Principal Technician

The Department of Engineering has a vacancy for a highly skilled and experienced Principal Technician to join the Electronics Workshops that is part of the Design and Technical Services Division which supports the Department's worldwide reputation for first-class academic research and teaching.

The Electronics Workshops provide a unique, non-commercial and one-off design to all teaching and research activities in the Department. The type of work undertaken ranges from experimentation support, design, PCB manufacture, PCB assembly, and manufacture of enclosed modules and electrical cabinets. These modules and cabinets often have multiple sensor inputs for the control of supplies, loads, safety-critical, optical, single and three-phase motors, hydraulic, RF systems and communication busses.

You will report to the Electronics Workshop Manager and will work closely with the other technician(s) in the area to provide highly specialised technical support to academic staff and students on research and teaching activities and projects, advising on design and manufacture, and providing hands-on training and guidance (including health and safety) on electronics equipment and devices. The role holder will support the general operation of the Electronics Workshops and will be responsible for maintaining and reporting problems with the operation of the equipment, for the local safety within the laboratories and for laboratory waste management.

The successful applicant should be educated to HNC/degree level/level 6 vocational qualification, have a time-served apprenticeship or an equivalent level of practical experience. You should have practical experience in workshop activity and equipment e.g.PCB assembly, CNC manufacturing equipment, testing and troubleshooting existing equipment. And also have experience in the use of Computer Aided Design software e.g. Solidworks, KiCad, Creo. You should be able to work to a high degree of precision and accuracy to develop and review engineering plans and designs for projects and also have the ability to engage with and interact with individuals at all levels of the organisation. Excellent organisation skills are essential, together with the ability to keep up to date with developments in electronic technology.