Laboratory Support Technician - Mechanical

Oxford Instruments plc; Severn Beach; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Share incentive plan

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Half‑day Fridays

Defined contribution pension

Flexible benefits package

Collaborative working environment

Job summary

Oxford Instruments plc seeks a Laboratory Support Technician - Mechanical to join the Applications Team in Severn Beach, Bristol. You will maintain and support laboratory systems for demonstrations, sample work, and projects, while diagnosing faults and coordinating with engineers to resolve issues.

You will install and service plasma processing equipment, support documentation, and safety compliance, with a focus on reliability, quality, and customer success in a high-tech environment.

Qualifications

• Time-served mechanical apprenticeship, City & Guilds qualification, or equivalent engineering qualification.
• Significant hands-on engineering experience within a high-tech manufacturing, semiconductor, scientific instrumentation, or related industry.
• Experience reading and interpreting electrical and mechanical schematics.
• Experience using CAD software such as Solid Edge would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and support laboratory systems to ensure customer demonstrations, sample processing, and development projects are delivered on time.
• Diagnose faults and respond quickly to equipment breakdowns, coordinating with engineers and technicians to resolve issues efficiently.
• Install, commission, test, operate, and maintain sophisticated plasma processing equipment.
• Work closely with Technical Support and Systems Engineering teams to identify, investigate, and resolve system issues.
• Analyse equipment performance and provide detailed reports on maintenance activities and corrective actions.
• Carry out preventative maintenance and safety audits to ensure systems remain safe, reliable, and compliant.
• Maintain accurate service, warranty, parts, and equipment performance records to support continuous improvement and trend analysis.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including SOPs, work instructions, risk assessments, and quality records.
• Ensure all activities are carried out in accordance with Health & Safety, ISO 9001, and company compliance standards.
• Participate in a rotating shift pattern as required.

Skills

RF generators

Electrical systems

PLCs

Gas delivery

Wafer handling

Education

Time-served mechanical apprenticeship

City & Guilds qualification

Engineering qualification

Tools

CAD (Solid Edge)

Job description

Are you a hands-on engineer with a passion for problem-solving and advanced technology? Join our Applications Team based in Severn Beach, Bristol, as a Laboratory Support Technician - Mechanical and play a vital role in supporting cutting-edge plasma processing equipment used for customer demonstrations, sample development, and strategic projects.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of a world-leading technology environment, ensuring our laboratory systems operate at peak performance while supporting innovation and customer success. You'll collaborate closely with engineers, scientists, and technical specialists, gaining exposure to some of the most advanced semiconductor and plasma technologies in the industry.

What You’ll Be Doing

As an Equipment Support Technician, you will:

• Maintain and support laboratory systems to ensure customer demonstrations, sample processing, and development projects are delivered on time.
• Diagnose faults and respond quickly to equipment breakdowns, coordinating with engineers and technicians to resolve issues efficiently.
• Install, commission, test, operate, and maintain sophisticated plasma processing equipment.
• Work closely with Technical Support and Systems Engineering teams to identify, investigate, and resolve system issues.
• Analyse equipment performance and provide detailed reports on maintenance activities and corrective actions.
• Carry out preventative maintenance and safety audits to ensure systems remain safe, reliable, and compliant.
• Maintain accurate service, warranty, parts, and equipment performance records to support continuous improvement and trend analysis.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including SOPs, work instructions, risk assessments, and quality records.
• Ensure all activities are carried out in accordance with Health & Safety, ISO 9001, and company compliance standards.
• Participate in a rotating shift pattern as required.

About You

We’re looking for a proactive and technically capable engineer who enjoys working in a fast-paced, high-technology environment.

Qualifications & Experience

• Time-served mechanical apprenticeship, City & Guilds qualification, or equivalent engineering qualification.
• Significant hands‑on engineering experience within a high-tech manufacturing, semiconductor, scientific instrumentation, or related industry.
• Experience reading and interpreting electrical and mechanical schematics.
• Experience using CAD software such as Solid Edge would be advantageous.

Technical Skills

You will ideally have experience with some of the following:

• RF generators and automatic matching networks.
• Electrical systems including mains and 3‑phase power.
• PLCs, low‑voltage circuits, and machinery safety systems (EN13849).
• Electrical and mechanical fault‑finding to component level.
• Gas delivery and safety systems.
• Wafer handling systems, including Brooks automation equipment.
• Semiconductor etch and deposition processes (highly desirable).
• Technical equipment support within semiconductor manufacturing, scientific instrumentation, or a related high‑technology environment.

Personal Attributes

• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and within a collaborative team environment.
• Organised, detail‑oriented, and committed to delivering high standards of service.
• Able to take ownership of tasks while recognising when to escape issues appropriately.

Why Join Us?

In addition to a competitive salary, you’ll benefit from:

• Structured career development and progression opportunities.
• Private healthcare.
• Share incentive plan.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Half‑day Fridays.
• Defined contribution pension scheme.
• Flexible benefits package that can be tailored to your needs.
• A collaborative and innovative working environment where your work directly contributes to customer success and technological advancement.

Working hours

Mon to Thurs: 07:30 am to 04:00 pm and Fri: 07:30 to 12:30

If you’re looking for an opportunity to work with industry‑leading technology and make a real impact in a growing, innovative organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and would ask you to get in touch if you are concerned about any barriers you feel you may be facing in your application process with us.