Farm & Research Workshop Technician

University of Reading; Reading; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Farm accommodation may be available

Job summary

The University of Reading is seeking an Agricultural Engineer / Workshop Technician to join our Farm & Research Workshop across Arborfield and Sonning. You will maintain and repair equipment for a busy farm and support research infrastructure. This hands-on role offers workshop ownership, fault diagnostics, servicing, and maintenance scheduling.

We provide 26 days of leave, a competitive pension, and potential farm accommodation. Closing date 21 September 2026; interviews 1 October 2026.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or higher in Agricultural Engineering or equivalent.
• Strong practical knowledge of agricultural machinery and farming systems.
• Excellent fault-finding and problem-solving skills.
• Proactive, organised, and able to prioritise workload.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a wider team.
• Interest in improving systems and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose faults and carry out servicing and repairs.
• Develop and implement preventative maintenance schedules for machines and slurry systems.
• Source parts and equipment as needed.
• Help improve how the workshop operates.
• Take ownership of the workshop across the farms.

Skills

Agricultural Engineering qualification

Practical knowledge of machinery

Fault-finding & problem-solving

Proactive & organised

Independent worker

Systems improvement

Education

NVQ Level 3 or higher in Agricultural Engineering

Job description

UNIVERSITY OF READING

Farm & Research Workshop Technician
Salary: Grade £31,236 - £35,608 per annum
Contractual hours: 36
Basis: Full time
Job reference: RRF53562
Contract: Full time (36 hours per week), Permanent
Closing Date: 21 September 2026 at 23:59
Interviews will be held: 1 October 2026

Due to the complexity of the Skilled Worker Visa route and eligibility criteria, applicants requiring sponsorship are recommended to check their eligibility on the Home Office website. We cannot provide advice to candidates at the application stage and will only discuss visa routes with candidates who are invited to interview. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website

The Centre for Dairy Research (CEDAR) is a unique agricultural research facility supporting applied and strategic large-animal research. The Centre operates across a 580-hectare farm with approximately 550 Holstein dairy cows.

If you have excellent organisation skills, enjoy fixing things, improving things and finding practical solutions to unusual engineering problems, this could be a particularly interesting agricultural engineering role.

We are looking for an Agricultural Engineer / Workshop Technician to join our team working across the University Farms at Arborfield and Sonning. Alongside maintaining and repairing the machinery and equipment needed to run a busy working farm, you will support the specialist equipment and infrastructure used in our research.

This is a varied, hands-on role with the opportunity to take ownership of the workshop. You will diagnose faults, carry out servicing and repairs, develop preventative maintenance schedules for machines and slurry systems, source parts and equipment, and help us improve how the workshop operates.

There is also scope for practical engineering and problem-solving. Our research activities sometimes require equipment to be adapted, repaired or developed for a particular purpose, so we are looking for someone who enjoys working out how to make things work, rather than simply following a standard maintenance schedule.

You will have:

• An Agricultural Engineering qualification at NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) or higher.
• Strong practical knowledge of agricultural machinery, equipment and farming systems.
• Good fault-finding and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to find practical solutions to unusual problems.
• A proactive and organised approach, with the ability to prioritise your own workload.
• The ability to work independently while also being an effective part of a wider farm and research team.
• An interest in improving systems and equipment, rather than simply maintaining the status quo.

This is an opportunity for someone who wants variety in an environment where no two weeks are necessarily the same.

Our farms - School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading

What we offer

We offer a generous entitlement of 26 days annual leave and additional University closure days on top of bank holiday entitlement and a competitive pension scheme.

Farm accommodation may be available if required.

Contact details for advert

Contact Name: Sven Koops

Contact Job Title: Farms Manager

Contact Email Address: [e-mail]

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.