Senior Electronics Engineer
- 📁
- Engineering
- 📅
- Jun 14, 2024 Post Date
- 📅
- 240000IF Requisition #
Senior Electronics Engineer
Salary: £53,818 per annum
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire
Chopper Timing Controls Engineer - ISIS Controls Group
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of Europe’s largest research organisations.
STFC’s mission is to deliver world-leading national and international research and innovation capabilities and, through those, discover the secrets of the Universe. Our major research and innovation campuses at Harwell, Daresbury and research facilities across the UK and overseas support fundamental research in astronomy, physics, computational science and space science.
The ISIS Neutron and Muon Source is located at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford in the UK and is a world-leading centre for research in the physical and life sciences.
We have a position to work as an Electronic Design Engineer within the ISIS Controls Group, which is part of the ISIS Electrical Systems Division. The Controls Group provides both large-scale distributed and stand-alone control systems throughout the ISIS Target, Accelerator, and Neutron/Muon beamlines.
Your main responsibility will be the ongoing maintenance and upgrade of the ISIS beamline chopper control and timing systems and the technology refresh program for future upgrades.
The beamline chopper systems physically select the energy of the neutrons that are arriving at the Detector Systems, based on their velocity. They typically consist of a motor-set that drives large spinning slotted disks at a high RPM. The control electronics use FPGAs with clock speeds up to 1 MHz.
You will also be expected to participate in ISIS Controls Group projects and will have the opportunity to be part of an on-call team that ensures the continued availability of control systems during operational periods.
About the role
• Support the current hardware and FPGA firmware (Xilinx Virtex-4)
• Work on the technology refresh program for the chopper control hardware
• Upgrade the design of ISIS Master Pulse Distribution Units
• Upgrade the Chopper Controller PCB and FPGA design
• Project Management and QA under ISO9000
• Manage Safety, Health and Environment including COSHH
Please be aware that on occasions you will be working in classified radiation ISIS Ionising Radiation (stfc.ac.uk) areas (details can be provided on request)
Selection Criteria
The below criteria will be reviewed at shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I)
- Degree in electronics, physics, computer science or similar discipline. (S)
- An excellent understanding of digital electronics and systems design. (S&I)
- Adept at front-end electronics design and signal conditioning techniques. (S&I
- Proficient at electronic circuit design, including schematic capture entry and PCB layout using CAD software. (S&I)
- Strong FPGA design experience with a good familiarity of AMD (Xilinx) and/or Intel FPGA design tools. (S&I)
- Excellent knowledge of FPGA design verification and test bench simulation. (S&I)
- Adept at working with version control systems. (S&I)
- Good knowledge of scripting languages like Python, Tcl/Tk. (S&I)
- Excellent problem solving skills and experienced in debugging and maintaining equipment in the field. (S&I)
- Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills, as you will be engaging closely with collaborators from national and international partner organisations, including across multidisciplinary areas. (S&I)
What STFC can offer
STFC offers our staff a wide range of excellent non-pay employee benefits, including tailored career development, 30 days holiday allowance plus 10.5 bank and privilege days, travel to work discounts, health and wellbeing support for you and your family, access to a host of networking and recreation groups and opportunities to make a positive difference to society.
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 [email protected].
About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We’re proud of the impact we make. And we’re committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You’ll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you’ll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you’ll discover just what a difference you can make when you’re equipped and inspired to excel.
We’re a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don’t, ask questions that others won’t, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it’s at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It’s very often ground-breaking. And it’s endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.