Graduate Robotics Engineer - Head Office Based
Job Opportunity
Labman Automation is an award-winning company in North Yorkshire that designs and manufactures bespoke robotic automation systems for a wide range of laboratory, medical and industrial industries across the world.
We’re a company that prides itself on building strong relationships with our customers and meeting their technological challenges. Our purpose is to enable a world where science is not limited by technology. Our philosophy of engineering excellence is achieved through self-discipline with supportive leadership, sustainable partnerships, and openness. Our company structure encourages involvement and accountability from everyone. This is driven forward with kindness, humour & enthusiasm. Labman really is a unique and dynamic place to work.
Graduate Project Leaders are accountable for technical work, whether they’re managing groups of people or projects. The graduate should be confident in electrical/electronic engineering, software engineering or mechanical engineering. Regardless of the graduates chosen discipline, they will be exposed to all aspects of the business and are encouraged to take a hands-on approach in the initial phases. They will play a key role in projects and are expected to be proficient in research, design, planning, system testing, implementation, and project control.
The graduate will be exposed to the entire lifecycle of the projects from inception to completion. Early on the graduate will be given their own project to manage, from start to finish. The graduate will be supported and mentored though-out the scheme by a Senior Project Lead, but the graduate will have freedom to work autonomously. The graduate will also work as part of project teams and will be invited and encouraged to participate fully as team member. As the graduate progresses, they will be given increased levels of responsibility and the graduate is expected to become a Senior Project Leader within two years.
Graduates are expected to work towards gaining Chartered status and the role will offer the student an opportunity to further their work-based evidence. We are linked with IET so support is accessible to assist with Chartership.
Engineering Disciplines
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical design and manufacturing is at the heart of most of Labman’s projects. Mechanical engineers are involved from the very start of a project using Solidworks to design and simulate solutions. All Labman projects include a variety of mechanical components such as bearings, transmission components, vibration isolation, fixings and pneumatic systems.
Hands on design and development is encouraged and is often the best way to quickly develop new concepts and ideas. Labman maintains a huge variety of components dedicated to prototype manufacture and development.
Graduate mechanical engineers can expect to become proficient in 3D design and simulation as well as use CADCAM to manufacture components on CNC millers, routers and lathes. Manufacturing knowledge using most engineering metals and plastics will enable graduates to design more effectively and efficiently.
Electrical/Electronic Engineering
All Labman systems are built to relevant EU and ISO standards and the graduate is expected to become familiar with the relevant directives, legislations and standards
Labman design and develop their own microcontroller PCBs for various applications from data acquisition, motion control and process control. Using the ARM architecture, the boards are continually improved to ensure state-of-the-art and business sustainability. The graduate will accustom themselves with these technologies.
Graduates should become familiar with commercially available sensors, controllers, transducers, drives and peripherals and know when they should be used.
A graduate who specialises in this discipline is expected to further develop and support the existing electronics team to continually improve the technologies in Labman’s electronics toolkit. Additionally, the graduate will ensure best practices are maintained and modified to reflect industry norms.
Software Engineering
All software developed in Labman follows an object-oriented approach. Typically Microsoft C# .NET is used however software is also developed for the web using PHP and Javascript. User interfaces are developed using Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and a graduate would be expected to become familiar with these technologies and standards.
Labman are constantly looking for new approaches and technologies which improve the efficiency of software development and result in a better end user experience. Graduates should be well versed in current technologies and make a conscious effort to keep themselves abreast of advancements.
A graduate would be expected to support the existing software team and continually improve the technologies in use. A graduate is expected to work efficiently and openly as the systems developed by Labman must be easy to support, maintain and use.
Company Overview
Established for over 40 years, Labman Automation Ltd is an award-winning company with its HQ in North Yorkshire and offices in Bracknell and Liverpool. Labman design and manufacture bespoke laboratory automation systems for a wide range of industries across the world.
We’re a company that prides itself on building strong relationships with our customers and meeting their technological challenges. Our purpose is to enable a world where science is not limited by technology. Our philosophy of engineering excellence is achieved through self-discipline with supportive leadership, sustainable partnerships, and openness. Our company structure encourages involvement and accountability from everyone. This is driven forward with kindness, humour & enthusiasm. This is driven by our core values & behaviours which underpin everything we do:
· In it together: Being a team; a community of mutual support
· Excellence – Working & delivering at the very highest quality
· Humility – Respecting yourself and others
· Sustainability – Recognition that we have an impact on our planet, our company and our community
· Fun – Enjoyment in your work
Entry Requirements
The graduate must have a good engineering degree in a relevant discipline. Labman expect the graduate to have an intrinsic interest and intuitive understanding of engineering, underpinned by academic theoretical knowledge base. Understanding engineering from first principles and first-hand knowledge, as well as learned engineering subject matter, is a must. The candidate must be of a get-up-and-go attitude showing perseverance in the face of difficulty. The graduate must have a good A-Level in maths and preferably another science A-Level.
Due to the varied nature of the custom projects at Labman the graduate should be able to quickly assimilate and comprehend knowledge in an unfamiliar topic, more often than not in an area unrelated to previous study.
We are looking for those who have an active interest with how things work. Do you have a few projects on the go with an Arduino or are you always rebuilding engines and working on home DIY projects? If so, we would love to hear about it. Be sure to include any personal projects with your application.
What We’re Offering
· 25 days annual holiday (raising to 35 over 5 years) plus public holidays and flexibility to carry some over
· A competitive salary, based on merit and reviewed annually. Graduate salaries are approximately £23,000-£28,000. The pay scale is expected to increase quickly in line with responsibility
· Free use of in-house gym, climbing wall and squash court
· Multiple social teams/groups from Photography club to 5 a side. Or the ability to start your own activity
· Employer pension contribution paid on full salary
· The opportunity to work in the fantastic area of North Yorkshire – we think, the world’s best kept secret. Labman HQ is located on the outskirts of the Georgian Market town of Stokesley - a stone’s throw from the breath-taking East Coast and the Yorkshire moors and yet only 90 minutes from the Lake District and 2 ½ hours to London by train
· …..and not to mention; free fruit, nice coffee, BBQ’s + team events