Profile

I am a Mechanical Engineer working at the ISIS Neutron Source – a particle accelerator that produces neutrons. As a member of the engineering team I speak to scientists and technicians about their ideas and requirements for new pieces of accelerator equipment. I then take these requirements and develop them into a full specification for the new hardware. With the specification agreed it’s time for my main responsibility; coming up with a design for the new equipment that meets the criteria defined in the spec’. As an engineer in ISIS I’ve been involved in the design of large magnets, beam profile monitors and whole accelerating cavities. This equipment then gets installed into the ISIS accelerator, helping to keep the facility running and allowing scientists to perform world class research.

A typical day is hard to define – I guess the place I spend most of my time is in at my computer using CAD, but that’s certainly not the whole story…!

At the start of a project to design a new piece of hardware I will be meeting with scientists and technicians to determine requirements and assembling a specification. I also produce time plans (how long I think the project will take me) and budgets (how much I think the equipment will cost) and communicate this information. The design phase typically involves working with 3D modelling software (CAD) to come up with the new design, but I also hold meetings to update people on my progress and allow them to see my ideas. When the design in approved it goes out to manufacture, and during this phase I’ll be visiting the suppliers to check they are making everything correctly and answer their questions. When new equipment comes in it is tested, and during this phase I can be away from my desk a lot helping set up and perform the tests and getting bits remade in our workshop. When the equipment is finally installed, I also spend time away from my desk speaking to the fitters to make sure everything is going smoothly.

The outreach team do things like buy cool scientific kit and take it to schools to inspire kids into careers in science and technology.

They would probably have better ideas for the money that me, so I’d pass it on to them…!