Target Fabrication Scientist - Vulcan

Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire 

Come and discover the kind of impact you can make when you work with some of the best facilities and brightest scientists in the world.

An exciting opportunity exists to join the Central Laser Facility (CLF), at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, to work in a new project called Vulcan 20-20. The Vulcan high power laser facility sits at the heart of the CLF, and for decades has been internationally recognised as a globally leading laser facility, providing access for UK and international researchers working on a wide range of topics in high energy density and plasma science. 

The CLF has recently secured funding for an ambitious £82M upgrade to the Vulcan facility (termed Vulcan 20-20) to increase its power to 20 PW, and its energy to 20 kJ. It will be the highest power laser in the world. We are looking for a wide range of scientists with excellent technical skills to help design, build and deliver Vulcan 20-20.

As part of the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC), the CLF contains many state-of-the-art laser systems and experimental stations, along with expert scientists, engineers and technicians that work with academic and industry users to deliver science across a broad range of fields. The CLF has around 200 staff and it is a very friendly, outgoing, externally facing sort of place. 

About The Role 

You will join the Vulcan 20-20 team and have a leading role in the development of the target technology and systems required to field complex experiments on the new facility. You will engage with user groups, similar facilities and work with the engineering teams to ensure that the targetry work package deliverables are met.  

You will work as part of the target fabrication group and will also ensure that robust, traceable and continuously improving processes are implemented to support future Vulcan 20-20 operations. 

The key areas of the role include:

• managing the delivery of a range of techniques for complex target manufacture
• engaging with the user community to determine the requirements and the scientific direction of targetry within the V20-20 project
• engaging with the development, testing, installation and commissioning of the target stages and inserters
• collaborating closely with the engineering team to design key specialist equipment
• working closely with other technical leads of the project responsible for the design of key parts of the facility
• responsibility for the targetry systems budget 

About You 

You will have a degree or relevant experience in physics, as well having experience in a relevant scientific area with a record of independent research or autonomous thinking. 

You should have good knowledge of target science and high-power laser experiments. You will ideally be familiar with experimental facilities and user support and will have experience in a project management environment. 

You should also have previous experience in the management of projects and/or people. 

What we offer 

We are offering a permanent position with a whole host of benefits including: 

• 30 days holiday annually (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days)
• flexible working hours
• an excellent defined average salary pension scheme
• employee shopping/travel discounts
• excellent learning and development opportunities
• visa Sponsorship for candidates applying outside of the UK

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance! 

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer. 

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible. 

Closing Date: 18^th August 2024