Electronic Design Engineer

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?
For nearly 70 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK’s ultimate deterrent - Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.
It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?
Electronic Design Engineer
AWE currently have an opening for an Embedded Software/Hardware Design Engineer working with a small team of engineers, on a permanent basis. This role will offer the opportunity to support and develop a range of legacy and bespoke systems covering Linux, Windows, ARM, Arduino, automated test equipment and fault finding at system level and down to component level on PCB’s and designing bespoke PCB’s for external manufacture. The role also includes providing support to our production facilities and maintaining an offline development simulation environment.
Location - Reading area
Package - £36,000 - £45,000pa (dependant on level of experience)
AWE offer a competitive salary, market leading contributory pension scheme, generous holiday entitlement, excellent work/life balance including a 9-day working fortnight and flexible working hours (role dependent). A salary sacrifice scheme is also available.
Please note, to be successful in this role you must have experience as a Design Engineer.
You will be required to:

• Contribute as part of a team to take on projects by gathering customer requirements, prototyping solutions in both software and electronic hardware, Designing solutions, testing and validation of designs creating written evidence and documentation.
• Provide second line support to production teams on technical queries, suggesting solutions, giving support when appropriate which will contribute to our KPI’s/SLA’s.
• Support and enhance an offline development / simulation environment to enable software and hardware development, testing and fault reproduction for investigations.
• Identify and support opportunities for improving the current X25 RS232 network with a view to upgrade to a robust Ethernet network and designing and implementing ways of loading up comms traffic to simulate real plant scenarios.
• Design and implement new electronic solutions to extend the life of the existing legacy bespoke circuit boards researching modern equivalents to replace obsolescent components.
• Design and implement electronic automated test equipment to replace the manual test process used on the Eurocard based control system, record faults found and highlight common issues.
• To improve and undertake modifications to the Pascal code on an OS9 development platform and compile, optimise and create EPROMS from the binary code produced.

To be considered for this role, you will ideally have demonstrable experience of the following:

• Working on complex or legacy control systems.
• Design innovative ways to utilise new technologies to remove subsystem obsolescence.
• Fault finding and repair of electronic circuit boards to component level.
• Designing electronic circuits from requirement specifications utilising modern electronic components.
• Proficiency in fault-finding and problem solving.

• Good familiarity with Microcontrollers such as Arduino, ARM and Raspberry Pi.
• Electronic design skills in schematic capture and PCB layout.
• Programming language skills (C/C++ and python are preferable)
• Knowledge of creating bespoke Linux environments.
• Mentoring and coaching skills.

• Strong communication skills both internal and external customers/suppliers.

You will need to have an HND in a relevant engineering/electronic discipline or proven experience working in a similar environment.
Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role.
AWE plays a crucial role in the defence of the United Kingdom, by providing and maintaining the warheads for the country’s nuclear deterrent. We are a centre of scientific, engineering and technological excellence, with some of the most advanced research, design and production facilities in the world. Our unique expertise also assists the UK Government in developing and delivering a range of innovative and integrated support services, including national nuclear security and counter-terrorism solutions.
AWE is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community which are currently under-represented at AWE, including women, BAME and disabled people.
Please note that you must be a BritishNational to apply for a role at AWE.
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Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.
Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.