Engineering Skills Academy Technician (555333)

FTE: 1 (35 hours/week)

The Engineering Academy is a collaboration between the University of Strathclyde, partner colleges and the engineering industry. You will make a crucial contribution to the success of our teaching and to the overall experience for our undergraduate students within the Engineering Academy and related departments.

A key feature of the Engineering Academy’s design education is ensuring that the students learn the importance of all aspects of the design and manufacture process including workshop skills and assembly. The students gain hands-on experience in the newly refurbished Engineering Skills Academy Workshop which is also heavily utilised for group and individual projects, where the technician role is extremely important in helping students learn how to make the best decisions about materials and methods to use. When not actively working in the Skills Academy area you will carry out duties in line with Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department.

As an Engineering Skills Academy Technician you will provide practical technical support and advice in support of a wide range of student and staff laboratory-based project activities. Supporting structured laboratory activities, you will formally demonstrate a range of workshop skills and machining operations to the undergraduate students in the Engineering Faculty.

For this role, you must be a good verbal communicator and able to clearly instruct and manage large groups of students. The technician will also be responsible for planning and supervision of these structured laboratory activities. This includes risk assessment, developing safe systems of work, materials and equipment planning and tools and equipment maintenance. For more complex project activities and in support of research programmes you will provide technical support and manufacture of test pieces, test rigs and other customised devices.

To be considered for the role you will be educated to a minimum of HNC level in an appropriate subject or have significant relevant experience in the use of manual lathes and milling machines. You will have significant relevant experience in an engineering workshop environment as well as experience and demonstrable working knowledge of engineering workshop health and safety practices. You will have experience of providing a high level of personal responsibility and initiative to respond independently to queries and you will have experience of applying judgement to deal with daily, unforeseen problems and circumstances, with limited guidance from a superior. You will have significant knowledge within the field of mechanical and production engineering, and you will have an awareness and understanding of health and safety regulations and procedures. You will have excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to inform and explain technical elements to stakeholders with a varying degree of technical knowledge and you will have an ability to make decisions and prioritise your own workload. Strong customer focus is essential as is the ability to work as part of a team.

For informal enquiries, please contact Drew Irvine, Engineering Technician Supervisor, drew.irvine@strath.ac.uk, 01415482315.

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