Applied Scientist (Orion Laser Facility)

Would you like to work in Orion - the largest and most powerful laser system and experimental facility for high-energy density physics in the UK? Orion delivers high-quality output to a demanding user programme. It recreates physical conditions in the lab similar to those found in the heart of the sun, with its high-power laser beamlines, all housed in a building the size of a football pitch!

An opportunity is now available for an Applied Scientist to operate and enhance Orion to perform the experiments necessary to underwrite the safety and performance of nuclear warheads, maintain national nuclear security and develop the capability and technology that meets future nuclear deterrent needs.

Location - Reading area

Package - £33,300 - £42,000 (depending on your suitability and level of experience)

AWE (one of the best 25 big companies to work for in the UK) offers an attractive array of benefits which include:

• Generous holiday entitlement 270 hours a year (inclusive of Bank Holidays) plus every other Friday off;
• Flexible working hours;
• Potential opportunities to travel overseas for conferences and international collaboration;
• Consideration for either full time or part time hours. Just let us know on your application if you wish to work part time;
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development that include an established career development pathway, funding for the annual membership of a relevant professional body and access to mentors and training;
• Market leading contributory pension scheme;
• AWE Life Insurance.

The role:

As an Applied Scientist within Orion you will become a key part of the team maintaining, developing and running complex diagnostic instruments such as streak cameras, interferometers, X-ray imaging systems and spectrographs. As well as working to characterise, calibrate and operate a broad suite of existing diagnostics you would be involved in, or run projects to bring new instruments from requirements to realisation to support Orion's ongoing mission. Other responsibilities of the role include:

• Generating reports on data that you have obtained to provide this to stakeholders and make suggestions on improvements;
• Identifying ways to support continuous improvement to the technical equipment within Orion;
• Becoming a technical expert on technical instruments that we have within the Orion facility.

To be considered for this role, we are looking for candidates to ideally have the following:

• A degree in physics (essential);
• Experience of working in an academic laboratory or industrial setting;
• Working experience conducting empirical scientific research and drawing and presenting sound detailed conclusions;
• Experience of managing own research project activities;
• The ability to plan and manage the delivery of own work or that of a small technical team;
• Able to provide technical input within own field of expertise that can influence project or team activity;
• Comfortable with managing specialist equipment and develop and define specialist research processes to deliver solutions to technical problems;
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to solve technical complications by applying specialist technical knowledge to own work or working as part of a team, transferring knowledge to help solve problems outside their own area of expertise;
• A willingness to learn new skills and technical knowledge outside your own area of expertise;
• A clear and concise communication approach, both oral and written.

Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role.

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