Senior Technician - School of Engineering - 99131 - Band 500

Position Details

School of Engineering in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK 

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £24,291 to £26,094 with potential progression once in post to £30,207

Band 500

Full time

Fixed-term for up to 3 years

Closing Date: 21 August 2022

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham 

Job context

The post provides specialist technical support for student project work in the School of Engineering. The successful applicant will take the lead in overseeing the makerspace lab and other student-led activities (e.g. UB Racing team, BrumEco, Space Society, Design Society). This will involve participation in (and facilitating) design, fabrication, manufacture and build of apparatus and components, while ensuring a safe working environment for staff and students.The post will also play a key role in supporting the School with the Engineering Education Scheme and outreach activities. Training and supervising apprentices will be required. 

Job summary

You will be responsible for the service, maintenance, and support of technologies in a MakerSpace, provide technical expertise, support, and guidance in support of teaching. This will include advising and assisting in the development, design, preparation, construction, assembly and application of equipment, the setting up of equipment and the deployment of particular techniques. In addition to machine programming and operation, a significant focus of the position will be ensuring safety within the makerspace and the development and administration of teaching and training resources. You may supervise several technical staff, but you will still be expected to act as a role model and coach others appropriately, even if you do not directly supervise staff. You may also deliver short training and orientations on the use of equipment for users of the space.

You will need a detailed understanding of the requirements to deliver undergraduate classes, an in-depth understanding of all main subject areas, the ability to respond quickly and positively to changes in protocols, troubleshoot problems, and optimise protocols to ensure a positive student experience. You may need to operate out of regular working hours to accommodate classes.  

To flexibly use our resources; you may be offered the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or broader university. We would also expect you to actively participate in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to adequately support laboratory activities.

Main duties

• Maintain and support the day-to-day operations of the MakerSpace and its technologies.
• Plan and oversee the day-to-day technical running of the MakerSpace, allocating resources and providing technical supervision of junior technical staff and students to ensure work/project objectives are met.
• Prepare work rotas and activity scheduling for staff and students in the MakerSpace for routine tasks.
• Participate in evaluating technology pilots and troubleshooting where necessary to support the expansion of the Makerspace and ensure successful completion.
• Act as project manager for implementing MakerSpace technologies, providing support and guidance and working closely with staff concerning working requirements, working environment, staff wellbeing, identifying any training requirements as appropriate.  
•    Utilise technical knowledge and experience to assist and advise in the development, design and assembly of work to ensure requirements are met.
• Act as a role model and coach staff and students using the facility and will Respond to queries and problems raised by students and staff in a timely manner
• Discuss the daily programme of work with your manager and other technical staff in the area to ensure the daily programme of work, session protocols and outcomes are clear.
• Based on the available timetabling information, plan the facility's most efficient/practical usage. 
• Support 3D Printers; CNC and manual equipment where appropriate.
• Support microelectronics such as Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or equivalent.
• Research, evaluate and recommend purchases of appropriate equipment.
• You will research, design, trial & modify practical protocols for class teaching. 
• Support the teaching laboratories managers where required and deputise for them in their absence.
• Keeping the teaching laboratories manager informed about changes to protocols/sessions, the content of any discussions with academic session leads and other matters relating to the teaching laboratories. 
• Initiate discussion with the technical teaching manager on any issues that may compromise the facility’s core function for information related to the core functions of the teaching facilities.
• Instruct and provide high-level technical support for students in the correct and safe handling of laboratory and fieldwork equipment, including preparation of samples, analysis methods and preparation techniques. 
• Collaborate with other departments, schools, and users to maximise the MakerSpace.
• Prepare and support open day, Applicant Visitor Day events, Continuous Professional Development and other external requirements within the laboratories or other areas as and when required.
• Oversee that the laboratories are suitably prepared for practicals and the setup/takedown of equipment/materials used during sessions.
• Check practical layouts before classes and ensure that all requirements are in place.
• Be familiar with using a broad spectrum of general laboratory and specialised equipment.
• Demonstrate equipment use, high-level techniques and procedures to staff and students. 
• Troubleshoot and respond to problems, which may occur during practical sessions, using your in-depth knowledge and ability to diagnose/resolve problems and suggest solutions. 
• Work with the flexibility to travel to multiple locations, work evening and weekend hours whilst providing oversight of the MakerSpace, taking responsibility for its safe operation.

