- Salary range – Between £31,305 – £34,028
- Based RAL, Oxford
Background
As part of the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is leading a programme to establish a National Quantum Computing Centre, which includes a commitment of £93m over 5 years, dedicated to drive development in the field of Quantum Computing and to place the UK at the forefront of the field. The Centre is a joint initiative of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
A purpose-built National Quantum Computing Centre will be built and operated by UKRI at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) campus in Oxfordshire. The Centre will be open and operational by December 2022. Until then, the NQCC’s activities are taking place in other facilities on the Harwell Campus or at partnering institutions. The NQCC will sit alongside other departments within the STFC National Laboratories and will be part of the broader National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP).
The primary purpose of the NQCC is to fill a key gap in the research and innovation landscape addressing the challenge of scaling quantum computing. However, this technology is immature and extensive development work is needed to scale the fundamental science to provide usable computing systems.
The NQCC’s initial 5 years will focus on developing a Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum (NISQ) machine to demonstrate the technology as well as software, algorithm and applications development. The longer term aim is to scale the technology towards an error and noise free fault tolerant machine capability with benchmarking and verification demonstrated in collaboration with UK and international partners. The NQCC will give assured and direct access to early prototype machines to developers and promote the formation of a strong UK-based quantum computing supply chain.
The Role
We are recruiting for an exciting, brand new role for an experienced Quality Officer with extensive quality management skills, coupled with technical expertise in a relevant discipline to support the delivery of the NQCC core objectives.
The Quality Officer will work closely will all staff across the NQCC to create and review documentation including quality management plan, standard operating model, logic map and associated procedures, KPI and monitoring & evaluation reporting, systems engineering metrics, Centre processes & procedures and reporting to both NQCC management and STFC/EPSRC stakeholders.
Working closely with the project delivery teams and technology implementation teams to ensure understanding and adherence to the plan.
The successful candidate would be expected to:
- Maintain Quality Assurance and supporting documentation
- Attend international meetings with collaborators
- Carry out quality checks and inspection on site and at supplier premises
- Present work at internal and external meetings both within the UK and internationally
- Working within the Divisions ISO9001 Quality Management System
- Driving Continuous Improvement within the Centre.
Skills and Experience Required
- Demonstrate knowledge of Quality Assurance techniques, be able to generate the required documentation and ideally some understanding of high performance computing or related technologies syngeneic with STFC facilities or programme
- Be educated to degree level in a relevant engineering, technical or science discipline or HNC/HND in relevant engineering, technical or science discipline or significant relevant experience
- Quality Assurance experience in the field of scientific or technology delivery
- Technical or scientific experience relevant to the post
- Public sector institution Monitoring & Evaluation processes and reporting
- Significant experience in writing quality documentation
- Depth of experience in monitoring quality performance and continual improvement
- Demonstration of effective communication skills
- Extensive IT skills including the following applications; MS Office & MS Project
- A good understanding of basic engineering principals and manufacturing drawings
- A good understanding of project management techniques.
Desirable:
- A formal qualification in Quality Assurance
- Experience of project delivery within an ISO9001 quality management system
- Member of a Quality Assurance professional institute i.e. CQI
- Experience of working within ISO 9001:2015
- Understanding of high performance computing and/or relevant related technologies
- Experience using and developing Product Lifecycle Management systems
- Appreciation of Risk Analysis
- Appreciation of Health, Safety and Environment
- Familiarity with UKRI policies and procedures.
- The post holder may need to be requested to travel/work within the UK and overseas, when required.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity-driven, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.
One of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake cutting-edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving ground-breaking advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
How to Apply
Online applications only for this role. Please submit your CV and a covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation to join STFC and the role you’re applying for. 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 your application without a covering letter may result in your application not being considered.
About UKRI
Launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). UK Research and Innovation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. More information can be found at https://www.ukri.org/.
Additional Information
Organisation: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Contract Type: Open Ended
External Closing Date: Feb 2, 2021
Minimum Salary: Pound Sterling (GBP) 31.305
Hours: Full-time