Technician In Design Unit

Salary: £29,605 to £30,487 with progression to £32,982 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: 21 January 2024

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic technician to join the Design Unit (DU) at Newcastle University. The DU is a globally recognised design, development, and consultancy service operating for industrial engineering clients since 1970. We work with partners including local industry and government agency; our gear research group is one of the largest in Europe. We operate in a collaborative and thriving hub based at Walker Riverside with close links to the School of Engineering in the city campus.

As a DU Technician you will be guided by the Technical Supervisor in supporting our DU colleagues with their research design and manufacturing projects. Your primary focus will be on the manufacture and operation of precision test components and test machines which are designed, built, and operated by the DU.  Your role may also extend to include the characterisation of the test components in the DU Materials and Metrology Laboratories. 

You'll gain valuable experience by engaging in diverse projects and receiving support from experienced colleagues dedicated to developing your professional growth. You'll also have the chance to serve as a representative of the DU at client locations both domestically and internationally. Your responsibilities will involve interacting with our clientele, aiding in the presentation of DU's portfolios and products.

Our work is varied, and each operation is unique, this means that your time on projects can range from a few hours to several months. Therefore, if you are a skilled and organised individual with a passion for technical innovative design and development, this could be the career for you. 

This is a permanent and full-time position (37 hours), available with an immediate start. Working week to be agreed at offer. 

To apply, please complete an online application and upload a CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter is a supporting statement, and you should outline how you meet the essential criteria of the role and evidence this with examples. 

If you would like to find out more about the role, please contact Mr Ian Sewell, Deputy DU Director via email: ian.sewell@newcastle.ac.uk 

For more information about the Design Unit and our work, please click here.  We are based in the Advanced Engineering Research Hub of Newcastle University at:
Unit B1 & B2
Wincomblee Road
Walker
NE6 3QS

The School of Engineering offers an exceptional environment for those seeking to build a career at the intersection of innovation, education, and impactful research. Joining us means becoming part of a vibrant community committed to pushing boundaries in engineering disciplines while nurturing individual growth. With cutting-edge facilities and a diverse collaborative culture, the school provides an inspiring platform to contribute pioneering ideas, foster meaningful connections, and make a tangible difference in the world through technological advancements and academic excellence.

For more information about the school, please click here

Key Accountabilities

•    Carry out general technician duties in support of Design Unit activities in the manufacture, assembly and operating of test machines

•    Plan and progress work after consultation with the Design Unit Technician Supervisor, Engineers and Research staff in the construction, instrumentation, and application of equipment.  In particular, this will be for the manufacture, instrumentation and testing of gears

•    Share responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and cleanliness of manufacturing machines, mechanical test facilities, materials test laboratories and gear metrology laboratories

•    Complete weekly timesheets of activities to facilitate Design Unit resource management and comply with safety issues

•    The development, construction and commissioning/calibration of experimental equipment and rigs as required by the Design Unit with special reference made to the use of CNC machine tools for gear manufacturing and measuring machines

•    Setting up of high-power gear test machines where safety and accuracy are of the utmost importance. Ensuring the satisfactory performance of all items prior to commencing experiments and tests for research, teaching and Industry engagement contracts. Generally assisting in running tests

•    Assist with the training of technical and trainee technical staff in workshop procedures and the use of equipment

•    Supervise Undergraduate and Post Graduate Students during practical work periods in Design Unit workshops and laboratories. Advise on production and construction techniques. Instruct on the correct and safe use of hand and machine tools

•    Assume responsibility to ensure that University, School and Design Unit guidelines on safety are adhered to. Review accident and incident information and prevent their re-occurrence with consideration for best practice

•    Ensure that the workshops and laboratories are supplied and stocked with consumable items and ordered as required so that Design Unit work is effectively supported

•    Advise on ordering new instruments and equipment and/or advise on ordering of new apparatus as required by relevant Design Unit staff

•    Provide technical support for laboratory experiments carried out under a variety of research programmes encompassing a variety of subject areas and including experiments conducted as part of third strand activities

•    Guide students in the practical issues of component manufacture and experimentation in project work and laboratory exercises

•    Assist in the administration of the laboratories and workshops and produce technical documentation

•    Attend and contribute to Design Unit weekly planning meetings

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
•    Organisational, planning, prioritisation of work
•    Appropriate practical and conceptual technical skills
•    Demonstrable enthusiasm and ability to work under own initiative

•    Be confident in the use  of  a  wide  range  of  mechanical,  electrical  and  electronic  test  equipment,  power, machine and hand tools, computing equipment and computing diagnostic test equipment
•    Problem solving abilities
•    Evidence of team working and communication skills
•    Experience of CAD/CAM processes
•    Experience in a technical role involved in the production and assembly of precision engineering artefacts
•    Thorough working knowledge of health and safety procedures

Candidates should be prepared to undertake Design Unit training in the Gear Geometry, Gear Metrology, Instrumentation and Gear Failure Analysis and apply this knowledge to the job role and willing to work on-site at client premises carrying out machine assembly and commissioning activities when required in the UK and abroad.

Attributes and Behaviours
•    Sees other departments and colleagues as “customers” and follows through on their enquiries and requests
•    Co-operates with others to achieve targets
•    Strives to deliver high quality results
•    Has a positive attitude for doing things better
•    Formulates options and possible scenarios for consideration
•    Uses initiative to sort things out, is enterprising in effective use of material, financial and human resources
•    Looks at ways of overcoming obstacles rather than coming to a standstill
•    Works in a planned and structured way
•    Sets own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives
•    Ensures that activities are completed on time
•    Ensures that others know how processes and systems work
•    Respects the expertise and contribution of others even if own opinion is different
•    Gets involved with team tasks
•    Supportive of team decisions
•    Willing to help others and share workloads
•    Clear, concise and factually correct; gets the message across to others with an ability to tailor content of communication to the audience, changing style, tone and format as appropriate
•    Use face-to-face communication regularly; team meetings, one to ones, informal discussions/chats, briefing sessions etc

Qualifications
•    HNC or other equivalent qualification in a manufacturing or other appropriate engineering subject

 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 silver 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. 

Requisition ID: 26445