope projects which are under development.
You will propose, evaluate and develop conceptual optomechanical systems to meet project requirements and goals, including the development of mechanical layouts, parts and manufacturing drawings using 3D CAD. Training will be given in specialist areas or expertise.
Responsibilities will include:
Working from information supplied by the senior engineer and other members of the project team, customer or consortia member, you will undertake the complete design of sub-systems and their components. Instructions will be provided in the form of basic outline drawings, sketches, specifications or verbally and, tasks will be defined in terms of technical goals and requirements and will be required to propose and evaluate tangible solutions. Effort and cost estimation will also be undertaken.
Using CAD to produce solid models, layouts, detailed manufacturing and assembly drawings.
Completing structural and thermal analyses by using CAE and traditional methods. And, whilst commercial software and text-book techniques will generally be used, you must be able to adapt these methods for the special circumstances of low temperature precision engineering where required.
Producing doucments including drawing lists, design reports, technical specifications for work to be sub-contracted, test procedures, reports and operation and maintenance manuals.
Taking part in design reviews, vendor liaison, Assembly/Integration/Testing, commissioning and on occasions the installation of individual instruments or sub systems at overseas telescopes
Providing technical supervision to junior engineering staff and you may be required to supervise the placing and execution of design work undertaken by agency staff on or off site, including sub-contract manufacturers.
Sharing your ideas and knowledge with laboratory technicians, the workshop team and scientists to ensure the successful manufacture, inspection and assembly of components and systems. On occasions this could also involve coordination of project staff outside the UKATC.
Person Specification:
Essential:
Minimum HNC level qualification in mechanical engineering or equivalent.
Extensive experience as a design engineer is required including work in at least one of the following fields: precision mechanisms, optics, structures and cryogenics.
You must have a clear understanding of the fundamental principles of structures, materials, and engineering tolerancing: there are few design codes available.
Experience in producing drawings using CAD.
Experience doing design calculations.
Hands-on experience of testing and commissioning.
Excellent written communication skills.
Motivated and enthusiastic about the role.
Desriable:
A high-grade honours degree in mechanical or aeronautical engineering.
Experience of "Autodesk Inventor".
Experience of ANSYS FEA software.
Previous experience of technical management.
Employee Benefits:
We are offering a permanent position with a whole host of benefits including:
30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
Flexible working hours.
An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
Employee shopping/travel discounts.
Excellent learning and development opportunities.
We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are invested in creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive of all to help us achieve the highest possible standards in our work and we encourage applications from under-represented groups.
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.
About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
The STFC is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.
As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake ground-breaking projects in an outstanding diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving progressive advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
