Materials Engineer

Balfour Beatty Plc; Leiston; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction firm is seeking a Materials Engineer to join the Ground Engineering team for the Sizewell C project in Suffolk. The role involves managing materials testing, ensuring compliance, and fostering a safety-focused environment. Candidates should possess NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualifications, strong auditing skills, and materials technical knowledge. This position offers a competitive salary, annual leave, and a range of benefits including a company car or allowance.

Benefits

Attractive salary

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Company car/car allowance

Pension savings schemes

Enhanced maternity/paternity policies

Refer and Earn scheme

Discretionary annual salary reviews

Qualifications

• Experience in auditing and KPI reporting.
• Health and safety focus and risk assessment drafting.
• Ability to work within an agreed budget.
• Materials technical knowledge to provide contract advice.

Responsibilities

• Support management and delivery of materials engineering services.
• Conduct inspections and testing and maintain compliance.
• Ensure a relentless focus on Zero Harm.
• Manage dispatch of samples to external laboratories.

Skills

Auditing

Training and development

Health and safety management

Materials technical knowledge

Proficient in Microsoft Excel

Proficient in Microsoft Access

Education

NVQ level 3 or equivalent

Job description

About the role

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Materials Engineer to join our Ground Engineering team working on the Sizewell C project in Suffolk.

Be part of this ‘once in a generation’ project that will deliver clean energy to 6 million homes for the next 60 years. Sizewell C will see the creation of a 3.2 Gigawatt nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast to provide reliable load low-carbon electricity.

The Civil Works Alliance is an extended delivery enterprise involving Sizewell C and three international construction companies: Balfour Beatty, Bouygues Travaux Publics and Laing O’Rourke.

We are more than just an alliance, we are bringing together a single delivery organisation with years of learning and experience from other major complex infrastructure programmes worldwide.

Role purpose

• To support the management and delivery of materials engineering services within GSA Alliance;
• The role will involve establishing and maintaining safe methods of work;
• The role also includes conducting testing samples, compliance visits, coordinating changes with site teams;
• This position contributes to the safe and efficient delivery of materials and testing services while maintaining high standards of documentation, communication, and regulatory compliance.

What you'll be doing

The successful candidate will have the following accountabilities:

• Ensure a relentless focus on Zero Harm across the GSA site;
• Support the delivery of Sustainability activities;
• Establishing and maintain safe methods of work for the materials team on site and in the laboratory;
• Plan and undertake inspection and testing on site and in the laboratory as required by the contract, identifying, and reporting areas of risk and opportunity immediately;
• Maintain high standards of work and compliance with UKAS accreditation requirements;
• Comply with the site quality system for the materials testing laboratory, including materials reporting;
• Deliver results by deadlines as required by the contract and project teams;
• Maintain equipment calibrations and notify the lab manager of any defects requiring attention;
• Identifying, recording, and reporting of Best Practice to project and offsite;
• Producing summary compliance reports of material compliance as required by the contract;
• Undertake audits of site Quality System on the project, and other contracts as required by agreed rotas and ensure that identified findings are closed out;
• Manage dispatch of samples to external test laboratories and review reports;
• Daily allocation of testing resources and managing supplier test results as required by the contract.

Who we're looking for

The following qualities/experience are essential

• Experience in auditing, training/development of junior staff and monthly KPI reporting is also necessary;
• There will be a key focus on health and safety within the laboratory and writing/ reviewing risk assessments, methods statements and carrying out daily briefings to the site technicians will be crucial along with assisting the site health and safety department with auditing on site if required;
• At a minimum NVQ level 3 or equivalent would be required for this role. Being able to operate and work to an agreed budget is also important;
• Materials technical knowledge is also required to be able to advise the contracts where necessary. Proficient I.T. skills in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access will be necessary.

The following qualities/experience are desirable

• Previous experience working in a UKAS accredited laboratory and working with construction materials and specifications is required;
• Ideally this role would suit a candidate who is passionate and shows an excitement for their work. Someone who is willing to go the extra mile to exceed expectations and who has a key focus on meeting the requirements of their customer would be ideal. A quick learner, adaptable to change and someone who is organised would also suit the role well.

Why work for us

Our people are our biggest asset and we focus on recruiting, training and developing the people who can apply innovation to deliver the infrastructure of the future. We nurture these talents, offer a great benefits package in addition to a competitive base salary and continually invest in developing the skills of our people at every level.

Some of our key benefits are:

• An attractive/negotiated salary;
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays;
• Company car/car allowance;
• Pension savings schemes;
• Enhanced maternity/paternity and family friendly policies;
• Access to our Refer and Earn scheme;
• Discretionary annual salary reviews.

About us

Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering is one of the UK’s leading specialist geo-technical contractors, providing innovative piling and ground improvement solutions across all sectors.

Our comprehensive ground engineering capabilities, equipment and experience provide the solid foundations for infrastructure and buildings of any height, ranging from city skyscrapers to cross-country rail and road projects.

Our reputation as one of the UK’s leading specialist geo-technical contractors is earned through the delivery of ground engineering solutions on some of the UK’s largest and most prestigious projects including HS2, The Shard, Wembley Stadium, Reading Station Viaduct, Marble Arch Place, Battersea Power Station redevelopment and the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement project.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone D&I Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

We are a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

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