Workshop Technician

Corehr; Oxford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Oxford seeks a Workshop Technician to join the workshop team in Earth Sciences, tackling design, build, modification and repair tasks for academic staff across the department. The role focuses on machining using turning, grinding, welding and CAD, with health and safety monitoring and COSHH duties.

The post is permanent after a six-month probation, with closing date 15 September 2026 and interviews in mid-September.

Qualifications

• Requires experience working in a workshop environment and with machinery (precision instruments, lathes, CNC milling machines, CNC lathes, electric saws).
• Educated to A-Level or equivalent in engineering.

Responsibilities

• Manage machining processes and maintain quality control.
• Operate CNC milling machine and CNC lathe; use CAD/CAM systems to design and manufacture components.
• Assist with inductions and training of colleagues or students; ensure health and safety compliance (COSHH and related regulations).
• Troubleshoot problems with machine jobs and provide solutions; organise own work and take initiative.

Skills

Workshop experience

Machinery operation

Problem solving

Induction/training

Education

A-Level in Engineering

Tools

Solidworks

Solidcam

Protrax

Siemens control

Job description

Earth Sciences, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3AN

We are seeking to appoint a Workshop Technician to join our workshop team. The Workshop Technician will play a key role in providing design, build, modification and repair services to academic staff across the department, supporting a wide range of projects and activities.

This position operates under the direction of the Workshop Manager. The Facilities referred to are the metal working and machining, welding, plastics/wood-working and grinding workshops. The services provided include a full instrument making, engineering and maintenance service; the development of new and complex machining techniques to construct parts using turning (both metals and plastics), grinding, welding and CAD. This position is 80% machine based and the successful candidate requires previous workshop experience.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing machining processes and maintaining quality control, they will have experience constructing from verbal instructions/ideas and rough sketches and plans, ensuring smooth day to day running of the workshop, assisting with inductions and training of colleagues or students, operation and programming of the CNC milling machine and the CNC lathe. The successful candidate will also can operate a CAD/CAM system to design and manufacture components and advise on matters relating to health and safety, COSHH sheets and other regulations relevant to the post.

About you

The successful candidate will be educated to A-Level or hold an equivalent qualification in engineering, they will also have experience of working in a workshop environment and experience in working with machinery - precision instruments, lathes, CNC milling machines, CNC lathes, electric saws etc. The successful candidate will also can troubleshoot problems with machine jobs and arrive at an appropriate solution, can organise their own work and take initiative as appropriate. Experience using Solidworks, Solidcam, and knowledge of protrax and or Siemens control would be advantageous.

For further details of the role please see the job description. This post is a permanent position, upon successful completion of a six-month probation period. Candidates should apply online by midday on the 15September 2026. The Interviews are expected to take place in mid-September and will consist of two rounds.