Lab Technician - Materials Processing

Polytec Personnel Ltd; Girton; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruiting agency is seeking a Laboratory Technician in Girton, UK, to support the operation of a custom-built materials processing facility. The role involves technical guidance, development of workflows, and ensuring safe and efficient operation. Candidates should have hands-on experience with materials deposition technologies, a degree-level qualification, and strong communication skills. This permanent position offers a salary between £33,950 and £39,900, with a standard workweek from Monday to Friday.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with materials deposition and processing technologies.
• Experience with vacuum systems.
• Strong understanding of health and safety regulations.
• High precision and accuracy in process development.
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

• Ensure high uptime and sustainable operation of multi-module materials processing tool.
• Support, guide, and train users; assist with attracting new users and projects.
• Develop, refine and document advanced material deposition processes.
• Conduct experiments, analyse results and optimise processes.
• Plan and conduct preventative maintenance.

Skills

Hands-on experience with materials deposition and processing technologies

Strong communication skills

Strong understanding of health and safety regulations

High precision and accuracy in process development

Organisational skills

Numerical skills

IT skills

Education

Degree-level qualification or equivalent practical experience

Tools

Vacuum systems

Job description

Location: Cambridge (CB3)
Job Type: Permanent
Hours: 36.5 hour week, Monday - Friday, typically 9am - 5pm with scope for some flexibility
Salary: £33950 - £39900 depending on experience
Job Reference: 35896

We are seeking a Laboratory Technician to join our Cambridge based client. You will support the operation of a large, custom-built glovebox-based processing and deposition facility which includes multiple interconnected modules for vacuum deposition, printing, solution processing, laser-based techniques, packaging and materials testing. You will oversee day-to-day operation, provide specialist technical guidance, develop processing workflows and ensure that the facility runs safely, efficiently and sustainably.

Responsibilities

• Ensure high uptime and sustainable operation of a multi-module materials processing tool used by a diverse range of clients.
• Support, guide, and train users; assist with attracting new users and projects.
• Develop, refine and document advanced material deposition and processing recipes across vacuum, laser and printing technologies.
• Conduct experiments, analyse results and optimise processes in collaboration with researchers.
• Provide expert advice on experiment design, equipment selection and material performance optimisation.
• Plan and conduct preventative maintenance; write and maintain standard operating procedures and risk assessments; enforce contamination-control procedures.
• Research and implement new processing or analysis techniques; contribute to continuous facility upgrades.
• Support short research projects and student training.
• Maintain facility databases for auditing and reporting purposes.

Requirements

• Hands‑on experience with materials deposition and processing technologies.
• Experience with vacuum systems.
• Strong understanding of health and safety regulations.
• High precision and accuracy in process development.
• Strong communication, organisational, numerical and IT skills.
• Degree‑level qualification (or equivalent practical experience).
• Ideally, experience managing a research facility and have a broad knowledge of materials processing technologies.
• Occasional out‑of‑hours or weekend work may be required for urgent repairs or maintenance.

Please contact us as soon as possible for more details or apply below.