Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (Durham University) are looking for a Mechanical Design Engineer

The Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) is a major research group in the Department of Physics at Durham University with approximately seventy staff and research students. It has established a pre-eminent reputation in the development of complex instrumentation for high profile national and international projects.

CfAI’s mission is to design and develop novel instrumentation based on cutting edge technologies with applications across a range of strategically important scientific areas. CfAI develops state-of-the-art instruments for applications across a wide range of disciplines including astronomical instrumentation, biophysics, remote sensing and fusion diagnostics.

CfAI has provided major instruments for many of the world’s leading astronomical facilities including the Anglo-Australian Telescope, William Herschel Telescope, Gemini Telescopes, Magellan Telescope, European Southern Observatory, Very Large Telescope and Southern African Large Telescope. Major current space projects include providing Optical Ground Support Equipment (OGSE) for the UVN instrument in European Space Agency’s Sentinel 4 Earth observation satellite and the German DLR METimage satellite.

An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, hands-on Mechanical Design Engineer to support the design, development, manufacture and test requirements within a range of astronomical, space-based and other instrument programmes. The role will encompass a broad array of mechanical engineering design activities from concept development through to detailing and system delivery

The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the hands-on opto-mechanical assembly, integration and test of equipment and instrumentation for astronomical & space based sectors as well as other application areas. The successful candidate will be expected to use existing technical knowledge and develop further skills across a broad array of disciplines including general mechanical design, cryogenics, vacuum system engineering, thermal modelling, FEA, materials selection and electrical systems integration.

An important part of the role will be the analysis and reporting of results. The appointee would be working on substantial national/international projects, often involving large numbers of dedicated scientists and engineers. Working with interdisciplinary and inter-institutional teams will form an essential part of the role, as will the need to travel for collaboration and instrument commissioning.

This is initially a fixed term position for 2 years, but would be expected to continue beyond this, subject to CfAI’s continued success in winning projects.

For further details please contact Chris Davison - christopher.davison@durham.ac.uk