Characterisation Specialist

AWE has exciting opportunities for Characterisation Specialists to join our Radiochemistry Group, bringing their experience to AWE and to successfully play a key role delivering for our customers.



Characterisation Specialist

Location: Reading / Basingstoke Area (on-site working)

Salary: £33,770 - £55,000 (depending on your suitability and level of experience)

Closing Date: 7th June 2023


AWE (one of the best 25 big companies to work for in the UK) offers an attractive array of benefits which include:

• 
  
  Generous holiday entitlement 270 hours a year (inclusive of Bank Holidays) plus every other Friday off
• 
  
  Flexible working hours
• 
  
  Potential opportunities to travel with work for conferences and collaboration (optional)
• 
  
  Opportunities for Professional Career Development that include funding for the annual membership of a relevant professional body, access to mentors and training
• 
  
  Market leading contributory pension scheme
• 
  
  AWE Life Insurance
• 
  
  Salary sacrifice benefits scheme
• 
  
  Consideration for either full time or part time hours. Just let us know on your application if you wish to work part time

The Isotope and Particle Analysis Team within the Materials & Analytical Science (MAS) Function supports multiple programmes at AWE. This includes Nuclear Forensics for our Nuclear Threat Reduction customer who require us to maintain and develop a diverse capability which utilises a range of microscopy and mass spectrometry techniques to characterise materials used within the nuclear industry. The multidiscipline team collaborate with chemists, physicists and material scientists across MAS to provide an extensive characterisation capability.



Isotope and Particle Analysis is currently looking for Analytical Scientists to work within the Nuclear Forensics area and contribute to additional programmes as and when required. This a multi-disciplinary role where you can be expected to use your experience with traditional characterisation techniques coupled with our unique methods to characterise materials of interest.


The role requires you to:

• 
  
  Perform analysis of both radioactive and conventional materials
• 
  
  Develop and optimise existing analytical methods
• 
  
  Participate in proficiency tests and exercises whilst also conducting discrete packages of research and development activities to ensure we can continue to meet our customers current and future needs
• 
  
  Create analytical & technical R&D reports and oral presentations.

Ideally, we are looking for the successful candidate to have:

• 
  
  A recognised degree level, masters or post graduate science qualification, ideally in biology, chemistry, geology, environmental or forensic science supplemented with relevant laboratory experience
• 
  
  Experience with optical or electron microscopy supporting material characterisation is required
• 
  
  Experience or knowledge of working in a clean room environment
• 
  
  Willingness or experience working with radioactive material
• 
  
  A proven track record in method development, technical report writing and data analysis
• 
  
  Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, and able to communicate information in a clear and concise manner
• 
  
  Excellent organisational skills: capable of multi-tasking, identifying and managing priorities to meet defined time scales
• 
  
  Experience of working within a team towards common goals
• 
  
  A positive attitude and able to adapt well to change
• 
  
  Willingness to represent AWE externally and able to travel abroad if required
• 
  
  A passion for scientific discovery

Candidates must be willing to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role


#LI-DG