Materials and Analytical Support Scientist

Do you have a background, or knowledge, of working in an experimental environment and are keen to develop your experience with a company that gives you every other Friday off? Then a career at AWE could be for you!



Materials and Analytical Support Scientist - Explosives



Location: Reading/ Basingstoke area



AWE (one of the best 25 big companies to work for in the UK) 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. We will consider candidates looking for full time or part time hours. Just let us know on your application if you wish to work part time.



Working within the Explosives Physical Characterisation (XPC) Team within the Materials and Analytical Sciences (MAS) Sub-Function, you'll primarily be supporting our Teams to enable them to carry out activities safely and securely. This will include working with explosives, hazard testing, characterisation and safety testing.



The role has three key parts:

Support the management of a number of explosive laboratories and buildings which contain Explosive Physical Characterisation processes (Lab and Building Manager). Enable management of these processes by supporting Scientists/Technologists to bring online new processes and maintaining current processes (support for Safe System of Work packs, Asset Change Management etc). Support hands-on testing within the laboratory carrying out Explosive Physical Characterisation processes



We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with knowledge and/or experience of working in a hands on experimental environment e.g. lab work. It is desirable that candidates can demonstrate at least a good understanding / experience of the following:

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  Working with hazardous materials
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  Managing laboratories and/or facilities
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  Document and Laboratory Quality
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  Good Laboratory Practices
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  Safe Systems of Work (e.g. Operating Instructions, Risk Assessments, COSHH Assessments, Manual Handling Assessments)
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  Problem solving and troubleshooting.

The role will likely include taking on a number of additional roles for which training will be required:

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  Risk Assessor
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  COSHH Assessor
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  Trained to support 'deliberate firings' of explosive materials
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  Asset Change Manager (ACM)

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

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  To support the delivery of key programmes, projects and/or trials
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  To support the maintenance and development of the underpinning experimental capabilities

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  Analyse samples using agreed analytical procedures and processes
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  Undertake work in compliance with Company processes, standards, and procedures
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  Support continuous improvement activities within the local area
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  Maintain high levels of housekeeping within the work environment
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  Maintain and promote high personal standards in environment, safety, health, security and quality and can be a great team player.
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  The Company may require you to fulfil any other reasonable duties aligned to your position from time to time in line with business needs

This is an excellent opportunity to build on your knowledge of working in a Lab to support the UK's Nuclear defence programme and be part of a team of remarkable people achieving extraordinary things.



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 designated areas.





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