Graduate Mechanical Design Engineer

Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: 35049 per annum 1000 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:
  • 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)
• 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:
  • 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)
• Desirable:
• Any of the following specific skills: CAD Product Data Management Software FEA code-based analysis e.g. Matlab Python (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: 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 or contact

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 Europes largest research organisations by your side Join us and discover whats possible!