Microelectronics Summer Placement

Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £23,493 per annum
Contract Type:
Fixed Term – 12 weeks
Hours:
Full-time
Location:
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX

Closing date: 8th March 2026
Interview:
Virtually via Microsoft Teams in April 2026
Start date:
June/July 2026

Are you studying for a degree in Electronic Engineering or a related subject area? Do you want to improve your skills by completing a challenging microelectronics design project?

At STFC our engineers apply their expertise in analogue and digital integrated circuit (IC) design, CMOS sensor development and FPGA systems engineering, to help push the frontiers of scientific research. Our microelectronics projects range from the design of a single system-on-chip to large solutions that use hundreds of custom ICs or industry-leading field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

Our engineers make critical contributions to many internationally world-class experiments, including the Large Hadron Collider which famously discovered the Higgs Boson. Furthermore, our world-leading image sensors have a wide range of applications including life science research, charged particle detection, medical imaging and industrial inspection. Finally, researchers throughout Europe rely upon our design tool specialists for expert tuition and support with the latest IC design software and methodologies.

STFC’s incredibly diverse range of placements allow you to work alongside world leading engineers, scientists, and technicians in highly collaborative environments. Whichever you choose, you will become a critical member of the team in which you will be exposed to exciting projects and challenges from the start. You will also be supported every step of the way by our dedicated Early Careers Development Team.

The successful candidate will be employed at STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in South Oxfordshire and will complete a 12-week paid placement. They will make significant contributions to one of our ambitious projects.

Under the mentorship of our experienced engineers, this placement will leverage leading-edge design tools and world class technologies to tackle a project in one of the following subdisciplines of electronic engineering:

• Analogue, digital and mixed signal Integrated Circuit (IC) design using a wide range of technologies.
• Design of sophisticated digital systems using FPGAs.
• Application engineering and consultancy for the latest design tools and IC design flows.
• Design of CMOS image sensors using advanced microelectronics technologies.

You are advised to tailor your application to one of the four subdisciplines.

You will receive comprehensive technical training and encouragement to innovate and explore a vibrant subdiscipline of electronic engineering so you can reach their full potential.

A high performing candidate could be offered a second summer internship at the end of their first placement. Consistent high performance could lead to a candidate receiving a conditional offer to join the organisation as a Graduate Microelectronics Engineer at the end of their studies. However, by applying to this vacancy, our commitment is to provide 12 weeks paid employment as a summer placement student in 2026.

Progression to any other role is dependent on your performance and our ongoing business need.

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

In order to apply for the role we are looking for the following:

Essential:

• You are in full time education at university and will be returning to university/your studies to complete your undergraduate degree once the summer placement has concluded. (S)
• You have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement. (S)
• You have a minimum of three A-levels at grade C or above one of which must be mathematics, or alternative qualifications of an equivalent level. (S)
• You are a second- or third-year student studying for an Integrated Master’s degree (MEng) in Electronics Engineering (or related degree programme with comprehensive study of electronics) and are on track…