Principal Technician - Electronics Workshop

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Cambridge's Department of Engineering is seeking a highly skilled Principal Technician to join the Electronics Workshops within the Design and Technical Services Division at the Cambridge site. The role focuses on providing expert technical support to academic staff and students, guiding design and manufacture, and mentoring on electronics practice.

You will oversee PCB manufacturing and assembly, wiring, testing and troubleshooting of complex modules and cabinets, and ensure

Qualifications

• Educated to HNC/degree level or level 6 vocational qualification.
• Time-served apprenticeship or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience in workshop activity and equipment, incl. PCB manufacturing/assembly, wiring, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Experience with CAD software such as SolidWorks, Altium or KiCad.
• Good understanding of microcontroller, microprocessor, or PLC ladder logic programming.

Responsibilities

• Provide highly specialised technical support to academic staff and students.
• Advise on design and manufacture, and provide hands-on training including health and safety.
• Maintain and report problems with equipment operation and manage laboratory safety and waste.
• Develop and review engineering plans and designs.
• Ensure high standards of accuracy and organisation.

Skills

PCB manufacturing

PCB assembly

Wiring

Testing

Troubleshooting

SolidWorks

Altium

KiCad

Microcontroller

PLC ladder logic

Education

HNC/degree level/level 6 vocational qualification

Tools

SolidWorks

Altium

KiCad

Job description

The Department of Engineering has a vacancy for a highly skilled and experienced Principal Technician to join the Electronics Workshops, which are part of the Design and Technical Services Division, at the Department's central Cambridge site. This division supports the Department's worldwide reputation for first-class academic research and teaching.

The Electronics Workshop provides unique, non-commercial design solutions to support teaching and research activities in the Department. The type of work undertaken ranges from experimentation support, design, populating PCBs, and manufacturing enclosed modules and electrical cabinets. These modules and cabinets often integrate multiple sensor inputs for controlling supplies, loads, safety-critical systems, optical systems, single and three-phase motors, hydraulic systems, RF systems and communication busses.

The Principal Technician will report to the Workshop Manager and will work closely with the other technician(s) in the area to provide highly specialised technical support to academic staff and students on research and teaching activities and projects, advising on design and manufacture, and providing hands-on training and guidance (including health and safety) on electronics equipment and devices. The role holder will support the general operation of the Electronics Workshops and will be responsible for maintaining and reporting problems with the operation of the equipment, for the local safety within the laboratories and for laboratory waste management.

The successful applicant should be educated to HNC/degree level/level 6 vocational qualification and have a time-served apprenticeship or an equivalent level of practical experience. Practical experience in workshop activity and equipment is essential, e.g. PCB manufacturing and assembly, equipment assembly, wiring and testing, and troubleshooting existing equipment. Experience in the use of Computer Aided Design software e.g. Solidworks, Altium, KiCad is also required. The successful applicant should also hold a good understanding of microcontroller, microprocessor, or PLC ladder logic programming languages.

You should be able to work to a high degree of precision and accuracy to develop and review engineering plans and designs for projects and have the ability to engage with and interact with individuals at all levels of the organisation. Excellent organisation skills are essential, together with the ability to keep up to date with developments in electronic technology.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact the HR Office at the Department of Engineering ([e-mail], 01223 332615).

Please quote reference NM50612 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.