Tech Lead - AM

The University of Sheffield; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave and flexible working

Pension scheme

Discounts and staff benefits

Staff networks and development

Recognition awards

Learning and mentoring opportunities

Family-friendly policies

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a Technical Lead in Additive Manufacturing to lead project engineers, oversee AM research and application support, and drive technical strategy across multiple projects. You will mentor engineers, manage delivery, and communicate progress to leadership and stakeholders.

Based at AMRC North West, the role requires strong collaboration, travel willingness, and a track record in manufacturing processes and materials development.

Qualifications

• Industrial experience in additive manufacturing, materials, or production environments.
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office.
• Experience working in cross-functional teams within industrial or manufacturing environments.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and materials development.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality research projects to advance metallic AM knowledge.
• Mentor Project Engineers in the AM team.
• Analyse and record data to inform future research and industrial applications.
• Develop personal skills through external or on-the-job training.
• Present data results to project partners at all levels.
• Provide technical review/support for Project Engineers' reports and presentations.
• Maintain visibility on progress, milestones and outcomes across projects.
• Identify bottlenecks, dependencies and risks and resolve them with stakeholders.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Additive manufacturing

Cross-functional teamwork

Manufacturing processes

Stakeholder communication

Willingness to travel

Problem solving

Project coordination

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

As a Technical Lead in Additive Manufacturing (AM), you will primarily provide leadership and mentorship to project engineers in the AM group to facilitate the delivery of research and application support projects. This will involve the scoping and planning of projects, reviewing progress and addressing any technical challenges that should arise. As a Tech Lead in the AM Group, you will help the Technical Fellows and Head of Group to oversee the landscape of AM team initiatives to ensure alignment with strategic priorities and leadership objectives.

You will support the Technical Fellow to establish a research portfolio and technology roadmap around the remit of the development of AM processes, materials, AM process simulations, online/offline process monitoring and control tools as well as utilisation of material characterisation techniques ultimately driving best practice methods and new technology to the AM team.

We support a portfolio of industrial projects with varying content and duration. As the group remit is to mature and transition research, collaboration and communication will be essential. We require a strong background of relevant technical research and delivery of sophisticated AM projects. Moreover, you will be expected to maintain visibility on progress, key milestones and outcomes across ongoing projects. Identification of bottlenecks, dependencies and operational risks and working with stakeholders to resolve these will be a part of the job

Please note that this role is based at AMRC North West.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Technical delivery of high-quality research projects to advance metallic AM knowledge and evaluation of new theories and techniques to address current technological-related challenges. The AM processes include but are not limited to Laser Powder Bed Fusion, Wire Arc Directed Energy Deposition and Additive Friction Stir Deposition.
• Mentor Project Engineers in the AM team, including the identification of training and development requirements to meet project delivery.
• Analyse and record data to aid the design of future research and produce useful findings for other industrial partners, funders, policy makers and practitioners on established principles and techniques that have been improved through testing and experimentation.
• Develop personal skills through external or on the job training, suitable to accomplish the engineering and project tasks required.
• Present data results to project partners at all levels in a professional and concise manner.
• Provide technical report reviewing/supporting of other Project Engineers reports and presentations.
• Maintain visibility on progress, key milestones, and outcomes across ongoing projects
• Identify bottlenecks, dependencies, and operational risks, and work with stakeholders to resolve them
• Facilitate coordination and information flow across initiatives within the AM team
• Support the prioritization and sequencing of project tasks to ensure focus on the most impactful work
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, workflows, and overall team efficiency
• Work alongside the Shop Floor staff to enable smooth transitions of project deliveries and to facilitate AM demonstrations
• Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply.

Criteria

Essential Or Desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

• Essential
  Application
  Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office.
• Essential
  Application
  Industrial experience in additive manufacturing, materials, or production environments is required.
• Essential
  Application
  Experience working in cross-functional teams within industrial or manufacturing environments
• Essential
  Application/Interview
  Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and materials development
• Essential
  Application/Interview
  Willingness and ability to travel
• Essential
  Application/Interview
  Ability to translate technical and operational information into clear progress updates and insights for leadership
• Essential
  Application/Interview
  Strong organizational and coordination skills, with the ability to track multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Essential
  Application
  Effective communication and stakeholder management skills, both written and verbal as communication to staff at all levels will be required
• Essential
  Application/Interview
  Ability to creatively analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer-term implications
• Essential
  Application/Interview
  Ability to assess and organise resources, plan and progress personal work activities, with the support and guidance of the successful candidates’ line manager
• Desirable
  Interview
  Experience of reviewing individual/team progress and performance and embedding organisational strategy into individual performance planning.
• Essential
  Application/Interview
  Experience of working effectively and efficiently within both small and large teams
• Essential
  Interview
  

Grade

7

Salary

£38784-£47389

Work arrangement

Full-time

Line manager

Technical Fellow

Direct reports

Project Engineer

Our website

amrc.co.uk

For informal enquiries about this job contact Evren Yasa Head of AM on [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in the weeks following the closing date. The selection process date will be confirmed. This will consist of an interview/presentation, we plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within two weeks of the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Tracey Wyatt - [e-mail].

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What We Offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; Technical Career Route
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • access to menopause support in the workplace
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Baseline personnel security standard This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.

Closing Date : 16/09/2026

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.