Summary
Start your engineering career in the Sample Environment Team at ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. You'll collaborate with other facilities worldwide on development projects and upgrading our bespoke equipment. Instead of just watching science happen, you’ll be helping to make it possible!
Wage
£19,514 a year
Throughout the course of your apprenticeship you will receive annual increments in line with policy
Training course
Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8.00am - 4.00pm
37 hours a week
Start date
Thursday 3 September 2026
Duration
4 years
Positions available
2
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
* Build, Plan, and Maintain Equipment: Prepare and assemble sample environment kits, ensuring all components are ready.
* Communicate with scientists and team members to confirm requirements, then test equipment to enable experiments under the required conditions
* Design Bespoke Solutions: Create custom sample environment “widgets” as needed for specific research requirements
* Safety Compliance: Follow all workplace safety procedures, including general health and safety and radiation safety protocols
* Collaborate on Design: Support the design office in developing new equipment through review meetings and provide input to ensure reliable, functional designs
* Liaise with Scientists: Work closely with instrument scientists, visiting researchers, and other technical teams to ensure safe and efficient experiment runs
* Technical Support: Provide hands-on assistance to visiting scientists during experiments as part of the ISIS user program
Where you'll work
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Harwell
Didcot
Oxfordshire
OX11 0QX
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE MTC - ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TRAINING CENTRE LIMITED
Training course
Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline (level 3)
What you'll learn
Course contents
* Review and use information. For example, work instructions, drawings, design specifications, and plant configurations.
* Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan tasks.
* Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, consumables.
* Respond and adapt to work demands. For example, adapt working methods to reflect changes in working environment, re-prioritise workloads to react to breakdowns and fault scenarios.
* Identify equipment to work on. Check plant configuration is as defined.
* Prepare the work area for maintenance tasks.
* Identify environmental and health and safety hazards and risks and apply control measures.
* Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, signage and barriers, working at height, confined spaces, and COSHH.
* Follow security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
* Follow emergency incident and response procedures.
* Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimising waste.
* Segregate items for reuse, recycling, and waste.
* Use mathematical principles and formulae to support engineering maintenance.
* Apply engineering maintenance standards and procedures.
* Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
* Follow maintenance tools and equipment control procedures. For example, handling and storage.
* Reinstate the work area.
* Apply team working principles.
* Communicate with others to give and receive information. For example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
* Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
* Record information.
* Produce or update documents. For example, handover notes and reports.
* Identify and highlight issues (red pen) with technical drawings.
* Use digital and information technology. For example, databases, data sharing platforms, email, management information systems, and word processing. Follow cyber security and GDPR requirements.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions.
* Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
* Electrical. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
* Electrical. Select, check, and use electrical maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
* Electrical. Use electrical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
* Electrical. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
* Electrical. Inspect and test electrical aspects of plant. For example, visual checks, insulation and continuity checks, thermographic surveys, and voltage levels.
* Electrical. Remove and replace electrical parts.
* Electrical. Prepare and terminate electrical cables.
* Electrical. Set up, align and adjust electrical aspects of plant.
* Electrical. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
* Electrical. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services deisolation.
* Electrical. Conduct functional testing.
* Control and instrumentation. Conduct and confirm safe isolation of connected services
* Control and instrumentation. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
* Control and instrumentation. Select, check, and use control and instrumentation maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
* Control and instrumentation. Use control and instrumentation diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
* Control and instrumentation. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
* Control and instrumentation. Inspect and test control and instrumentation systems.
* Control and instrumentation. Check calibration and make adjustments.
* Control and instrumentation. Check loop function.
* Control and instrumentation. Set up and adjust control and instrumentation systems.
* Control and instrumentation. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
* Control and instrumentation. Remove and replace instruments and sensors.
* Control and instrumentation. Re-connect instrumentation power supply, cables, pipework, and services.
* Control and instrumentation. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services deisolation.
* Control and instrumentation. Conduct functional testing.
* Mechanical. Check and confirm safe isolation of connected services.
* Mechanical. Select, check, and use mechanical maintenance tools and equipment.
* Mechanical. Use mechanical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
* Mechanical. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
* Mechanical. Check condition and operation of mechanical aspects of plant and equipment. For example, pumps.
* Mechanical. Remove and replace mechanical parts.
* Mechanical. Examine mechanical parts for defects. For example, pump seals.
* Mechanical. Set up, align, and adjust mechanical aspects of plant.
* Mechanical. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
* Mechanical. Lubricate mechanical assemblies.
* Mechanical. Confirm electrical and connected services deisolation.
* Mechanical. Conduct functional testing.
* Mechanical. Apply bench fitting techniques.
* Review and use information. For example, work instructions, drawings, design specifications, and plant configurations.
* Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan tasks.
* Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, consumables.
* Respond and adapt to work demands. For example, adapt working methods to reflect changes in working environment, re-prioritise workloads to react to breakdowns and fault scenarios.
* Identify equipment to work on. Check plant configuration is as defined.
* Prepare the work area for maintenance tasks.
* Identify environmental and health and safety hazards and risks and apply control measures.
* Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, signage and barriers, working at height, confined spaces, and COSHH.
* Follow security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
* Follow emergency incident and response procedures.
* Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimising waste.
* Segregate items for reuse, recycling, and waste.
* Use mathematical principles and formulae to support engineering maintenance.
* Apply engineering maintenance standards and procedures.
* Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
* Follow maintenance tools and equipment control procedures. For example, handling and storage.
* Reinstate the work area.
* Apply team working principles.
* Communicate with others to give and receive information. For example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
* Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
* Record information.
* Produce or update documents. For example, handover notes and reports.
* Identify and highlight issues (red pen) with technical drawings.
* Use digital and information technology. For example, databases, data sharing platforms, email, management information systems, and word processing. Follow cyber security and GDPR requirements.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions.
* Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
Training schedule
* Year 1: You will be based at the Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS), Culham rotating through blocks of 4-6 weeks in duration. This will be supplemented with training relevant to STFC and giving a broad engineering foundation, delivered by STFC staff, in conjunction with UKAEA, at the OAS site in Culham
* Year 2: You will be based at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) with training in 4–6-week blocks at Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS) at Culham across the year
* Years 3 - 4: You will be fully in the workplace where you will further hone your skills to become a Sample Environment Technician
* You will be required to attend OAS as required as part of your training; you must therefore be willing and able to travel independently. Excess travel costs will be covered
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
* 3 other subjects (grade 4 or above)
* English (grade 4 or above)
* Maths (grade 4 or above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* IT skills
* Attention to detail
* Organisation skills
* Problem solving skills
* Number skills
* Logical
* Team working
* Initiative