Graduate Electrical Design Engineer (Control, Automation & Safety)

STFC; East Hagbourne; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading scientific research organization is seeking a Graduate Engineer to design and implement electrical engineering systems. The position offers a full-time, permanent contract with a salary of £35,049 plus a welcome bonus. Successful candidates will hold a relevant degree and possess good communication and technical skills. The role involves collaboration on ambitious projects within a world-class research facility.

Benefits

£1,000 welcome bonus

Technical training and career support

Qualifications

• Achieved or be on course to achieve a minimum 2:1 degree in a relevant field.
• Ability to communicate well, both technically and non-technically.
• Good technical understanding of electrical engineering principles.

Responsibilities

• Design of full lifecycle electrical design engineering solutions.
• Production of technical design, CAD drawings, and associated documentation.
• Establishing effective lines of communication with colleagues.

Skills

Communication skills

Technical understanding of electrical engineering

Teamwork

Education

Minimum 2:1 degree in a relevant field

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £35,049 per annum + £1,000 welcome bonus
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX

Closing date: 19th October 2025
Assessment Centre: December 2025 / January 2026
Start date: September 2026

ISIS Neutron and Muon Source is a world-leading centre for research at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Our neutron and muon instruments give outstanding insights into the properties of materials on the atomic scale. ISIS provides a stimulating, creative and exciting environment which enables staff to contribute to a world-leading science facility and develop their careers in groundbreaking science, technology, and engineering.

As part of the ISIS Design Division Electrical (IDDE) group, our graduate will be supported to be responsible for the design, project management and delivery of new electrical engineering systems for the ISIS facility along with modifications to existing systems.

This will involve the design, implementation and commissioning of relay and PLC based electrical control, automation, safety and instrumentation equipment along with associated signal and low voltage power distribution cabling and containment. This will also involve creating electrical schematics for engineered systems along with design of ladder logic for PLC operation.

Graduate Scheme

The STFC Graduate scheme will give you the opportunity to really pursue your interests and passion early in your journey with us, supported by technical training and a broader programme of career support and training and development.

Our dedicated Graduate Development Team will provide the right combination of challenge and support throughout, helping you achieve your ambitions. We know that professional recognition is also important to you too, so we will provide mentoring and expertise to help you achieve valued qualifications or chartered status in your chosen field.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Design of full lifecycle, electrical design engineering solutions meeting agreed specifications
• Specification of control hardware and instrumentation
• Production of technical design, AutoCAD drawings and associated documentation
• Presentation of engineering designs for peer and stakeholder review
• Production of design risk assessments and method statements
• Establishing and maintaining effective lines of communication with colleagues across the ISIS facility

Person Specification

In order to apply for the role we are looking for the following:

Essential:

• Achieved, or be on course to achieve, a minimum 2:1 degree, in a relevant field of study
• Have the right to live and work in the UK at time of starting employment
• Ability to communicate well, both technically and non-technically
• Good technical understanding of the fundamental principles of electrical engineering
• Individual and team project work during degree
• Ability to effectively apply knowledge to a wide range of technically ambitious electrical & control projects
• Ability to read and understand technical information and act upon it as a design engineer
• Basic understanding of design safety

Desirable:

• Degree is IET Accredited for CEng
• Awareness of the electrical engineering design and project management process
• Basic understanding of control theory and control systems i.e. key features and operation
• Evidence of electrical engineering project work outside of degree course or on industrial placement

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible!