Mechanical Technician

Salary:27319.00 - 29588.00 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: 01 March 2026

The Role

The School of Engineering at Newcastle University is seeking to appoint an individual to the role of Mechanical Technician (Manufacturing Services).

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of technical staff supporting teaching activities primarily within our multifunction laboratories and makerspace facilities. You will play a key role in ensuring multifunction laboratories are safe well-maintained and equipped to deliver high-quality practical sessions and student projects.

Our highly skilled and professional technical colleagues are essential in supporting and delivering successful teaching activities to an international standard. The School of Engineering employs approximately 75 technicians working across campus and off-site facilities throughout the Northeast of England. Our technical expertise spans a wide range of disciplines and makes a fundamental contribution to Newcastle Universitys impact on the world.

You will be part of a collaborative technical team providing support to academic staff and students during taught practical sessions. Responsibilities include maintaining and operating machinery and equipment delivering safety inductions providing training on specialist tools and techniques and managing resources and stock levels. You will also support the technical team leader and senior technicians in maintaining health and safety compliance infrastructure and asset management within designated teaching spaces.

You will need to demonstrate:

• A proven track record of working in a manufacturing or engineering environment with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• A proactive mindset with evidence of continuous improvement
• Technical problem-solving skills and a solution-focused approach
• A strong customer focus and the ability to work flexibly efficiently and cooperatively with stakeholders
• A good understanding of health and safety processes
• Technical expertise in the operation and maintenance of machinery and equipment

Working as part of the teaching team in the School of Engineering you will provide comprehensive technical support for teaching activities by maintaining facilities and equipment and ensuring the safe and effective use of multifunction laboratories and makerspace areas.

In the role you will offer technical advice and practical support to academic colleagues and students to enable the successful delivery of teaching practicals and student projects while supervising lab users and enforcing health and safety addition you will deliver safety inductions maintain resources and equipment and support the technical team leader and senior technicians in ensuring operational readiness and compliance across all designated teaching spaces.

For informal enquiries please contact Robyn Hare Technical Lead for Integrated Teaching .

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the effective operation and maintenance of machinery equipment and instruments in makerspace and multifunction laboratories for research and teaching purposes including basic preventive maintenance and reporting defects to the technical team leader or senior technician
• Provide technical advice and support for teaching activities assisting academic staff and students with practical sessions and projects. Assistance in the training staff and students in the safe and correct use of machinery equipment and techniques within designated teaching spaces
• Maintaining resources and stock levels by determining requirements and initiating purchase orders for materials and equipment
• To be responsible for keeping up to date with relevant Health and Safety legislation codes of practice and regulations ensuring safe handling storage and disposal of materials in accordance with local rules and legal requirements including risk assessments and any other statutory or local safety arrangments
• To contribute to regular teaching and technical team meetings health and safety reviews and multifunction laboratory audits

Knowledge Skills and Experience

Essential

• Relevant experience in a manufacturing engineering role
• Excellent team-working and communication skills with proven written and verbal ability
• Strong technical and problem-solving capability
• Good organisational skills to meet deadlines demonstrating a proactive approach and attention to detail
• Ability to contribute to the design and specification of technical and laboratory equipment to support teaching activities
• Flexible attitude with the ability to adapt to changing workload priorities and working locations
• Knowledge of health and safety procedures including standard operating procedures risk assessments and COSHH regulations
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs such as Word and Excel

Desireable

• Completion of an apprenticeship in manufacturing engineering
• Experience in delivering or supporting university-based teaching at undergraduate postgraduate or professional level
• Knowledge and experience of 3D printing and design software such as CAD
• Willingness to support open days and outreach events outside normal working hours (overtime or time off in lieu will be provided)

Attributes and Behaviour

• Displays a flexible attitude to team tasks and priorities with a willingness to help others and share workloads providing clear communication and updates on progress
• Works collaboratively with others plays a positive role within the team and builds relationships across the organisation where different skills expertise and opinions are valued
• Works in a planned and structured way with strong attention to detail
• Ensures all activities are completed on time prioritising tasks effectively optimising resource use and maintaining high standards of service
• Strives to deliver high-quality results by embracing change and contributing to a positive reliable technical service
• Takes responsibility for achieving personal targets and cooperates enthusiastically with others to support their activities ensuring clarity of processes and systems within their area

Qualifications

• National Certificate in Manufacturing Engineering (or Equivalent Level 3 Qualification) or equivalent relevant technical experience
• Full UK driving license

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 GoldAthena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality CharterBronze 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: 29056