Apprentice Laboratory Technician (3 Year Fixed Term Contract)

Job Description

Mitsubishi Power EMEA is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Apprentice Laboratory Technician to join our growing Materials Laboratory in Leeds.

The Materials Laboratory plays a vital role in supporting engineering activities including materials testing and evaluation, turbine component life assessment, repair development, process improvement initiatives and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations for gas and steam turbine components.

Working closely with experienced Materials Engineers, you will be responsible for sample preparation, laboratory operations, metallurgical assessments, technical support activities and assisting with the delivery of high-quality technical information and reports. You will gain practical experience across a broad range of engineering projects involving advanced iron and nickel-based alloys used within the power generation industry.

This apprenticeship provides an excellent opportunity to develop specialist knowledge, gain a degree-level qualification and build a long-term career within the energy and materials engineering sector.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory and Technical Support

• Prepare metallographic samples using cutting, mounting, grinding and polishing equipment.
• Perform visual and microstructural assessments of metallic materials.
• Support metallurgical investigations involving iron and nickel-based alloys.
• Operate laboratory equipment safely and effectively.
• Assist with optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy examinations (training provided).
• Support mechanical testing activities both in-house and through approved external laboratories.
• Prepare technical data, records and reports to support engineering investigations.
• Maintain accurate sample logging and traceability records.

Materials Assessment and Engineering Support

• Assist Materials Engineers with failure investigations and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) activities.
• Support process development and qualification activities for turbine component repairs.
• Participate in laboratory process improvement initiatives.
• Assist with the development of new assessment techniques for novel materials and manufacturing processes.
• Support internal and external customer requests relating to technical issue resolution.

On-Site Activities

• Assist with on-site inspection and sample preparation activities on gas and steam turbine components.
• Support acetate replication and in-situ metallurgical assessment activities (training provided).
• Provide support during maintenance outages and service execution activities when required.

Laboratory Operations

• Support the day-to-day running of the Materials Laboratory.
• Maintain laboratory organisation, housekeeping and 6S standards.
• Assist with stock control and consumables management.
• Ensure compliance with laboratory procedures, quality standards and Health & Safety requirements.
• Support internal and external laboratory audits.

Qualifications

• Meet the entry requirements for a relevant Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship programme.
• Strong interest in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Engineering or Manufacturing.
• Good communication skills and ability to work within a team environment.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Competent IT skills including Microsoft Office applications.
• Fluent in written and spoken Business English.
• Willingness to learn new techniques and undertake further technical training.

Additional Information

At Mitsubishi Power EMEA, we are committed to building a workplace where people feel respected, included and able to contribute.

Our strength comes from the different experiences, perspectives and expertise of our people. Across our business, we work with colleagues from a wide range of countries, cultures, disciplines and backgrounds, and we believe this diversity helps us make better decisions, solve complex problems and deliver stronger outcomes for our customers.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and make recruitment decisions based on skills, knowledge, qualifications, experience and potential. We are committed to providing a fair and consistent recruitment process, giving every candidate the opportunity to demonstrate what they can bring to the role.

If you need any reasonable adjustments or support at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know. We will work with you to understand how we can best support you.