Electrical and Electronic Engineer Summer Placement

Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £23,493 per annum
Contract Type:
Fixed Term – 10-12 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 2026

ISIS Neutron and Muon Source is a world‑leading centre for research at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford. Our suite of neutron and muon instruments provides unique insight into the atomic‑scale properties of materials. Delivering these beams relies on a complex accelerator and associated engineering systems that must operate with high reliability, precision, and repeatability.

The Magnet Power Supplies (MPS) Group is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and development of electrical power supply systems for the electromagnets used across the ISIS accelerator. This includes the extract kicker system, a fast pulsed system used for beam manipulation and extraction, which requires carefully controlled electrical pulses delivered with accurate timing and reproducibility.

The extract kicker pulse is generated using a pulse forming network (PFN), constructed from a network of capacitors and inductors arranged to produce a defined pulse shape when discharged. To support reliable operation and future maintenance of the accelerator, the group is building a spare PFN to act as an operational replacement for the extract kicker system. A dedicated test kicker system is available to validate performance, compare measured behaviour with expected circuit response, and confirm readiness for operational use.

As a summer placement student in the MPS Group, you will work on this PFN build project, gaining hands‑on experience with pulsed power circuits, electrical measurements, and data‑driven engineering decisions. A key aspect of the project is the evaluation and optimisation of PFN capacitor selection. The capacitors used have manufacturing tolerances, and the student will help develop and apply a systematic approach to measuring, organising, and assembling large numbers of components to ensure the overall PFN capacitance is tightly controlled and well balanced.

This will include working with existing test equipment to characterise components, using an algorithmic approach to optimise how PFN stages are assembled, and applying these recommendations during the physical construction of the network. The student will also be involved in integrating the completed PFN into its tank, supporting in final preparation steps, and taking part in verification testing to confirm correct operation prior to sign‑off as an operational spare.

Throughout the placement, you will work closely with experienced engineers, contributing to experimental setup, data analysis, system assembly, and technical documentation. You will apply undergraduate‑level circuit theory, basic modelling or simulation tools, and practical measurement techniques to a real accelerator subsystem with clear performance and reliability requirements.

This placement offers practical experience with real accelerator hardware, exposure to pulsed power engineering in a research facility, and the opportunity to see an engineering system progress from component‑level evaluation through to a fully assembled and validated operational unit.

The MPS Group provides a collaborative and supportive environment, with mentoring from experienced engineers and a strong emphasis on hands‑on learning, problem‑solving, and professional development.

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.

• Gain an understanding of the extract kicker system and the role of the pulse forming network (PFN) within the ISIS accelerator.
• Support the build of an operational spare…