QC Analyst

Job Introduction

Job Purpose:

An exciting opportunity to join the Reactor Core Technology team. This varied and versatile role conducts a range of QC and analytical support to the business. A key facet of this role is supporting the Westinghouse Pellet Lab programme whereby NNL undertakes fuel pellet characterisation in support of Westinghouse’s operations at the Oxide Fuel Complex (OFC) on the Springfield’s site near Preston.

The work is primarily laboratory based and focuses on the production and characterisation of test pellets to ensure the high quality of the fuel produced by OFC meets regulatory as well as customer specifications. In addition, a variety of analytical techniques, such as XRD, EDX, ESEM, MS, GC, Laser flash, XRF etc will be learned in order to provide analytical support to the various projects within the team. 

The role delivers technical programmes of work to the customer on time, to cost and to quality, working closely with project managers, and providing technical advice and guidance as required. The role requires an ability to work to high degrees of accuracy and with fixed timelines to meet the customers own response times.

Role Responsibility

Principal Accountabilities: 

•    Deliver technical work to the satisfaction of an individual customer with delivery to time, cost and quality.
•    Foster and maintain key relationships (internal and external) to ensure effective and efficient project delivery.
•    Provide technical support to the Westinghouse Pellet Lab programme ensuring the delivery of high-quality outputs.
•    Keep abreast of the latest technical developments in the field which are relevant to the project.
•    Work flexibly to ensure that customer requirements are accommodated where possible. 
•    Ensure that work undertaken is an effective to answer the customer’s needs and outputs meet NNL and customer standards.
•    Comply with all legislative, regulatory and company policies and procedures appropriate to the role.
•    Competent operator of a myriad of analytical techniques such as XRD, EDX, ESEM, XRF, TGA etc.  
•    Appointment as AP-NM (Approved Person for Nuclear Movements which involves holding accountability for safely carrying out nuclear material movements, including completing the necessary material movement documentation and carrying out appropriate checks and balances before authorising movements to take place (separate assessment and appointment required)

The Ideal Candidate

Qualifications & Experience:

Essential

•    BSc. degree (min 2:2), in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline
•    Individual able to attain SC clearance
•    Good communication and team working skills
•    Proven good attention to detail
•    Demonstrable ability to perform intricate tasks with hazardous materials / good laboratory practice 
•    Safety conscious with proven questioning attitude
•    Experience working in a QC laboratory type environment

Desirable
•    Experience working with uranic or hazardous powders
•    Trained operator of analytical techniques such as XRD, TGA, EDX, ESEM, XRF Mass Spec etc

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.

National Nuclear Laboratory