Senior Mechanical Technician (Beamline)

About Us

Diamond Light Source is the UKs national synchrotron science facility. By accelerating electrons to near light-speed, Diamond generates brilliant beams of light from infra-red to X-rays which are used for academic and industry research and development across a range of scientific disciplines including structural biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, earth and environmental sciences.

About the Role

We now have an opportunity for Senior Mechanical Technician to join a small team of mechanical and electrical technicians who support the activities of the macromolecular crystallography group at Diamond. This group operates seven X-ray beamlines, the UK XFEL hub and the electron diffraction instrument HeXI for the UK and international structural biology user community.

The successful candidate, with colleagues, will be responsible for maintenance and installation of the beamline instruments, components and infrastructure systems within beamlines and laboratories. You will also work with the team and other Diamond staff in providing support to the groups varied projects and user programme. These instruments operate 24 hours per day, 6 days per week for around 200 days per year requiring regular maintenance and operational support that may require occasional work outside of normal working hours (37 hours per week Monday to Friday).

Further responsibilities will include:

• Carrying out a variety of light mechanical assembly tasks (this involves building new equipment/developments for subsystems of the scientific equipment such as specialist non-ambient condition sample environments), including one-off small-scale fabrications, machining, and modifications.
• Interacting with both the scientific beamline staff and facility users to ensure the beamlines facilities and equipment can meet scientific requirements. During experiments you may be called on to fault find and effect repairs or modifications in a timely manner.
• Contributing to risk and method statements; ensuring that all beamline work is carried out safely and using the correct processes such as ATW, PTW.
• Supervising and coordinating the installation and commissioning of specialist beamline equipment.
• Taking part in operational planning, liaising with, and coordinating tasks with members of other specialist technical and engineering support groups across the wider organisation to complete various works, inspections and maintenance according to plan as well as scheduled safety testing and managing the day-to-day running of beamline equipment.
• Working closely with other technical, engineering, and scientific staff to provide your contribution to the development of new systems, equipment or processes.
• Supervising internal or external staff / contractors.

About You

Suitable candidates must have significant technical experience and hold a HNC or GNVQ level 3 or equivalent qualification or apprenticeship (applicants with equivalent work experience will also be considered).

You will demonstrate knowledge / experience of:

• Cryogenics, assembling complex systems, ultra-high vacuum, specialist gases.
• Using quality assurance procedures, work planning, risk assessments and safe systems of work, including COSHH, PUWER etc.
• Interpreting mechanical drawings and the ability to produce simple engineering drawings for machining or production of 3D printed items.
• Assembly to drawings and tolerance specifications and fitting as needed.

You will demonstrate good interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work unsupervised, both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Occasional travel within the UK and overseas including overnight absences may be required.

Benefits

Diamond offers an exceptional benefits package to support staff in achieving a positive work/life balance. This includes 26 days annual leave plus Christmas closure, public holidays, 2 annual volunteering days and flexible working hours. We also offer an excellent defined benefit pension scheme. Staff also have access to a range of amenities on site including a nursery, cafes, a restaurant and sports and leisure facilities. A relocation allowance may also be available where applicable.

To Apply

Please use the online application process to apply and tell us why you believe you are suitable for this role.

The closing date for applications is 6th October 2024, however, we encourage early applications as some candidates may be interviewed before this date.

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