Instrumentation and Control Development Engineer

Job Introduction

NNL is where your understanding of reactors fuels the nation. As part of our Fuel Reactor & Reprocessing capability, you’ll play a vital role in developing the UK fuel cycle in line with advances in new technology and new processes. As old reactors reach the end of their lifespan, we need experts like you, with the technical skills to virtually model scenarios that not only enable us to explore new ways of managing the inputs and outputs of reactors, but also pave the way for the implementation of smaller, cleaner revolutionary new reactors. This is a place where you can use your knowledge and expertise to do long term meaningful work for years to come. 

The purpose of the for Instrumentation and Control Development Engineer role is to provide maintenance and development of niche rig control software in the delivery of remote systems to operate in the NNL hot cells in support of civil and defence PIE customers.

To support the wider NNL with Instrumentation and Control applications with specific focus on the generation of scientific data to support customer safety cases.

Role Responsibility

• Accountable to the Defence Materials Capability Manager for the specification and supply of Instrumentation and Control (I&C) hardware, software & control systems & development of operational expertise.
• Take the leading technical role in developing I&C solutions to aid in the measurement of irradiated materials properties in hot-cell applications.
• Maintain existing hot-cell rig control systems.
• Future proofing the control systems and software used in the hot cell rigs.
• Development of software in compliance with NNLs accredited procedures.
• Undertake the design, build, operation and data analysis of test rigs to gather information on irradiated materials in support of customer projects.
• Train and educate other staff in the operation and maintenance of rigs developed.

The Ideal Candidate

Essential criteria for Instrumentation and Control Development Engineer

• Minimum of a degree in science or engineering, with a strong element of Instrumentation & Control.
• Demonstrable experience working in developing instrumentation and control systems for remote systems operation and data gathering in harsh environments.
• Demonstrable experience in software development and coding, specifically; industrial PLC controllers and Visual Basic as a minimum
• Demonstrable experience of developing software to approved practices.
• The ability to communicate complex technical ideas both written and verbally with clarity.
• Ability to setup and operate a small network system.
• The ability to achieve SC Clearance
• The ability to view UK eyes only information (in order to do this you must be a UK national with no other nationalities – i.e. not a dual national)

Desirable criteria for Instrumentation and Control Development Engineer

• Experience in operating computer networks 
• Be a member of a software community of practice
• Experience of hot-cell operations

About the Company

Grounded in robust science and decades of experience, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is the authoritative voice in the UK and beyond for technological development within the nuclear power sector.

Our unparalleled understanding of the science, challenges and opportunities makes us an unrivalled authority and partner in the field, providing experts, technologies, and access to cutting-edge facilities to organisations around the world.

Harnessing potential technologies and translating them into to industry-ready solutions means our pioneering approach spearheads international improvement and technological progress.

We work on projects as small as drilling a hole to analyse underground wastes with our integrated micro drilling technology, or as large as developing state-of-the-art power systems for spacecraft, based on radioactive materials

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.

National Nuclear Laboratory