Health and Safety duties

• Ensure safe operation of the MakerSpace, proactive support for health and safety within the laboratory, including looking after communal areas as part of your duties. 
• Comply with all current rules and ensure all required assessments are in place, approved and up to date.
• Fully understand the safety aspects of equipment operation and demonstrate/train staff (at all levels) on the correct usage of the equipment as they are implemented in the MakerSpace.
• Ensuring that the facilities are maintained clean, functional and safe, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels. 
• Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the relevant manager(s).
• Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for the MakerSpace.
• Postholders may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider (to be qualified as a first aider is desirable).

General Administration and Organisation

• Ensuring all records are accurate and kept up to date.
• Proactively maintain stocks of consumables, and when, required generate purchase order requisitions using University systems.
• Receipt and correct storage of consumables/equipment and chemical reagents.
• Ensuring that the facilities are maintained clean, functional and safe, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels.
• Ensuring that PAT testing, calibration of equipment and locally and centrally held equipment inventories are up to date and maintained. 
• Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy-saving measures. 
• Maintain technical support-based teaching laboratory website (how-to guides for the preparation of materials, practical setup guides), keep these up to date as and when session requirements or protocols change, or maintain relevant research lab databases/records.

Other Duties

• In collaboration with the relevant manager, the post holder will take an active role in the training and mentoring process for junior or newly appointed staff.
• Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others. 
• Any other duties as may reasonably be required.

This position requires work in unique product development and prototyping laboratory and routinely exposes one to manufacturing and other technical environments. With or without accommodation, the employee in this position needs to move about and position themselves to access files and operate various prototyping machines, including laser cutting systems, 3D printers, CNC routers, plasma cutters, vinyl cutters, plastics forming systems and other power equipment. These activities may require lifting and positioning raw materials and products, loading materials into machines, fabricating working models of product ideas, and occasionally involve work out of the door.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience 

An individual must perform this job successfully and perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. The qualifications listed below represent the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required.

• Extensive relevant practical (hardware/software technical support) experience, equivalent professional qualification or degree in an appropriate subject.
• Have at least five (5) years of experience directly supporting technology in a business or education setting and project-based technology implementation.
• GCSE level 2 (A*- C) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English. 
• Must have strong interpersonal skills, work in a collaborative environment, have a positive service attitude, and show courtesy in dealing with others.
• Desirable to have worked in an educational environment, trained users, and focused on technologies usually associated with a MakerSpace or fabrication facility (woodworking or metalworking).
• Possess the ability to organise and manage own workload and demonstrate flexibility in work practices/requirements.
• Knowledge of design software such as Autodesk, Catia, Revit or equivalent, and productivity and other commonly used software.
• Knowledge of electronics, microelectronic technology such as Raspberry Pi, Arduino or equivalent, ability to code is desirable.
• Knowledge of current desktop and mobile operating systems and current digital fabrication tools, including but not limited to 3D Printers and CNC technologies.
• Have the ability to work under minimal supervision but function as part of a team. 
• Knowledge of current legislation relevant to the role, including current H&S policies and ability to uphold the same.
• An understanding of the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace
• Full UK driving licence desirable due to forklift truck use
• Able to multitask, possess excellent organisational and administrative skills with a high volume of personal interaction with students, staff, co-workers, and vendors; and record information accurately using online systems and databases.
• Positive, flexible, and proactive attitudes are essential.
• Able to effectively communicate technical information to technical and non-technical personnel.
• This post will require some work to be carried out during evenings and weekends. The UB Racing section of the post will require occasional extended periods (e.g. a week) of work away from Birmingham, including overseas travel.

Dimensions

You will provide specialist expertise in your area and provide advice and support to a range of customers. You may supervise staff; even where you do not have supervisory responsibilities, you will be expected to act as a role model for other staff. You may be involved in budget monitoring.

Planning and organising 

You will be required to work independently on daily, weekly and monthly tasks and projects with medium-longer-term horizons without daily supervision. You will ensure that you have the resources required, which will require planning and procurement of goods.

Problem-solving and decision making 

After consulting the relevant manager, you will research, modify and adapt protocols, and prepare for teaching experiments. You will be able to uphold Health and Safety procedures. You will need to be confident in identifying problems, breaking them down and implementing solutions. Although you will work under the direction of more senior staff, you will be able to carry out your work with a large amount of autonomy. 

Internal and external relationships

This role will advise and support staff and students and external contacts such as company representatives.

Informal enquires to Mark Carter, email: m.carter@bham.ac.uk