Higher Electronics Engineer

UK Health Security Agency; Chilton; On-site; GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

The UK Health Security Agency seeks a Higher Electronics Engineer to design and maintain electronic systems crucial for health security operations. This role entails a mix of software development and electronic design, requiring effective collaboration with internal teams and external contractors. The ideal candidate will hold a degree in electronic engineering and possess practical experience in relevant fields.

Benefits

Learning and development tailored to your role

An environment with flexible working options

A Civil Service pension with employer contributions

Qualifications

• Degree in electronic engineering or similar.
• Practical experience in electronic construction.
• Current full UK driving license essential.

Responsibilities

• Design and construct electronic systems.
• Develop application software.
• Maintain electronic and electromechanical equipment.

Skills

Electronic and electro-mechanical design

Knowledge of mechanical engineering techniques

Experience with control software

Education

Degree in electronic engineering or equivalent experience

Tools

CAD for schematic and PCB design

Electronic test equipment such as oscilloscopes

Job description

Didcot, South East England, OX11 0RQ

Job Summary

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

UKHSA’s Remit, As An Agency With a Global-to-local Reach, Is To Protect The Health Of The Nation From Infectious Diseases And Other External Threats To Health. As The Nation’s Expert National Health Security Agency UKHSA Will:

• Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
• Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
• Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
• Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
• Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities
  
  

UKHSA’s Radiation, Chemical, Climate and Environment (RCCE) Hazards Directorate provides advice, research and services to protect the public from exposure to chemicals and poisons, ionising and non-ionising radiation, and other environmental hazards. RCCE provides a specialist assessment and advice function within UKHSA’s overall response as a Category 1 responder to radiation and chemical emergencies.

The Radiation Dosimetry Department provides authoritative public health information and advice about exposures to lasers and optical radiation, electromagnetic fields, and ionising radiation used for medical diagnostic imaging. In addition, the department provides the secretariat to the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) and a Technology Development Group.

The Technology Development Group (TDG) provides a design, construction and maintenance service for bespoke scientific equipment and systems that are used across the Directorate.

The Higher Electronics Engineer role is to design, construct, and repair electronic and electro-mechanical equipment and systems to support research and provision of operational services across RCCE.

Job Description

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Design and construct electronic and electro-mechanical equipment and systems. This covers digital and analogue design, the use of microcontrollers, control systems and data acquisition.
• Develop application software
• Work on safety related control systems (safety interlocking) for radiological and machinery safety.
• Commission and test equipment.
• Carry out modification of existing equipment.
• Provide fault diagnosis and maintenance of electronic and electromechanical equipment and systems.
• Communicate with external contractors and accreditation services.
• Write detailed specifications in conjunction with internal customers.
• Write user guides and other documentation for equipment and systems.
• Provide advice to scientific staff on the purchase and use of electronic equipment.
• There will be an occasional need to work irregular hours. There will also be a requirement to travel within the UK and occasionally overseas.
  
  

Other

• The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Directorate.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.
• It should be noted that the work of the directorate is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes.
• Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
  
  

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Other

• The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Directorate.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.
• It should be noted that the work of the directorate is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes.
• Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
  
  

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Qualification to Degree level in electronic engineering or equivalent experience in an electronic engineering role
• Knowledge and experience of electronic and electro-mechanical design, development and support.
• Practical experience in electrical and electronic construction techniques.
• Practical experience in using electronic test equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers and signal generators
• Knowledge and understanding of mechanical engineering techniques.
• Experience of CAD for schematic, PCB, and/or mechanical component
• Experience with control software
• Ability to balance competing priorities while still delivering at pace.
• Able to operate a DSE workstation.
• Able to manipulate equipment in laboratories and during field work, and able to load/unload equipment from vehicles
• Current full UK driving license and ability to drive vehicles to off-site locations.
• Full colour vision, for the identification of coloured wires and for the identification of colour coded components such as resistors (In line with the Equality Act 2010, any required workplace adjustments to meet this criteria will be considered on a case by case basis at the job offer stage)
  
  

Alongside your salary of £34,093, UK Health Security Agency contributes £9,876 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
  
  

Selection process details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your knowledge and experience, and/or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

You Will Be Required To Complete An Application Form. You Will Be Assessed On The 12 Essential Criteria Listed, And This Will Be In The Form Of A:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1000-word Supporting Statement
  
  

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria
  
  

Piles Meets all essential criteria will be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Qualification to Degree level in electronic engineering or equivalent experience in an electronic engineering role.
  
  

Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.

There will be a practical test at interview.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Chilton.

If based at one of our labs you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

• Name : Harry McCullagh
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: [e-mail] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/