Senior Technician (Civil and Mechanical Engineering)

The University Of Manchester; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous employer pension contribution

Flexible and Hybrid working

University Benefits

Job summary

The University of Manchester is seeking a Senior Technician (Civil and Mechanical Engineering) to provide expert technical support across Fluids, Heavy Structures, Dynamics, and related laboratories. You will help ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality teaching, research, and testing activities.

Responsibilities include setting up test rigs, supporting practical classes, mentoring junior staff, and developing laboratory facilities in collaboration with academic staff.

Qualifications

• A qualification in a science or engineering-related subject area (degree/HND/HNC) or significant technical experience.
• Experience in fabrication and testing methods used in Civil/Mechanical Engineering.
• Ability to design, analyse functionality, replicability and costs in project delivery.
• Extensive use of workshop tools including lathes, CNC milling, grinding, cutting, drilling.

Responsibilities

• Work with undergraduate and postgraduate students to set up test rigs and measurement chains, conduct experiments and validate results.
• Demonstrate and support delivery of practical classes across Mechanical, Civil Engineering and related programs.
• Train or instruct staff and students in equipment use and maintenance within competence.
• Collaborate with colleagues to resolve technical challenges and develop facilities and equipment.
• Supervise and develop junior staff and university technical apprentices.

Skills

Fabrication & testing

Workshop machinery

Mentoring students

Test rig setup

Education

Degree or equivalent in engineering/technical discipline

Tools

LabCup

PPMS

CAD/CAM SolidWorks

Job description

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative individual to join our team as a Senior Technician (Civil and Mechanical Engineering). This role offers an exciting opportunity to provide expert technical support across our Fluids, Heavy Structures, Dynamics, Impact/Ballistics, Geotechnical and Concrete Processing laboratories. Using your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills, you will support safe, efficient and high-quality teaching, research and testing activities within a dynamic and inclusive environment.

You will be responsible for:

• To work closely with undergraduate/postgraduate students to support them in conducting experimental work in the areas of heavy structures, dynamics, fluids and testing equipment. This will include supporting them in setting up test rigs and measurement chains, conducting experiments and validating test results.
• Demonstrating and supporting delivery of practical classes as part of taught programs. Including but not limited to Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Civil Engineering and Management 4th Year and PGT Mechanical Engineering Group Design Projects, IMechE grand challenges and Design, Manufacture and Test modules.
• To train or instruct other staff and students in the use of equipment and it's servicing as required and within the limits of technical competence.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders, help resolve technical challenges, maintain and develop facilities and equipment, and identify opportunities to improve our services.
• Supervise, motivate and develop junior staff and University of Manchester technical apprentices.

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria

• A qualification in a science or engineering-related subject area e.g. degree, HND, HNC, OR significant work experience in a relevant technical, engineering or scientific role
• Experience in fabrication and testing methods used in the application of Civil and Mechanical Engineering.
• Demonstrable experience in engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects
• Extensive knowledge in the use of workshop machine tools necessary, for fabrication and sample preparation, including: lathes, CNC milling, grinding, cutting, grinding, polishing and drilling machines
• An aptitude for training and mentoring students from a diverse range of backgrounds

Desirable Criteria

• Demonstrable experience in the operation of furnace control systems, data loggers, and the application of fire engineering practice
• Experience of strain gauging and mechanical property testing of concrete, composite and metallic systems
• Experience of working with specialist IT packages/software such as LabCup, PPMS and CAD/CAM for example, SolidWorks
• Knowledge of teaching and research operations gained from within a Higher Education setting
• Line management / supervisory experience

We value transferable skills and real-world experience as much as formal qualifications.

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer pension contribution
• Christmas closure across all departments outside of annual leave and bank holidays
• Purple Place employee discount platform

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

Further particulars (with person specification) linked below

Applications close at midnight on the closing date

This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must demonstrate the right to work in the UK