Mechatronic & Controls Technician

Mechatronic and Controls Maintenance Technician

Salary: Electrical Engineer- £44,982 or Electronics Technician -£56,509 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 

Join the ISIS Electrical and Electronic User Support Group (EEUSG) and become an integral part of our dynamic Mechatronics Control Section! 

Our team delivers crucial operational and maintenance services for a diverse range of systems, facilitating numerous scientific experiments at ISIS annually. We specialise in supporting mechatronic systems, Sample Environment, and Functional Safety systems.

Our mechatronic systems play a pivotal role in enabling world-leading science at the ISIS Neutron & Muon Source by allowing researchers to configure the instruments for experimental setups. These systems range from small stepper-driven linear positioning systems, piezo driven vacuum motion, and large servo systems all working at micron level accuracy.

Role Overview

As a key member of the mechatronics section, you will take a practical, hands-on role, responsibility for all aspects of supporting motion control equipment on our instruments that will include:

• Maintenance Planning: Developing and implementing maintenance activities, including safe methods of work, and maintaining accurate records. 
• Repair, Maintenance and Fault Finding: Utilise your mechatronic skills to diagnose, repair, and maintain mechatronic equipment. We encourage personal development opportunities to help you expand and enhance your technical skills across various disciplines.
• Collaboration: Partner with specialist mechanical teams to assemble and install precision ISIS beamline motion control equipment.
• Design Reviews & Continuous Improvement: Provide operational insights during design reviews of new equipment. Opportunities you identify to enhance the functionality, reliability, and performance of motion control equipment will be supported.
• Showcase Expertise: Have the opportunity to present your work at conferences and workshops both in the UK and internationally.
• Mentorship: The opportunity to offer guidance, support, and encouragement to mechatronic graduates and apprentices.
• Testing, Commissioning, and Support: Work with a variety of PLC and motion software control systems and measurement equipment to ensure optimal performance.
• Integration Support: Assist in integrating scientific equipment for experiments.

Additionally an Electronics Technician responsibilities will also include:

• Working more independently to resolve complex maintenance issues, lead the planning and implementation of safe work methods, and supervise junior staff.

Operational Support: ISIS operates a 24/7 user cycle when the accelerator is running (approx. 180 days/year). To ensure smooth operations, our technical staff provide support outside of normal working hours through a payable (additional allowances) on-call system. You will have the opportunity to work with support of the team to provide out-of-hours support for equipment within your remit.

 The below criteria for the Electrical Engineer will be reviewed at Shortlisting (S) and /or Interview stage:

• Qualified HNC or above (HND, MEng, MSc, BEng) in a relevant engineering discipline or extensive experience in Mechatronics, Robotics, or Controls engineering (S).
• Demonstrable experience of mechatronic systems within an industrial or scientific setting which could include:
  • Experience in machine building and alignment of mechatronic systems (S+I).
  • Proficiency in the assembly of electrical systems and cabling such as wiring, crimping, and soldering of motion stages or panel building (S+I).
  • Setup and configuration of motion controllers or PLC systems (S+I).
• Proficiency with mechanical hand tools (S+I).
• Ability to critically analyse systems and diagnose root cause failures. (S+I).
• Knowledge of safety systems and isolation (S+I).
• Experience of working with Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS) (S+I).
• Good written and verbal communication skills (S+I).
• Good customer service skills (I).

In addition to the above, the below criteria for the Electronics Technician will need to be demonstrate is a:

• High level knowledge of mechatronics (mechanical, electrical, and software) with a focus on sub-mm accuracy and repeatability setups(I).
• Experience with IEC 61131-3 programming languages (ISIS currently uses the Beckhoff TwinCAT platform with structured text for new motion control systems but knowledge of this specific system is not required) (I).
• Experience measuring and assessing motion performance such as accuracy and repeatability (I).
• Working knowledge of the Machinery Directive and PUWER (I).
• Experience either directly, or indirectly managing staff, giving technical supervision, or mentoring of junior technicians or engineers (I).

Please use your cover letter to demonstrate how you meet the shortlisting (s) criteria of this role if not covered by your CV.

Employee benefits

STFC offers our staff a wide range of excellent non-paying employee benefits, including but not limited to 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days), Flexible working hours, an excellent defined average salary pension scheme. As well as employee shopping/travel discounts and excellent learning and development opportunities.

Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.