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Shift Technician

Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.

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.

National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is conducting a major programme of work for one of our important customers in heavily shielded cells in our Active Handling Facility (AHF) on Sellafield site.  The programme requires NNL to utilise a number of scientific techniques to conduct Post Irradiation Examination (PIE) of nuclear material.  In order to meet demanding timelines, NNL is implementing a shift rotation pattern and is recruiting for various positions to meet the demand

The PIE (Post Irradiation Examination ) Shift technician is required to operate equipment that is contained within the cells of the AHF using master-slave manipulators.  Working as part of a team of technicians, supervised by a shift team leader, the post holders will attend work on a rotating shift pattern. 

In instances (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, projects and facility teams. The programme requires team members to work to 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. 

Role Responsibility

  • 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 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 Capability Manager

The Ideal Candidate

Essential Criteria for Shift 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.
  • Due to the security requirements of this post all applicants must be UK Nationals
  • SC cleared (or ability to become so)


Desirable Criteria for Shift Technician

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

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

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