Senior Workshop Technician

Newcastle University; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday package

Pension schemes

Health & wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

Newcastle University is seeking a technically skilled workshop specialist to lead manufacture, fitting and assembly of components for teaching and research. You will operate CNC mills and lathes, use manual machines, and design jigs and fixtures for prototype development.

Role requires strong CAD/CAM knowledge, experience with engineering drawings, and a focus on safety, training staff and students, and maintaining workshop equipment to high standards.

Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on experience with CNC mills, lathes and manual machining equipment.
• Solid understanding of engineering drawings and tolerances.
• Experience with CAD/CAM and CAD software for design and manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Specify, design, develop, and construct specialised mechanical components and equipment for teaching and research.
• Prepare mechanical drawings and specifications manually or with CAD; record test data digitally.
• Train staff and students in workshop techniques and safety, supervising projects and ensuring safe practice.
• Identify consumables and equipment needs; monitor ordering and cost records.
• Ensure compliance with safety procedures, risk assessments, and audits.
• Oversee day-to-day operation of workshop facilities; diagnose faults and perform maintenance.
• Provide guidance on tests, experiments, fabrication, and use of workshop equipment.

Skills

CNC Mills

CNC Lathes

Manual Machining

Engineering Drawings

Problem Solving

Teamwork

Education

Higher National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent)

Tools

CAD/CAM

CAD Software

Job description

Salary: £32,722 to £33,662 with progression to £35,302 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 4 December 2026

The Role

Newcastle University’s Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering is home to a diverse and talented technical community supporting world-class teaching and research. Within the School of Engineering, our technical teams play a vital role in enabling innovation and delivering high-quality support across a range of disciplines. We are committed to the development and wellbeing of our staff and fostering an inclusive and collaborative working environment.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled and highly motivated individual to join a team of technical colleagues supporting and delivering successful teaching and research activities with a focus on mechanical manufacturing and prototyping.

You will take a lead role in the manufacture, fitting, and assembly of components, working closely with students, academic staff, and external suppliers to deliver bespoke solutions that meet project specifications. The role involves operating CNC machinery, as well as manual lathes and milling machines, to produce high-quality parts for experimental setups and prototype development.

In addition, you will be responsible for the design and manufacturing of jigs, fixtures, and custom test pieces, contributing to the development of innovative research and teaching tools. This is a varied and hands‑on role that offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects in a supportive and forward-thinking environment.

You will need to demonstrate:

• Strong communication and problem-solving abilities
• Substantial experience in mechanical manufacturing and a good understanding of engineering drawings
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively to meet deadlines and quality standards

Key Accountabilities

• To specify, design, develop, and construct specialised mechanical components and equipment to support teaching and research activities within the school. Providing advice on optimal use of modern technologies
• To prepare own mechanical drawings, and specifications - either manually or using CAD software. Designs and manufactures components and equipment to support work, while accurately recording and organising test data in digital formats for both educational and research purposes
• To train staff and research students in appropriate workshop techniques, promoting good practice to ensure all activities are conducted safely and effectively. You will provide hands‑on supervision and guidance to postgraduate and undergraduate project students, as well as junior technical staff, supporting their use of workshop facilities and ensuring adherence to safe working procedures at all times
• In conjunction with academic, research, technical staff and students as appropriate, identify consumable and equipment requirements and initiate their ordering according to the school and university purchasing procedures. Keep financial records of any activities as directed by the Manufacturing Team Leader
• Ensure complicance with relevant safety procedures including relevant risk assessments. In conjunction with the Manufacturing Team Leader and School Safety Officer monitor compliance with all statutory and local safety arrangements. To contribute to regular team meetings, health and safety processes and audits
• In conjunction with the Manufacturing Team Leader, be responsible for the day‑to‑day operation of specific workshop facilities and items of equipment and instrumentation. To undertake fault diagnosis, repair and preventative maintenance on equipment and instrumentation
• To provide general guidance and support, and where appropriate, detailed instruction to staff and students regarding tests, experiments, and the fabrication of components and equipment. This may also involve demonstrating relevant techniques and procedures. Provide comprehensive support and advice to staff on technical development, design, preparation, construction, assembly and setting up of experiments
• Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required.

The Person (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Substantial experience of working in a relevant technical role, with practical knowledge of CNC mills, lathes, and manual machining equipment. Knowledge of CAD/CAM.
• Up‑to‑date and thorough understanding of Health and Safety procedures in workshop environments, ensuring compliance and safe working practices, including experience of writing risk assessments and standard operating procedures.
• Works effectively as part of a team, contributing to shared objectives and supporting colleagues in a collaborative setting
• Works in a structured, detailed‑orientated manner, prioritising tasks and resources to meet targets and maintain high service standards
• Demonstrates technical and problem‑solving ability and adaptability to changing research and teaching laboratory priorities
• Experience of operating and maintaining a mechanical workshop, with involvement in safety procedures and resource management
• Possesses sound theoretical and practical knowledge of workshop machines and equipment including the maintenance and repair of components and machinery used in precision engineering
• Welding and Fabrication

Attributes and Behaviour

• Team-working (Self)
• Works collaboratively with others, plays a positive role in teams and establishes and grows relationships across the organisation where different skills, expertise and opinions are valued.
• Shares relevant and useful information with others
• Respects the expertise and contribution of others even if own opinion is different
• Willing to help others and share workloads
• Planning and organising (Self)
• Works in a planned and structured way
• Ensures that all activities are completed on time
• Ensures that others know how processes and systems work
• Set own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives
• Finding Solutions
• Looks at ways of overcoming obstacles rather than coming to a standstill
• Keeps an open mind to alternative ways of doing things
• Delivering services (Self)
• Keeps fellow team members up to date with progress
• Pays attention to detail
• Has a positive attitude for doing things better
• Takes responsibility for achieving own targets
• Co‑operates with others to achieve targets
• Strives to deliver high quality results
• Is enthusiastic in getting job done on time
• Recognises the need for change and is forward looking. Promotes the benefits of change to others and regularly comes up with new ideas. Has the willingness to adopt new ways of working and to make improvements

Qualifications

• Higher National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (or Equivalent Level 4 Qualification) or equivalent relevant technical experience
• Full UK driver’s license

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.

We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.

We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.

We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.