SENIOR MECHANICAL TECHNICIAN

Salary: Band D (S1) £44,982 per annum
Hours: Full-Time (We understand the importance of work-life balance and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)
Contract Type: Open-Ended
Location Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh.
Come and do the kind of science that made you want to become a scientist. Explore the unknown and get to grips with the biggest challenges in Big Science. And, alongside world class engineers, technicians and technologists, use everything you’ve learnt to find real answers that shape society and improve lives.
Put simply, discover the kind of impact you can make when you work with some of the best facilities and brightest scientists in the world

ABOUT THE ROLE

The UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) is the UK’s national centre for leading-edge astronomical instrumentation and systems. We design and build instrumentation for world-leading astronomy facilities on the ground and in space. Here you will work alongside world-leading scientists, engineers and technologists to develop and build leading-edge scientific instruments.
We have a friendly and flexible work environment, on a beautiful site combining the historic Royal Observatory Edinburgh architecture with a high-tech engineering facility including modern laboratories and cleanrooms.
We are currently seeking a Mechanical Technician to support the development, manufacture, assembly, test, delivery, installation and commissioning of equipment across various ground-based and space-based astronomy projects.

SPECIFICALLY, YOUR DUTIES WILL INCLUDE:

• Working as a senior technical person within the Mechanical Technician Team (Engineering Support Group)
• The manufacture and modification of precision mechanical, optomechanical and electromechanical parts and assemblies to defined requirements.
• This will include inspection, metrology, fitting and alignment of internally and externally sourced precision parts to verify dimensional and geometric tolerancing, and other quality requirements.
• Planning, organising and testing of parts, assemblies and mechanisms including the use of environmental test facilities, such as vacuum and cryogenic test systems and cleanroom operations. (Training will be given on specialist equipment and processes).
• Planning, organising and doing the assembly and test of these parts and assemblies into more complex systems.
• Planning and coordinating integration, test and commissioning of development and completed systems both on site and occasionally at telescope.
• Planning, coordinating and doing specialist work within a clean room environment. (Training will be given on specialist equipment and processes).
• Working and collaborating in cross-functional teams across a variety of projects.