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- Tasks: Join our Radiation Diagnostics Team to develop cutting-edge diagnostic instruments and support experimental facilities.
- Company: AWE is a leading organisation focused on world-class technology development in the field of physics.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 9-day working fortnight, generous leave, and a market-leading pension scheme.
- Why this job: Be part of groundbreaking projects and collaborate internationally while advancing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: A degree in Physics; a PhD or relevant experience is a plus. Strong communication and teamwork skills are essential.
- Other info: Limited remote work; travel for conferences and trials may be required.
The predicted salary is between 32000 - 45000 £ per year.
Closing Date: 16th June 2025
Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking. Due to the classified nature of the work involved, there are limited opportunities to work from home in this role. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will spend the majority of their time working on site at AWE Aldermaston.
Package: £38,020 - £47,500 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)
Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.
Let us introduce the role: AWE is recruiting for an Experimental Physicist for the Radiation Diagnostics Team within the Technology Development Group. This is at a time where we are developing our capability to world class standards. AWE have an existing light ion accelerator used to deliver high energy neutrons for internal and external customers, and are looking to replace this accelerator with new capabilities utilising the latest technologies. The successful candidate would be hired at the inception of this new project stage and help to develop it from a proposal to reality.
As an applied scientist in the Radiation Diagnostics team, you will become a key part of the team maintaining, developing and running diagnostic instruments. You would be involved in (and potentially lead) projects to bring new instruments from requirements to realisation in support of experimental facilities. This will involve theoretical and computational modelling of instruments, design of hardware, data collection, analysis of data and feedback to customers, as well as experimental testing and characterisation of future and existing instrumentation.
As part of developing our capabilities to world class standards for both internal and external customers, you will be supporting national and international collaborations with AWE's partners in and out of the United Kingdom. This collaboration will entail travel outside of AWE for conferences and experimental trials at UK and international facilities.
Who are we looking for? We do need you to have the following:
- A degree in Physics, and a PhD or relevant post-graduate experience would be beneficial for this role.
- Strong communication skills, verbal and written, excellent team working ability, proactive, and highly organised.
- Willing to travel and work at other UK and overseas sites as required.
Whilst not to be considered a tick list, we'd like you to have experience in some of the following:
- Working in an academic laboratory or industrial setting
- Experience in one or more of the following technical areas:
- Radiation transport modelling
- Nuclear physics
- Diagnostic instrument development and design
- Robotics and automation
- Use of machine learning techniques and tools
- Programming language such as Python or C++
You’ll need to have the ability to work calmly and constructively in a priority changing environment and be able to manage your own workload. You will also have initiative, enthusiasm, a flexible approach, and ability to work to tight deadlines.
Some reasons we think you’ll love it here:
- AWE has wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:
- 9-day working fortnight - meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
- Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
- Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
- Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.
- Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
- Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
- Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
- Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.
The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.
Experimental Physicist employer: Atomic Weapons Establishment
Contact Detail:
Atomic Weapons Establishment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Experimental Physicist
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest advancements in radiation diagnostics and related technologies. Being knowledgeable about current trends and innovations will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of experimental physics, especially those involved in radiation diagnostics. Attend relevant conferences or workshops to make connections that could provide insights into the role and potentially lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with programming languages like Python or C++. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've used these skills in past projects, as technical proficiency is crucial for this position.
✨Tip Number 4
Highlight your ability to work collaboratively in a team environment. Since the role involves supporting national and international collaborations, showcasing your teamwork skills and any relevant experiences will be beneficial.
We think you need these skills to ace Experimental Physicist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your relevant experience in experimental physics, particularly any work with diagnostic instruments or radiation transport modelling. Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills and achievements.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention how your background aligns with AWE's goals, especially regarding the development of new technologies and collaboration on international projects.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Clearly outline your technical skills, such as programming in Python or C++, and any experience with robotics or machine learning techniques. This will show that you have the necessary expertise for the role.
Showcase Communication Abilities: Since strong communication skills are essential, provide examples of how you've effectively communicated complex ideas in previous roles. This could include presentations, reports, or collaborative projects.
How to prepare for a job interview at Atomic Weapons Establishment
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your experience in radiation transport modelling, nuclear physics, and diagnostic instrument development. Highlight specific projects you've worked on and the technologies you've used, such as Python or C++, to demonstrate your technical skills.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Communication Skills
Since the role involves collaboration with national and international partners, it's crucial to showcase your strong communication skills. Share examples of how you've successfully worked in teams and communicated complex ideas clearly, both verbally and in writing.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Abilities
Prepare to discuss situations where you've had to manage changing priorities or tight deadlines. Use specific examples to illustrate how you approached challenges calmly and constructively, showcasing your initiative and flexibility.
✨Express Enthusiasm for the Role and Company
Show genuine interest in AWE and the Experimental Physicist position. Research the company's projects and values, and be ready to explain why you're excited about contributing to their mission of developing world-class capabilities in radiation diagnostics.
