Job Description

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Salary: £19,514 per annum (rising annually throughout the apprenticeship)
Contract Type: Fixed-Term, 48 months
Hours: Full-time, 37 hours
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus Didcot, OX11 0QX
Closing Date: Sunday, 2nd February 2026
Interview Date: Feb 2026 / Mar 2026
Start Date: September 2026

Do you want to learn how world-leading experiments happen and play a part in cutting-edge research?

We're looking for an enthusiastic individual who wants to start their engineering career in the Sample Environment department at ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. Instead of just watching science happen, you'll be helping to make it possible!

This is your chance to gain practical engineering skills, work in a world-class facility, and kick-start a career in science and technology.

About an Apprenticeship at STFC

We're looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals ready to develop their skills through formal training and hands-on experience. As an apprentice, you'll gain real-world experience, build technical and professional skills, and contribute to cutting-edge research and innovation in a dynamic, supportive environment.

You'll be fully supported throughout the programme with regular check-ins from a dedicated Apprenticeship Coordinator, structured training, practical experience, and mentorship from industry professionals. Plus, you'll have access to workshops, a peer network, and career development support, helping you feel confident and prepared for new challenges.

Why join the Sample Environment Group at STFC?

You will be working in a team of 30 across four sections to support the ISIS user support run, along with collaborating with other user facilities worldwide on development projects and upgrading our bespoke equipment. Click here for more information about the work of the Sample Environment team:

ISIS Sample Environment

• Ever wondered how scientists create the perfect conditions for experiments? You'll learn to build, maintain, and test specialist beamline equipment including vacuum, pressure, cryogenics, polarisation, low temperature, high temperature, rheology systems, HPLC pumps.
• Do you like solving problems and working with your hands? You'll help design and assemble bespoke sample environment "widgets" for unique research challenges.
• Want to work with real scientists and engineers? You'll provide technical support during live experiments and collaborate with experts from around the world.

Qualifications gained

Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship - Single Discipline

Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline / Skills England

What you'll learn

• To work safely in an engineering environment.
• To follow safety procedures and regulations.
• Technical skills to fulfil your role.
• How to set up and operate a range of different machines including, manual, CNC (Computer Numerical Control), and EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining).
• How to produce, analyse, and interpret data, including technical drawings, CAD (Computer Aided Design) files, and written procedures.
• To use appropriate engineering methods to identify the causes of problems and find suitable solutions.
• How to collaborate with engineers, technicians and stakeholders

Training provider

Through the training provider Oxfordshire Advanced Skills, you will undertake at Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship which will include:

• 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.

For more information about the training provider, please visit: Level 3 Apprenticeships | OAS

You will complete your portfolio before undertaking your End Point Assessment. The End Point Assessment will include a multiple-choice test, an observation with questions and an interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence.

What You'll Be Doing - Day-to-day responsibilities

As a member of the Sample Environment Group the successful applicant will:

• 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.

Entry Requirements

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

We are looking for the following:

• 5 GCSEs including Maths and English (Grade 4/C or above) (S)
• An awareness of basic health and safety (I)
• Enthusiastic and motivated to learn, both in the workplace and through formal training (S&I)
• Good problem-solving skills (I)
• Interest in engineering and the ability to demonstrate a basic level of knowledge and skill (S&I)
• Ability to work independently and as part of a small team. (I)
• Good communication skills (both written and verbal) (S&I)
• IT literacy and working with Microsoft office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. (S)

Important Information

• To complete the apprenticeship, you will need to evidence 5 GCSEs 9-4 or A*-C (or equivalent) including Maths and English. For those sitting their GSCEs in Summer 2026, we would need evidence of your predicted grades.
• When applying for an apprenticeship, there is a set residency eligibility criteria that must be met by the applicant. To check your eligibility please click here.
• The training provider will also ask you to complete an initial assessment during the application process. If you already have a qualification in this subject area or similar please include, as an attachment, your transcript outlining the grade/s achieved and modules covered. By applying for this apprenticeship, you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider.

We will be in touch after the closing date, however, please reach out on apprenticerecruitment@ukri.org if you have any questions.

Employee Benefits

• Your salary will increase annually as you progress through your apprenticeship, in line with policy.
• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Cycle to work scheme.

For a list of our full benefits, please visit here.

As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

How to apply

Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

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!

About Us

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

About the Team

The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity-driven, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people - and more broadly to the world.

One of Europe's largest research organisations, we're trusted to support, enable and undertake cutting-edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we're driving ground-breaking advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.

For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/