Defence Shift PIE Technician

Job Introduction

Job Description for Defence Shift PIE Technician:

National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is where you can do nuclear science to benefit society. As part of our Fuel Reactor & Recycling capability, you’ll play a vital role in developing our understanding of nuclear fuels once they reach the end of their lifespan, and helping to inform future reactor operations.

NNL is conducting a major programme of work for one of our customers in heavily shielded cells in the Active Handling Facility (AHF) on Sellafield site. The programme requires NNL to deploy a number of scientific techniques for Post Irradiation Examination (PIE) of nuclear fuel to assist in underpinning reactor safety cases.  To meet customer timelines for this data, NNL has implemented a shift rotation pattern and has a number of vacancies for technicians to work within the shift teams.

Two PIE (Post Irradiation Examination) Shift technicians are required to operate equipment within the cells at AHF, using remotely operated manipulators.  Working as part of a wider team of technicians and supervised by a shift team leader, the post holders will attend work on a rotating Five-day double-day shift pattern. 

At times, (e.g. planned plant outages) the post holders may be required to revert temporarily to a standard day working pattern but will move back onto a shift pattern in accordance with the forward programme of work.

The position requires the maintenance of strong working relationships with the immediate team, project management and facility teams. The programme requires team members to work to very high quality standards and demonstrate an enabling, pro-active attitude to resolving issues.  In accordance with any nuclear industry positions, individuals will need to demonstrate a high degree of nuclear professionalism, adhering and contributing to a positive health and safety culture.

Main Responsibilities for Defence Shift PIE Technician:

• To work as part of the PIE team in the breakdown, inspection and measurement of highly active materials in support of the Defence PIE programme.
• To work as part of a shift team within the designated shift pattern.
• Adhere to the Health and Safety, Quality and Security requirements as stipulated by NNL, the site licence company and the project.
• To be an equipment operator, responsible for maintaining their equipment (via the engineering team or suppliers where necessary), responsible for training of others where required. 
• Maintain logbooks and record sheets for sample testing and traceability and to ensure all relevant regulations and procedures are understood and adhered to.
• To ensure all work is completed safely and accurately maintaining traceability and quality at all times.
• To communicate and work with the Technical Leads, Shift Team Leaders and Capability Manager to provide design and operational support in the manufacture of equipment to support PIE related activities
• To carry out remote handling operations in AHF to deliver work packages as directed by the Shift Team Leader.
• To carry out First Aider at Work role, to maintain minimum staffing levels for shifts.

Essential Criteria for Defence Shift PIE Technician:

• Experience of working within an industrial environment and delivering work to time, cost and quality.
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team of operations and technical staff to deploy specially designed equipment.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to take on technical information for training.
• First Aider at Work (training provided if needed).
• British citizen as defined in the British Nationality Act 1981 (British Nationality Act 1981 (legislation.gov.uk)).  Please note if you hold a dual nationality, of which one nationality is British, you may still be considered but this is dependent on your dual nationality.
• Ability to obtain SC level security clearance (this includes but is not limited to identity, employment, financial and criminal record checks plus 5 years’ worth of UK residency).

Desirable Criteria for Defence Shift PIE Technician:

• Previous shift working.
• Knowledge of NDT measurement techniques.
• Monitored radiation worker (or ability to become so).

Why join us?

NNL isn’t just a place where you can do career-defining work that makes a real-world impact. It’s also a place where you’ll feel appreciated and valued. We’re creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is free to be themselves and feel like they belong. We put your wellbeing first, we push you to reach your potential, and we do everything possible to help you feel safe, supported and inspired.

We also offer a range of employee benefits:

• Sector leading Family-Focused Policies: celebrate life events, including enhanced maternity and paternity leave and a week off for your marriage.
• NNL offers attractive pension plans. If you contribute 5%, NNL contributes 15%. Alternatively, if you choose not to contribute (0%), NNL will still contribute 10%.
• Annual Leave: Benefit from 25.5 days of leave, plus 4 extra days to be taken during Christmas shutdown, plus Bank Holidays.
• Reduced gym membership with discounts of up to 25% from 3,700 gym and leisure providers across the UK
• Company Bonus: Be rewarded for your contributions.
• Learning Opportunities: Enhance your skills through excellent development programmes.
• Employee Assistance: Access support for personal and professional challenges.
• Cycle to Work: Stay active and eco-friendly.
• Life Assurance: Ensure peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
• Enhanced Sick Pay Benefits: Receive support during illness or injury.
• Access to ‘Mydiscounts’ which has a range of special offers and discounts from more than 200 suppliers, including medical insurance and dental insurance. 
• Health Care: Health savings plan which allows you to claim money back on visits to the dentist, optician and/or physiotherapist (limits apply).

About The Company

NNL is an incredible place to work. A place where people do things that have never been done before. A place where people push boundaries to further themselves, the business and society as a whole.

This is a place where personal and professional opportunities are limitless. If you want to change the world, if you want to tackle climate change, if you want to help advance medical science, if you want to help put things in space, if you want to answer the big questions, if you want to work with extraordinary materials, if you want to meet great people, learn new skills, challenge yourself, work flexibly, and build a long successful career with the power to make a real impact… you can do it all here.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

NNL has a vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (ED&I) where NNL aims to be an inclusive workplace that attracts diverse talent through transparent and equal policies and procedures. We want you and the diverse mix of people that we employ, customers that we service and stakeholders that we influence to feel valued. We encourage a workplace culture where everyone can thrive with a sense of belonging.

Recruitment Agency Notice

We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List (PSL) for the provision of recruitment services. Only agencies on our PSL may provide CVs and only when the role is released to them by our recruitment team. We will not accept unsolicited CVs from suppliers not currently on our PSL. We explicitly reserve the right to add candidate details from unsolicited CVs from non-PSL agencies into our own candidate database and to pursue/hire such candidate(s) without any obligation, financial or otherwise, to the agency concerned.

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory