Mechanical Assembly Technician - Cleanroom

Vacgen Ltd; Hailsham; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Private medical insurance

Pension scheme (salary sacrifice)

Life Insurance

Job summary

VACGEN in the UK is seeking an experienced Mechanical Assembly Technician to join the Cleanroom team in Hailsham. You will assemble complex mechanical and electrical components from detailed drawings, build UHV manipulation systems, and perform precision hand fitting within a strict cleanliness regime.

You'll work on varied, high-precision projects, collaborating with Engineering, Production and Quality teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in precision, high-technology or complex engineering environments.
• Ability to follow technical drawings and specifications precisely.
• Pride in the craft of assembly and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Assemble complex mechanical and electrical components from drawings and specs.
• Build UHV manipulation and sample-handling systems and sub-assemblies.
• Perform precision hand fitting and mechanical assembly to tight tolerances.
• Complete UHV-compatible wiring and electrical testing.
• Work to strict cleanroom standards and ensure cleanliness of in-vacuum parts.
• Inspect workmanship and ensure assemblies meet quality and engineering standards.
• Support new products moving from NPI to routine manufacture.
• Create and update manufacturing instructions and technical documentation.
• Maintain accurate test data, quality records and serialisation details.

Skills

Hands-on assembly

Reading engineering drawings

Precision fitting

Wiring and electrical testing

Quality and cleanliness standards

Methodical working

Education

Level 3 qualification in Mechanical Engineering

HNC/HND or engineering degree or apprenticeship

Job description

Mechanical Assembly Technician Cleanroom

Location: Hailsham, East Sussex (BN27 4EL)
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Benefits include: 25 days holiday, Private medical insurance, Salary sacrifice company pension, Life Insurance, State-of-the-art manufacturing environment, Ongoing opportunities to develop your technical knowledge and skills

Precision assembly at a completely different level.

If you re an experienced Mechanical Assembly Technician who enjoys complex, detailed, hands‑on engineering, this could be a seriously interesting next step.

At VACGEN, we design and manufacture ultra‑high vacuum technology used in some extraordinary applications.

Our precision‑engineered products support advanced scientific research and technology around the world, including work undertaken by NASA, CERN and the European Space Agency.

We're now looking for an experienced Mechanical Assembly Technician to join our specialist Cleanroom manufacturing team in Hailsham.

This isn't repetitive, high‑volume assembly.

You’ll be building complex, high‑precision Ultra‑High Vacuum (UHV) manipulation and sample‑handling systems, where quality, cleanliness and attention to detail are absolutely critical.

If you re someone who enjoys getting completely absorbed in a technical build and takes real satisfaction from seeing a complex assembly come together exactly as it should, we d like to hear from you.

What will you be working on

You’ll be part of a highly skilled manufacturing team responsible for assembling some of VACGEN's most specialist products.

Working from detailed engineering drawings and specifications, you'll build mechanical and electrical assemblies used within demanding scientific and industrial environments.

The work is precise, technical and varied, so experience, patience and a very good pair of hands really matter.

You ll be:

• Assembling complex mechanical and electrical components from engineering drawings and specifications.
• Building specialist UHV manipulation and sample‑handling systems and sub‑assemblies.
• Carrying out precision hand fitting and mechanical assembly.
• Completing specialist UHV‑compatible wiring and electrical testing.
• Working to strict UHV Cleanroom standards, ensuring in‑vacuum components meet exacting cleanliness requirements.
• Inspecting your work and ensuring assemblies meet the required quality and engineering standards.
• Supporting new products as they move from New Product Introduction (NPI) into routine manufacture.
• Creating, reviewing and improving manufacturing instructions, assembly guides and technical documentation.
• Maintaining accurate test data, quality records and product serialisation information.
• Working closely with Engineering, Production and Quality colleagues to resolve technical issues.
• Occasionally travelling to customer sites for planned meetings, visits or events when required.

This is a role where the quality of your workmanship really counts. You'll be trusted to use your experience, work methodically and make sure every assembly that leaves your hands meets the standards our customers expect.

What are we looking for

We're looking for someone who already has strong practical assembly experience within a precision, high‑technology or complex engineering environment.

You'll be confident working from technical drawings and specifications and comfortable assembling products where tolerances, cleanliness and attention to detail matter.

Importantly, you'll be someone who takes pride in the craft of assembly. You understand that with specialist engineering, sometimes it's the smallest details that make the biggest difference.

Ideally, you'll bring:

• Previous experience in a high‑technology manufacturing, precision engineering or Cleanroom environment.
• Strong hands‑on mechanical assembly and precision fitting experience.
• Experience working with complex, low‑volume or customised engineered products.
• The ability to confidently follow and interpret engineering drawings, specifications and assembly instructions.
• An understanding of specialist wiring and product testing procedures.
• Experience working to strict quality and cleanliness standards.
• The ability to work accurately and methodically while meeting agreed deadlines.
• A Level 3 qualification in Mechanical Engineering or a similar discipline.

A relevant HNC, HND, engineering degree or time‑served apprenticeship would also be welcomed.

Particularly interesting to us would be experience with: Ultra‑High Vacuum or vacuum technology, UHV‑compatible devices and instrumentation, Electron or ion optics, Precision hand‑fitting techniques, Specialist electrical wiring, Product testing and fault finding, New Product Introduction or Cleanroom manufacturing!

We're looking for an experienced technician rather than an entry‑level assembler, so previous hands‑on experience with complex engineering products will be important.

Why VACGEN

Because you'll be building things that are genuinely out of the ordinary.

For more than 60 years, VACGEN has specialised in ultra‑high vacuum technology, and today our products are involved in some of the world's most advanced scientific and technological applications.

The assembly on your bench could ultimately play a part in space exploration, particle physics or groundbreaking scientific research. And the work itself reflects that.

Rather than spending every day assembling the same thing over and over again, you'll be working with specialist, low‑volume, technically demanding products, where your experience and attention to detail genuinely make a difference.

You'll join a knowledgeable team in a state‑of‑the‑art manufacturing environment where skilled technicians are valued for what they know and what they can do.

If you enjoy precision work, like understanding how things fit together and still get satisfaction from completing a challenging build to an exceptional standard, you'll fit in well here.

Ready for something a little more challenging

If you're an experienced Mechanical Assembly Technician looking for a role where your skills can be put to work on complex, high‑precision technology, we'd love to hear from you.

VACGEN is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace and is an equal opportunities employer.

Please note

Applicants must have the appropriate right to work in the UK. VACGEN is unable to accept overseas applications for this position.

No agencies please.