Science and Technology Facilities Council

Senior Functional Safety Engineer
 
Salary: £58,346 per annum 
Hours: Full time (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicant)
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire

Come and do the kind of engineering that made you want to be an engineer! Stretch your technical skills while enabling the advancement of humanities understanding of materials. Promote sustainability and create new materials and, alongside world-leading scientists and technologists, shape projects that improve lives, in the UK and far beyond. Put simply, come and discover the impact you can make when you are equipped, encouraged and inspired to perform to your very best.

As one of the world’s leading science facilities, the ISIS Neutron and Muon source provides and service for academic researchers and industrial users to probe the atomic and molecular structure of some of the most advanced materials on the planet. The facility is underpinned by team of highly skilled and dedicated technical staff, designing, delivering and maintaining the bespoke and innovative equipment used by the facility.

Within the ISIS Design Division, the Functional Safety team is responsible for the design, analysis and delivery of customised interlock systems protecting personnel against ISIS facility hazards, including ionising radiation, machinery, high voltage and lasers. This involves the application of a broad range of engineering expertise including both relay based and programmable technologies, in collaboration with mechanical, electrical, and project design and operational teams.

Key Duties

• Design & delivery of customised optimised interlock systems protecting against hazards including ionizing radiation, machinery, high voltage and lasers.
• Supporting the risk assessment of existing equipment & systems.
• Modification of operational systems as well as clean sheet designs to meet customer specifications and both internal and international published standards.
• Leading project and design review meetings in line with the interlock management plan, ensuring agreement from all collaborators throughout the design process.
• You will work to structured project management techniques encompassing the full lifecycle i.e. concept, detail design, procurement, manufacture, installation, commissioning, operation & eventually decommissioning.
• Communicating to others at all levels to ensure system designs achieve customer and safety requirements.
• Supporting the team though direct line management of technical staff and contributing to overall plans and procedures for system design and delivery.

You will have a background in an appropriate engineering field & experience in the implementation of control systems. Experience of participation in safety lifecycle activities at high hazard facilities in the process or machinery sectors is desirable although all relevant industrial experience will be considered. 

Person Specification

You will be assessed on the basis of shortlisting (S) and/or interview (I) criteria :

• Degree or HND in a relevant engineering field, or evidence of significant and relevant experience of safety system development, electrical design and project management. Formal functional safety qualifications would be of benefit. (S)
• Experienced in the application of British and European electrical design and safety standards including risk assessment (ISO 12100) and functional safety standards (IEC 62061 or equivalent) to system designs. (S&I)
• In depth experience of safety function, safety requirement specifications (SRS) and safety system verification and validation processes. (S&I)
• Demonstrable track record in the delivery of, fit-for-purpose functional safety systems meeting demanding technical and scientific requirements, including creation of test cases and validation activities across the full safety and project management lifecycles. (S&I)
• Experience in the design and development of PLC and relay based safety interlock systems compliant to IEC 62061 or equivalent standards. (S&I)
• Proficient user of electrical CAD (i.e. AutoCAD Electrical/EPLAN) and any SharePoint or ECM based document management system. (S)
• Proven ability to initiate and maintain communication with staff at all levels through a systematic, methodical and organised approach to work. (I)
• Experience of managing technical engineers. (S&I)

What we have to offer

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

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
• Easy access to public transport / Free parking.
• Learning and development opportunities.

Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact [email protected].

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.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

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, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. 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.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.