(Senior) Mechanical Technician

Salary

£33,253 to £35,376 (Discretionary range to £40,681), or £41,414 to £45,510 (Discretionary range to £52,337) for the Senior Level

Location and Contract

Harwell, Oxfordshire

Full time – Based onsite

34‑Month Fixed Term

Reference: 11842

About Us

Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron; a huge scientific facility designed to produce very intense beams of X-rays, infrared and ultraviolet light. Our scientists use the light to study a vast range of subject matter, from new medicines and treatments for disease to innovative engineering and cutting‑edge technology.

About the Role

We now have an opportunity for a (Senior) Mechanical Technician (internally known as a (Senior) Vacuum Technician) to participate in the construction, conditioning, testing, commissioning, installation and maintenance of the Diamond vacuum systems and support equipment, for a 34‑month fixed term contract. This role will also play a part in our major multi‑million‑pound facility upgrade, known as Diamond‑II, which will generate an even more brilliant light source at a higher energy. You will be working within an ultra‑high vacuum (UHV) clean assembly environment, undertaking vacuum inspection and acceptance testing of vacuum components and assisting and advising on the correct procedures and techniques for UHV installations and testing.

Further Responsibilities

• Preparing the equipment and areas for vacuum installations.
• Advising on the purchasing and procurement of equipment.
• Utilising the quality control and quality procedures of the Diamond project.
• Assisting with vacuum equipment and project Lab tests.
• Monitoring equipment maintenance requirements.

At the senior level you will also supervise small teams for vacuum installation and maintenance tasks and take part in the planning and preparation of work including resource allocation for systems installations.

Applicants will be considered at either Mechanical Technician or Senior Mechanical Technician level, depending on the strength of your skills, experience and qualifications.

About You

You will be an experienced Technician or Engineer from a high technology environment with experience in assembly and operation of scientific vacuum equipment. To be considered at the senior level you ideally will have served a recognised Engineering Apprenticeship or Engineering Degree or demonstrate equivalent on‑the‑job experience.

Some knowledge or experience in any of the following areas will be beneficial:

• Leak detectors.
• Residual Gas Analysers.
• Quality Control Systems.
• Work and resource Planning.
• Safe Systems of work.
• Using cranes and slings, forklift trucks etc. for heavy lifting.
• Testing, fault finding and maintenance of electro‑mechanical systems.
• Interpreting mechanical drawings.

Occasional travel will be required to our local storage warehouse facility.

Immigration / Sponsorship

This position meets a SOC code that is on the UK Government’s Temporary Shortage List. This brings with it restrictions on our ability to sponsor non‑UK & Irish nationals.

At Technician level we can potentially sponsor those individuals that have already been sponsored in the UK since before 4th April 2024, as well as those individuals that meet the eligibility requirements of the new entrant rate, however, such employment could only be on a fixed term basis for the duration of your new entrant rate eligibility.

At Senior Technician level we could sponsor any eligible individuals, however, under recent changes to the UK Immigration system, such employment could only be on a fixed term basis, and individuals that are relocating to the UK to take up employment against a position matched to a Temporary Shortage List SOC code would not be able to bring dependants with them to the UK.

Please do not apply to this vacancy if you require sponsorship and do not meet the above criteria, sponsorship outside of this criteria is impossible.

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.

As standard this role requires a fully onsite working arrangement