Graduate Systems Engineer Edinburgh 2021

The UK Astronomy Technology Centre is the national centre for astronomical technology. We design, build and commission instruments for the world's major telescopes on behalf of the UK astronomy community.

We also project-manage UK and international collaborations to develop the latest astronomical facilities and telescopes.

Our scientists carry out observational and theoretical research into fundamental questions such as the origins of planets and of galaxies!

The UK ATC is based at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh which is one of the STFC national laboratories. The National Laboratories provide research facilities and capabilities that, because of their scale, complexity, strategic character or cost, are appropriately operated as a national research resource.

The primary mission of the laboratories is to facilitate national research capability, and complement and collaborate with the university research base.

Your responsibilities

We are recruiting a Graduate System Engineer to work in our System Engineering group. The system engineering role involves working as part of a team to support our development of instruments for the ESO VLT and the ELT telescopes, Earth observation and space telescope projects under development.

In particular you will contribute to the design and construction of the HARMONI instrument, which is the UK’s largest contribution to the construction of the Extremely Large Telescope!

• Assist project systems engineer performing requirements engineering and management.
• Develop together with the systems engineer the architecture of scientific systems.
• Identify key system modelling requirements and model products.
• Assist with the allocation of design performance and error budgets to the detailed designers.
• Contribute to design activities.
• Contribute to assembly, integration and verification activities.
• Develop reliability models and ensure the maintenance and support provisions are sufficient.
• Understand the key needs of the astronomers and through analysis and discussion with engineers of all fields check the feasibility of the idea and develop the technical requirements supporting the science.
• Create manageable product breakdowns with well-defined interfaces that can be most easily managed. This requires sensitivity to the aims of the various consortium partners and to the practicality of building the system in an efficient manner.
• Set up the main performance models such that the top-level performance can be predicted at all phases of the project.
• Assist in identify the main technical risks and mitigation plans and ensure that these are understood by the whole team. Ensure that mitigation plans are carried out.
• Design and perform validation tests of major hardware and software elements.
• Carry out trade off studies through prototype testing and analysis.

We recruit on a rolling basis therefore we recommend you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Applications will be reviewed and considered on an ongoing basis until our roles are filled.

What you'll need

• Obtained your first degree bachelors or Masters, (not doctorate) in a relevant subject in either 2020, 2021 or be due to receive it in 2022
• Expected or have achieved a 2:1 or above
• The right to live and work in the UK

Essential Criteria

• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills including the ability to create mathematical models
• Creative
• Team player
• Eye for detail while keeping the bigger picture in mind
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• A mixed discipline engineering degree such as Systems Engineering mixed with Photonics, Optronics, or Mechatronics as a first degree

About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) 

The STFC is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake ground-breaking projects in an outstanding diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving progressive advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.

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.

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.