Energetic Materials Science Technician

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?
AWE is currently recruiting for a Science Technician role , working within our Explosive Materials and Initiation Science (ExMIS) group.
Energetic Materials Science Technician
Location: Aldermaston, Reading
Salary: £21,460 - £30,560 per annum (dependant on suitability and level of experience)
Closing Date: 17th May 2024
As part of our People Promise, AWE (one of the best 25 big companies to work for in the UK) has a range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• Time to recharge your batteries with 270 hours of annual leave (plus every other Friday off work as part of a 9 day working fortnight)
• Consideration for flexible working arrangements so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know on your application if you wish to work part time
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development that include funding for the annual membership of a relevant professional body, access to mentors and training
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
• A generous defined contribution Group Personal Pension (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your own contribution)
• Life Assurance
• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring for your family
• A host of voluntary & core benefits to suit your health and wellbeing - more information available on our careers website

As a technician this role will utilise your skills to support scientists and laboratory work within the Explosives group. We are seeking an experienced, motivated person, who can support the team to achieve their scientific goals. We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with knowledge and/or experience of working in scientific laboratory environment and engineering focussed when problem solving.
Applying your skills and experience, your work will focus on supporting the team by undertaking the following activities;

• Become trained in analytical science processes
• Provide second person rule support for laboratory processes
• Obtain materials, chemicals and consumables to enable scientific work to progress smoothly
• Develop external customer interactions and enable material shipment
• Develop internal stakeholder relationships
• Maintenance engineer supervision
• Equipment and instrumentation maintenance
• Support Facility/building activities that enable work
• Undergo relevant training such as asset change, event investigations and explosives inventory accountancy
• Support laboratory managers with laboratory housekeeping activities including lab checks such as LEV flow, balance checks, pressing tool inspections etc
• Support laboratory managers with chemical stock inventory management
• Waste management
• Oversee the upkeep of required documentation including those that are part of Safe Systems of Work, training records etc
• SharePoint management
• Champion quality

It is expected that candidates can demonstrate the following:

• Knowledge and/or experience of working in a scientific laboratory based environment with a minimum of scientific GCSE qualifications
• Working with hazardous materials and chemicals
• Engineering focussed problem solving skills
• A basic understanding of analytical chemistry techniques, desirably, particle size measurement, material characterisation and mass spectrometry/NMR
• A good understanding of Health & Safety
• An understanding of Safe Systems of Work (operating instructions, risk assessments, COSHH assessments, manual handling assessments etc.)
• Good laboratory practice and housekeeping

Personal attributes:

• Strong communication skills, verbal and written
• Organised, good at planning and time management
• Ability to work with others in a team environment
• Enthusiastic, positive, proactive, with a flexible attitude and able to take the initiative
• Appreciating the need for safety, quality and regulatory requirements

Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role and be willing and able to work in explosive designated areas.
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.