Technical Manager (Fabrication Workshop)

About us

King’s College London is consistently ranked among the UK’s top 10 universities by the QS World University Rankings. The Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES) is a vibrant faculty based in the heart of London with a long tradition of world-leading research and teaching in physics, mathematics, chemistry, informatics and engineering.

About the role

The Technical Manager (Fabrication Workshop) will be responsible for the faculty’s newly built mechanical workshop facility in the Strand Campus, as well as providing ad hoc support and guidance for the adjacent Wheatstone Innovation Lab and other faculty workshop facilities.

The role-holder will primarily support research through manufacturing, modification, and design of bespoke components, apparatus and parts out of a range of materials, from prototype to high precision. They will have extensive expertise in conventional hand and machine tools such as milling machine and lathe, with significant knowledge and experience of CAD/CAM. Working directly with researchers, they will consult and advise on bespoke designs and solutions, provide advice on materials, timescales and costs. The role holder would be expected to provide the client with information and guidance when it is necessary to use external fabrication facilities.

The role-holder will manage all aspects of the fabrication workshop facilities including the training in workshop practices of staff and apprentices as appropriate. In addition they will play a supporting role in the operation of the student run Wheatstone, working closely with the Technical Manager (Project Spaces and workshops) to deliver training, supervision, advice and support to lab users whilst ensuring compliance with all relevant safety and management standards.

The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic machinist/toolmaker with experience in the research environment and proven expertise in the running of a fabrication workshop.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

• Substantive experience working with manually operated machining tools including a lathe, milling machine and bandsaw, tool grinding facilities.
• Ability to use product design packages (Autodesk, Solidworks, etc) confidently to create 3D designs of equipment and components needed for research applications.
• Understand the processes of sustaining and progressively developing a research and fabrication facility.
• Strong knowledge of up-to-date Workshop Safety best practice, including familiarity with relevant regulations, and the ability to create, follow and implement safety management documentation.
• Experience working in and providing technical support in a mechanical workshop and/or makerspace.
• Ability to keep accurate and up-to-date workshop service records.
• Ability to prioritise tasks whilst working to deadlines and demonstrating attention to detail.
• Experience in working individually and as part of a team to achieve specified goals.
• Strong interpersonal and behavioral skills with the ability to build professional working relationships with internal contacts, the wider university community and external suppliers.
• Strong written, oral, and IT communication skills, with significant experience of scientific report writing.
• Ability to organise and manage own workload.

Desirable criteria

• Significant knowledge and experience of CNC machining techniques.
• Broad knowledge of common ‘makerspace’ equipment and techniques including 3D printing, laser cutting, vacuum forming & 3D scanning.
• Formal H&S training such as IOSH Managing Safely, or willingness to gain qualification whilst in post.
• Evidence of an active commitment to professional development, such as working towards CEng or CSci.
• Experience in training and/or supervising research students.

This post is subject to DBS and/or Occupational Health clearances.

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