Tech Lead - AM

Diversity Dashboard; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Generous pension scheme

Annual leave

Job summary

The University of Sheffield invites applications for a Technical Lead in Additive Manufacturing (AM). You will mentor project engineers and oversee AM initiatives, scoping and planning, and ensure alignment with strategic priorities.

Based at AMRC North West, the role involves data analysis, progress tracking, risk management, and close collaboration with stakeholders to deliver high‑quality research projects across AM processes.

Qualifications

• Honours degree in Material Science or Manufacturing Engineering or related field.
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office.
• Industrial experience in additive manufacturing, materials, or production environments is required.
• Experience in cross-functional teams within industrial or manufacturing environments.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and materials development.
• Willingness and ability to travel.
• Ability to translate technical information into clear leadership updates.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills, able to track multiple initiatives.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management, written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Technical delivery of high-quality research projects to advance metallic AM knowledge.
• Mentor Project Engineers in the AM team and identify training needs.
• Analyse and record data to inform future research and provide findings to partners.
• Develop skills through training and on-the-job development.
• Present data results to project partners at all levels professionally.
• Review and support reports and presentations by other engineers.
• Maintain visibility on progress, milestones and outcomes across projects.
• Identify bottlenecks, dependencies and risks and work with stakeholders to resolve them.
• Coordinate and streamline information flow across AM initiatives.
• Support prioritisation and sequencing of tasks for impactful work.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and team efficiency.
• Collaborate with Shop Floor staff to enable smooth transitions and AM demonstrations.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with the grade.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Leadership

Data presentation

Education

Honours degree in Material Science or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

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. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

• • Have a good honours degree in Material Science or Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
  • 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

Further Information

• • 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]

Closing Date :16/09/2026

Baseline personnel security standard

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

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.

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 41days 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 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.