Mechanical Engineering Technician

Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job description

19932BR

School of Physics & Astronomy

Technical

Advert

Mechanical Engineering Technician

School of Physics & Astronomy

The School of Physics and Astronomy is seeking an experienced mechanical engineering technician to join its small team on a 2 year fixed term contract.

The post holder will undertake a variety of machining and engineering tasks under the leadership and management of the workshop manager.

The role requires the ability to construct required parts using workshop engineering equipment such as CNC lathes and other manual machinery, milling turning & grinding and to provide requested drawings and plans using Autodesk inventor or equivalent CAD software.

Being a team-player, with good interpersonal, communication and customer service skills, is essential.

The post holder will work closely with the Mechanical Engineering Workshop Manager (Line Manager) and the member of academic staff responsible for workshop support and guidance.

For informal enquiries about the post please contact Scott Cook at [e-mail].

For informal enquiries about working at Cardiff School of Physics and Astronomy please contact Helen James at [e-mail].

The position is full time (35 hours per week) on a 2 year fixed term contract.

Salary: £24,900 - £25,733 per annum (Grade 3)

IMPORTANT NOTE TO CANDIDATES: It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing and we only invite candidates to interview who clearly evidence that they meet (or partially meet) each of the essential criteria. During the application process, you will be asked to attach a supporting statement. This statement must outline how you meet the criteria below and we recommend formatting this by using each criteria as a sub-heading and providing your relevant experience/evidence below each sub-heading. It is crucial that you save your supporting statement with the vacancy number (eg. 19932BR) in the filename as failure to do so may result in it being omitted from your application.

When attaching the supporting statement to your application, please ensure that you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance 19932BR.

Date advert posted: Monday, 07 April 2025

Closing date: Monday, 05 May 2025

This post has previously been advertised to employees of Cardiff University only. We now invite external applications.

Cardiff University and the School of Physics and Astronomy are committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity. Our inclusive environment welcomes applications from talented people from diverse backgrounds. We strongly welcome female applicants and those from any ethnic minority group, as they are underrepresented in our School. The School of Physics & Astronomy has a Juno Practitioner accreditation that recognises good employment practice and a commitment to develop the careers of women working in science. The University is committed to ensuring that we sustain a positive working environment for all staff to flourish and achieve. As part of this commitment, the University has developed a flexible and responsive framework of procedures to support staff in managing their work and personal commitments wherever possible. Applications are welcome from individuals who wish to work part-time or full-time.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English. We very much welcome applications in Welsh.

Job Description

Job Purpose

To provide professional mechanical engineering technical support to the School of Physics & Astronomy.

The School of Physics and Astronomy is located in a building which provides excellent facilities for teaching and research, including a well-stocked library. The School is located in the heart of the city of Cardiff close to local and national transport links with the main shopping centre, sporting facilities, parks, and entertainment all on our doorstep.

Research activities are focused in five main areas of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Gravitational Physics, Condensed Matter and Photonics (CMP), Compound Semiconductors, and Brain Imaging. All groups are supported by excellent in-house technical and computing facilities.

Duties And Responsibilities

Key Duties

• Provide a service to staff and students by operating, maintaining, servicing, and repairing materials, machinery, and equipment within the School's Mechanical engineering workshop, advising and training staff and/or students on their appropriate use using established guidelines.
• Prepare all materials and equipment as necessary for customer use and ensure area of responsibility is kept clean and tidy.
• Provide requested drawings and plans using Autodesk inventor or equivalent CAD software.
• Construct required parts using workshop engineering equipment such as CNC lathes and other manual machinery, milling, turning, and grinding.
• Deal with routine inquiries from internal and external customers in a professional manner, following established procedures, referring complex inquiries to relevant staff members, ensuring all relevant facts and information needed is recorded and passed on.
• Assist in the maintenance of routine records, updating databases and analyzing routine data/information as required.
• Record the results of experiments in a presentable and user-friendly format and to assist staff and students in the preparation of technical data/materials for future reference such as publication or teaching purposes.
• Plan and manage small projects ensuring the effective use of resources.
• Participate actively within the work team, setting an example and showing a flexible approach to delivering team results.

General Duties

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications And Education

• NVQ 2/GCSE level A-C or equivalent qualification/work related experience.

Knowledge, Skills And Experience

• Experience in operating CNC machinery and other manual workshop machinery – milling, turning, and grinding, constructing engineering designs, maintaining and repairing equipment and a willingness to undertake further training and development as required.
• Significant experience in working in technical support roles.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft IT packages, Autodesk inventor or equivalent CAD software. A willingness to undertake further training and development.

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with a wide range of people.
• Evidence of working well as an effective team member, providing advice and guidance to other team members where necessary.
• Ability to deal promptly, effectively, and courteously with requests for information or service.
• Ability to resolve issues quickly and efficiently.

Planning, Analysis and Problem Solving

• Ability to use initiative in solving problems and responding to queries ensuring compliance with standard procedures and practices.
• Ability to work on own initiative and unsupervised to deadlines, planning, organizing, and setting priorities for own work, as well as managing small projects as appropriate.

Desirable Criteria

• A-levels or an equivalent qualification or equivalent work related experience.
• Experience of working in a Higher Education environment.
• Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

Salary Range Min.

24,900

Salary Range Max.

25,733

Job Category

Technical

Grade

Grade 3