Senior Faculty Technician

Northumbria University; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Northumbria University is seeking a Senior Technician to provide specialist technical expertise to support research, teaching and commercial activities across the School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics. Based at the NESST Building on City Campus, you will manage, maintain and enhance NESST facilities in partnership with academic staff and industry partners.

You will work in optical satellite communications, satellite manufacturing and testing, space weather and energy, delivering

Qualifications

• Degree or HND in a relevant engineering field.
• Experience operating and maintaining lab equipment, especially environmental testing and vacuum systems.
• Ability to diagnose complex faults and implement effective solutions.
• Experience working in cleanroom facilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist technical support across NESST facilities and multidisciplinary teams.
• Contribute to research, teaching and commercial activities in the School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics.
• Support optical satellite communications, satellite manufacture and testing, space weather and energy initiatives.

Skills

Lab maintenance

Troubleshooting

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Degree or HND in Engineering/Physics/Materials

Tools

Vacuum systems

Environmental testing

Cleanroom equipment

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Senior Technician, you will provide specialist technical expertise to support research, teaching, and commercial activities across the School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics. The role will be instrumental in the management, maintenance, and enhancement of the North East Space Skills and Technology (NESST) facilities (not exclusively), working in partnership with academic staff, industry collaborators, and space sector specialists to advance research, technology development, and workforce skills.

Job Description

As a Senior Technician, you will provide specialist technical expertise to support research, teaching, and commercial activities across the School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics. The role will be instrumental in the management, maintenance, and enhancement of the North East Space Skills and Technology (NESST) facilities (not exclusively), working in partnership with academic staff, industry collaborators, and space sector specialists to advance research, technology development, and workforce skills.

As part of a multidisciplinary technical team, working alongside other technicians and the Scientific Officer, you will support pioneering activity in areas including optical satellite communications, satellite manufacturing and testing, space weather and space-based energy. You will play a key role in enabling world-class research, delivering specialist technical training, and helping to establish NESST as a centre of excellence for space skills, innovation and education.

About The Team

Further information is available in the job description.

Within the School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics at the Faculty of Science and Environment, the Department of Physics focuses on a broad spectrum of research areas, with core groups in Astrophysics (including Solar and Space Physics), Space Technology, Photovoltaics, Renewable Energy Technology and Materials, and Smart Materials & Surface. We take a highly collaborative approach, working with a diverse range of academic and industry partners.

The successful candidate will be based in the NESST Building on our City Campus, as part of a multidisciplinary technical team comprising one Scientific Officer and a Laboratory Technician, all led by a Technical Manager.

About You

To be successful in the role you will have a degree or HND, preferably in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Material Science, Engineering or a related technical discipline. Experience in operating, maintaining and laboratory or cleanroom equipment, particularly environmental testing and vacuum-based systems. The role also requires a proven ability to independently diagnose complex technical faults in equipment operation and to implement effective solutions. Experience in a technical role within cleanroom facilities is required.

You will possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to guide, train and support a diverse range of users, from students and early-career researchers to experienced academics and external partners. You will be equally comfortable working independently and contributing as part of a collaborative technical team.

Strong organisational and time-management skills are essential, together with the ability to manage competing priorities, coordinate multiple activities simultaneously and consistently deliver high-quality outcomes within agreed timescales. The role requires a proactive approach to responding to changing operational demands while maintaining a high standard of service delivery.

A high level of accuracy and attention to detail is required when maintaining technical records and documentation, ensuring compliance with relevant policies, procedures and quality standards. This includes the management of equipment maintenance records, data logs, operational documentation, incident reports, and other compliance-related information.

Knowledge and proven experience in the implementation and management of health and safety requirements within science and engineering environments are required. You will be confident in developing, reviewing and applying risk assessments, standard operating procedures, COSHH assessments and other compliance documentation, while providing guidance to staff and students to ensure safe and effective working practices.

Further information is available in the person specification.

About Us

Join Northumbria University, a research-intensive institution unlocking potential and changing lives locally and globally. Named Times Higher Education's University of the Year in 2022 and Modern University of the Year in 2025, we rank top 25 in the UK for research power. Discover more about us.

With over 37,000 students from 140+ countries, we offer world-leading research, award-winning partnerships, and an outstanding student experience. We empower our exceptional staff, promoting a positive work-life balance and offering great benefits, including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, generous holiday entitlement and more.

Our Northumbria Values, co-created by our team, define who we are: Academic Excellence, Innovation, Inclusivity, Collaboration, and Ambition. Our Behavioursshape our work culture: We listen and learn, support one another, respect everyone, trust each other, and are bold.

Based in Newcastle upon Tyne and London, we are an on-campus organisation and offer flexible hours and location where the role allows. We pride ourselves on diversity and inclusivity, holding numerous awards for gender and race equality, disability confidence, and research excellence. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers. The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process.