Materials and Characterisation Laboratory Technician

Queen's University Belfast; Belfast; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Queen's University Belfast seeks a skilled Materials and Characterisation Laboratory Technician to support high-quality teaching and research. The successful candidate will maintain advanced instrumentation, provide technical support, and ensure compliance with safety procedures. This full-time position offers an opportunity to engage with cutting-edge technology in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Commitment to equality and diversity

Promoting professional development

Qualifications

• Three years’ experience operating and maintaining scientific instruments.
• Experience with characterization equipment operations and troubleshooting.
• Ability to follow technical diagrams.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for academic staff and students.
• Maintain, set up, and operate specialist equipment.
• Contribute to the development of new experimental approaches.

Skills

Good communication

Interpersonal skills

Mechanical design

Sample preparation

Education

OND/ONC or NVQ level 3 in Engineering

Recognised apprenticeship in engineering

Tools

SEM

TEM

XRD

FTIR

DSC

Job description

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Materials and Characterisation Laboratory Technician, Belfast

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Client:

Queen's University Belfast

Location:

Belfast, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

b38ae15b9675

Job Views:

5

Posted:

29.06.2025

Expiry Date:

13.08.2025

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Job Description:

The successful candidate will provide specialist technical support and advice to academic staff, research staff, and students, enabling high-quality teaching and research in materials characterisation at Queen’s. Working as part of a dedicated technical team, you will play a key role in supporting experimental work across a range of advanced instrumentation and laboratory techniques.

You will be responsible for the maintenance, setup and operation of specialist equipment including SEM, TEM, XRD, and other characterisation systems. The role also involves contributing to the development of new experimental approaches, training users on equipment, and ensuring compliance with health and safety procedures.

This is a full-time post.

About the person:

The successful candidate must have:

• EITHER; OND/ONC and/or NVQ level 3 or above (or equivalent standard) in a relevant engineering discipline; OR a recognised apprenticeship completed in a relevant engineering environment.
• Three years’ recent relevant post qualification/apprenticeship practical experience operating and maintaining scientific characterization instruments (e.g., electron microscopes, spectrometers, X-ray equipment).
• Three years’ recent relevant post qualification/apprenticeship experience of operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting advanced characterization equipment, including but not limited to SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, DSC, and mechanical testing systems.
• Demonstrable experience of: Performing sample preparation for a wide variety of material types using appropriate methodsMechanical design and assembly with the ability to identify and safely use the most appropriate equipment and tools for the taskWorking in a lab or workshop environment with an understanding of the safe working procedure, and manual handling.
• Ability to follow technical diagrams and instructions.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.

Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

What we offer:

Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality CharterMarks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.

If you are an international applicant and don't already hold a visa that permits you to take up the role you are applying for, please use the information provided on our website to self-assess whether the University is likely to be able to support a visa application - .