Energetic Materials Science Technician in Reading - CV-Library

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