Senior Technician Mechanical Engineering

Only FE; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

SYPA with employer contribution

30 days annual leave

Health & wellbeing support (Bupa, OH,眼

Free parking

Hybrid & flexible working

CPD opportunities

People-focused culture

Job summary

The Sheffield College is seeking a Senior Technician Mechanical Engineering to lead a busy workshop, ensuring a safe, efficient learning environment for practical engineering. You will operate and maintain a range of manual and CNC machines, prepare teaching resources, and supervise fellow technicians in collaboration with teaching staff.

With strong experience in mechanical workshop operations, you will manage equipment, ensure COSHH/PUWER compliance, and contribute to curriculum delivery while

Qualifications

• Experience in a mechanical engineering workshop or manufacturing setting.
• Experience operating and setting manual lathes and milling machines.
• Experience operating and setting CNC lathes and CNC machining centres.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and work to tolerances.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe, organised and fully operational workshop environment.
• Prepare, set up and maintain equipment, tooling, materials and resources for teaching.
• Operate and maintain workshop machinery (manual and CNC).
• Lead a team of technicians and support teaching staff.
• Keep accurate maintenance records and stock levels for tooling and materials.
• Source materials and equipment, obtain quotations and monitor deliveries.

Skills

Mechanical engineering knowledge

Manual machining

CNC machining

Reading engineering drawings

Staff supervision

Health & Safety awareness

Education

Engineering qualification (Level 3+) in Mechanical Engineering

Assessor/teaching or training qualification (or willingness to pursue)

Tools

Manual centre lathes

Manual milling machines

CNC lathes

CNC machining centres

Bandsaws (horizontal/vertical)

Pillar drills

Bench grinders

Measuring equipment

CAD/CAM software

Job description

Senior Technician Mechanical Engineering

Salary £26,916 - £29,225 per annum

About us

The Sheffield College is a thriving further and higher education community, empowering around 13,000 learners each year to achieve their goals. Driven by our mission to transform lives through learning, we foster an inclusive environment — recognised through our 2026 Investors in Diversity Gold award and 3rd‑place ranking in the National Centre for Diversity’s 2025 Top 100 Most Inclusive UK Employers.

About the Role

As a Senior Mechanical Engineering Workshop Technician, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of practical engineering programmes within a busy mechanical engineering workshop. You will be responsible for maintaining a safe, organised and fully operational workshop environment, ensuring that machinery, tools, materials and equipment are prepared and available for teaching and assessment activities.

The successful candidate will have substantial experience working in a mechanical engineering workshop and be confident operating, maintaining and setting up a range of manual and CNC machine tools. They will also lead a team of technicians and work closely with teaching staff to support the delivery of engineering programmes.

Please note that this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.

Main Responsibilities

• Ensure the mechanical engineering workshop is maintained to a high standard, providing a safe, organised and fully operational learning environment.
• Prepare, set up and maintain workshop equipment, tooling, materials and resources for practical teaching sessions.
• Operate and maintain workshop machinery including:
  • Manual centre lathes
  • Manual milling machines
  • CNC lathes
  • CNC milling machines
  • Horizontal and vertical bandsaws
  • Pillar drills
  • Bench grinders
  • Belt sanders and polishing equipment
  • General hand and power tools
• Manufacture components, fixtures, jigs and teaching aids to support curriculum delivery.
• Support lecturers during practical sessions by preparing demonstrations, setting machines and assisting learners with safe workshop practices.
• Ensure machinery is regularly inspected, maintained and reported for repair where necessary, maintaining accurate maintenance records.
• Manage workshop tooling, measuring equipment and consumables, ensuring adequate stock levels are maintained.
• Source engineering materials, tooling, PPE and consumables from suppliers, obtaining quotations, raising purchase requests and monitoring deliveries to ensure value for money and continuity of workshop operations.
• Advise on the purchase and specification of new workshop machinery, tooling and equipment.
• Manage workshop inventory, including engineering materials such as metals, plastics and consumables.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety legislation, including COSHH, PUWER, LOLER (where applicable), risk assessments and safe systems of work.
• Assist in the design and delivery of practical learning activities and engineering projects.
• Support students in developing practical engineering skills whilst promoting safe working practices at all times.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to curriculum staff on workshop processes, manufacturing techniques and equipment capabilities.
• Deliver training and demonstrations to staff on the safe operation and effective use of workshop machinery and equipment.
• Support continuous improvement of workshop facilities, equipment and working practices.

Essential Experience

• Working within a mechanical engineering workshop or manufacturing environment.
• Operating and setting manual lathes and milling machines.
• Operating and setting CNC lathes and CNC machining centres.
• Using general fabrication and workshop machinery including bandsaws, drills, grinders and measuring equipment.
• Ordering engineering materials, tooling and consumables from suppliers.
• Managing workshop stock and inventory.
• Reading and interpreting engineering drawings.
• Working to engineering tolerances and quality standards.
• Maintaining workshop machinery and equipment.
• Implementing safe systems of work and ensuring compliance with workshop Health & Safety legislation.
• Supervising or mentoring staff, apprentices or learners within an engineering environment.

Desirable Experience

• Experience supporting engineering education within a college, apprenticeship provider or training environment.
• Knowledge of CAD/CAM software and CNC programming.
• Experience with metrology equipment and quality inspection techniques.
• Relevant engineering qualification (Level 3 or above) in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or a related discipline.
• Assessor, teaching or training qualifications (or willingness to work towards one).

What we can offer you

As the successful candidate, you will be offered a salary of between £26,916 - £29,225 per annum based upon a combination of the skills, knowledge and experience that you can bring to the role.

Our Full Benefits Package

• SYPA – with a generous employer contribution
• Annual leave - 30 Days (222 hours) + 8 Bank Holidays (59.2 hours)- this includes a discretionary Christmas closure period
• Health and wellbeing, we offer
  • Employee assistance programme through Bupa
  • Occupational Health through PAM
  • Free eye tests for VDU users
• Free parking is available at the majority of our campuses
• Hybrid and flexible working opportunities
• Continuous professional development opportunities
• A people-focused working culture where you can grow and thrive

Closing date

17th of November 2026

Equal Opportunities

As a Leader in Diversity employer, we encourage applications from everyone and value diversity in our workforce.

Where there are internal applicants at risk, these will be considered in the first instance.