Principal Testing Rigs & Labs Technician
Role Overview
Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.
About the job
We are recruiting a Principal Testing Rigs & Labs Technician to provide senior‐level technical leadership within our experimental laboratories.
This is a highly practical role, drawing on extensive mechanical and electrical experience, it combines deep hands‐on expertise with day‐to‐day operational responsibility for testing rigs, laboratory equipment and experimental activities. You will be the principal technical lead for laboratory operations, ensuring experiments are built, commissioned and run safely, efficiently and to a high technical standard.
Working closely with engineers, scientists and programme teams, you will translate experimental designs into robust, real‐world test setups, mentor technicians and apprentices, and help evolve laboratory capability to meet the needs of novel and emerging technologies.
What You’ll Be Doing
Take day‐to‐day ownership of the safe and effective operation of testing rigs and laboratory facilities
Act as the technical lead for experimental build, commissioning, operation and decommissioning activities
Translate experimental designs into safe, buildable and high‐quality physical test setups
Provide hands‐on leadership during complex or novel experimental work, troubleshooting issues and reducing technical risk
Ensure laboratory assets, tooling and equipment are maintained, organised, calibrated and fit for purpose
Lead risk assessment, safe systems of work and incident investigation within laboratory environments
Generate and maintain technical procedures, experimental documentation and high‐quality test data records
Support continuous improvement of laboratory processes, workflows, tooling and instrumentation
Supervise, mentor and develop technicians and apprentices, setting high standards of professionalism and safety
Engage with internal and external stakeholders to clarify requirements, provide expert guidance and manage expectations
Deputise for the Testing Rigs and Labs Operations Manager when required
What You’ll Bring
A relevant technical qualification in a STEM discipline, or equivalent practical experience
Extensive hands‐on experience in laboratory, prototype or experimental test environments
Strong mechanical and/or electrical technical capability
Experience delivering and operating complex experimental setups (e.g. pressure, vacuum, cryogenic or high‐voltage systems)
Proven ability to take ownership of laboratory operations and experimental delivery
Ability to interpret and produce engineering and technical documentation
Experience supervising, mentoring or coaching technical staff or apprentices
Strong organisational and problem‐solving skills, with the ability to work autonomously
Manual or CNC lathe & Mill experience
UKAEA is an onsite organisation, and this role requires regular onsite presence (usually between 3-5 days in any given week) in line with business needs. We actively support flexible working arrangements where this is compatible with the role.
Full Job Posting
About us
Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.
About the job
We are recruiting a Principal Testing Rigs & Labs Technician to provide senior‐level technical leadership within our experimental laboratories.
This is a highly practical role, drawing on extensive mechanical and electrical experience, it combines deep hands‐on expertise with day‐to‐day operational responsibility for testing rigs, laboratory equipment and experimental activities. You will be the principal technical lead for laboratory operations, ensuring experiments are built, commissioned and run safely, efficiently and to a high technical standard.
Working closely with engineers, scientists and programme teams, you will translate experimental designs into robust, real‐world test setups, mentor technicians and apprentices, and help evolve laboratory capability to meet the needs of novel and emerging technologies.
What You’ll Be Doing
Take day‐to‐day ownership of the safe and effective operation of testing rigs and laboratory facilities
Act as the technical lead for experimental build, commissioning, operation and decommissioning activities
Translate experimental designs into safe, buildable and high‐quality physical test setups
Provide hands‐on leadership during complex or novel experimental work, troubleshooting issues and reducing technical risk
Ensure laboratory assets, tooling and equipment are maintained, organised, calibrated and fit for purpose
Lead risk assessment, safe systems of work and incident investigation within laboratory environments
Generate and maintain technical procedures, experimental documentation and high‐quality test data records
Support continuous improvement of laboratory processes, workflows, tooling and instrumentation
Supervise, mentor and develop technicians and apprentices, setting high standards of professionalism and safety
Engage with internal and external stakeholders to clarify requirements, provide expert guidance and manage expectations
Deputise for the Testing Rigs and Labs Operations Manager when required
What You’ll Bring
A relevant technical qualification in a STEM discipline, or equivalent practical experience
Extensive hands‐on experience in laboratory, prototype or experimental test environments
Strong mechanical and/or electrical technical capability
Experience delivering and operating complex experimental setups (e.g. pressure, vacuum, cryogenic or high‐voltage systems)
Proven ability to take ownership of laboratory operations and experimental delivery
Ability to interpret and produce engineering and technical documentation
Experience supervising, mentoring or coaching technical staff or apprentices
Strong organisational and problem‐solving skills, with the ability to work autonomously
Manual or CNC lathe & Mill experience
UKAEA is an onsite organisation, and this role requires regular onsite presence (usually between 3-5 days in any given week) in line with business needs. We actively support flexible working arrangements where this is compatible with the role.
Benefits
- We have a generous range of benefits (see the full list here ) and highlights include:
- A salary of £57,117 (inclusive of a 5,800 specialist allowance)
- Up to 7% corporate performance bonus
- Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution
- 25 days annual leave plus 2.5 'privilege' days; 8 Bank Holidays
- Additional 3 days of site closure over Christmas break
- Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions
- Our commitment to EDI
- UKAEA's mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce.
- Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or require adjustments to help you participate fairly in our recruitment process, for example changes to the way we interview or share information. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates.
- We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All appointments are made on merit and further information can be found here.
Qualifications
- A relevant technical qualification in a STEM discipline, or equivalent practical experience
- Extensive hands‐on experience in laboratory, prototype or experimental test environments
- Strong mechanical and/or electrical technical capability
- Experience delivering and operating complex experimental setups (e.g. pressure, vacuum, cryogenic or high‐voltage systems)
- Proven ability to take ownership of laboratory operations and experimental delivery
- Ability to interpret and produce engineering and technical documentation
- Experience supervising, mentoring or coaching technical staff or apprentices
- Strong organisational and problem‐solving skills, with the ability to work autonomously
- Manual or CNC lathe & Mill experience
- UKAEA is an onsite organisation, and this role requires regular onsite presence (usually between 3-5 days in any given week) in line with business needs. We actively support flexible working arrangements where this is compatible with the role.
About UK Atomic Energy Authority
UK government fusion research authority leading national research and development of sustainable fusion energy.
Visit company websiteJobs and hiring trendsApply for this job in 1 click
Skip the repetitive application forms
Install the Base Career Chrome Extension and autofill job applications across major job boards with your profile.
Trusted by over 500,000 job seekers on Base Career
More from this employer
More jobs at UK Atomic Energy Authority
Electrical Quality Systems Team Leader
, GBR
UKAEA is seeking an Electrical Quality Systems Team Leader to lead quality assurance for electrical systems across its RACE portfolio. The role covers quality planning, inspections, supplier oversight, and technical lead
Office Services Coordinator
Abingdon, GBR
Senior Engineering Analyst
Abingdon, GBR
Intellectual Property Manager
Rotherham, GBR
Intellectual Property Manager
Abingdon, GBR
Mobilisation Manager
Abingdon, GBR
Project Manager
Abingdon, GBR
Electrical Quality Systems Team Leader
, GBR
Waste Services Technician
Abingdon, GBR