Graduate Mechanical Design Engineer

Science and Technology Facilities Council 

Salary: £35,049 per annum + £1,000 welcome bonus

Contract Type: Permanent 

Hours: Full-time

Location: UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh

Closing date: 19th October 2025 

Assessment Centre: December 2025 / January 2026

Start date: September 2026

The UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) is the national centre for the design and production of world-leading astronomical instruments and systems in the United Kingdom. As a science driven, professional engineering organisation, we employ groundbreaking technology across all engineering fields, including sophisticated optical and infra-red detectors, vacuum-cryogenics, control electronics and software, for both astronomy and non-astronomy applications, in collaboration with academic and industrial partners around the world. The instruments we produce are unique and technically ambitious, but must be easy to use and highly reliable in difficult environments, such as on high mountain sites and in Space. Current major projects at the UK ATC include Harmoni and METIS for the ELT, MOONS for the VLT, LISA optical benches and software for ALMA and the SKA.

An exciting graduate opportunity is now available to come and join the UKATC mechanical group. They are looking to bring on a mechanical engineering graduate to support their sophisticated ground and space-based astronomy and earth observation program. Based at the historic Royal Observatory Edinburgh, the successful candidate will design world class instrumentation using innovative CAE tools as part of a multidisciplinary and typically international team.

Graduate Scheme

The STFC Graduate scheme will give you the opportunity to really pursue your interests and passion early in your journey with us, supported by technical training and a broader programme of career support and training and development. 

Our dedicated Graduate Development Team will provide the right combination of challenge and support throughout, helping you achieve your ambitions. We know that professional recognition is also important to you too, so we will provide mentoring and expertise to help you achieve valued qualifications or chartered status in your chosen field.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

The engineering design role involves working as an integral part of the team to support our existing instrument program. This includes development of instruments for the VLT and the ELT telescopes, Earth observation satellites and future space telescope projects. The role will involve the proposal, evaluation and development of conceptual opto-mechanical systems to meet project requirements and goals. This will include production of mechanical layouts, parts and manufacturing drawings using 3D CAD.

The engineer will work under the supervision and support of a senior/principal engineer where training will be given in specialist areas as required.

Duties Will Include:

• Working from information supplied by the project team, customer or consortia members, the engineer will undertake the conceptual and detail design of sub-systems and their components. Information will be in the form of basic outline drawings, sketches, specifications or verbal instructions. Tasks will be defined in terms of technical goals and requirements and evaluation of solutions. Effort and cost estimation will also be undertaken.
• CAD will be used to produce solid models, layouts and detailed manufacturing/assembly drawings,
• Structural and thermal analyses will be performed by FEA and traditional methods, with characterisation of hardware carried out using local test facilities. The engineer must have a clear understanding of the fundamental principles of structures, materials, and engineering tolerancing: there are few relevant design standards available.
• Documentation will be produced including drawing lists, design reports, technical specifications for work to be sub-contracted, test procedures, reports and operation and maintenance manuals.
• Taking part in design reviews, vendor liaison, assembly / integration / testing tasks and, as required, instrument commissioning at overseas telescopes.

Person Specification

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

Essential:

• Achieved, or be on course to achieve, a minimum 2:1 degree, in a relevant field of study (S)
• Have the right to live and work in the UK at time of starting employment (S)
• Enthusiasm for the work of the UKATC e.g. astronomy, space science, instrumentation (S&I)
• Knowledge of the principles of mechanical engineering gained either through university modules or work-place experience, including:
• Strong communication, organisational and presentational skills, enabling the succinct transfer of information to a wide and diverse audience (S&I)
• Good interpersonal skills, self-confidence and enthusiasm (S&I)
• Problem solving ability:
• Desirable:
• Any of the following specific skills: CAD, Product Data Management Software, FEA, code-based analysis e.g. Matlab, Python (S&I)
• Mechanics and mechanisms, including the effect of materials and environment (S&I)
• Thermodynamics and heat transfer, including the effect of materials and environment (S&I)
• Understanding of the design process from concept to manufacture, assembly and testing (S&I)
• Design technical solutions that meet specific requirements and make decisions based on objective observation (S&I)
• Evaluate competing requirements to suggest innovative solutions to novel or unfamiliar problems (S&I)

Employee Benefits

We are offering a permanent position with a whole host of benefits including:

• 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.

Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact stfcgraduates@ukri.org. 

Application Guidance

Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.

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!

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, we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. 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.