Principal Technical Officer (Aerospace)

FTE: 1 fte (working 37 hours per week)

Duration of Contract: Permanent

Annual Leave: 25 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year

Location: College Lane, Hatfield  

We are excited to announce a role in the School of Physics, Engineering & Computer Science! This is a unique opportunity to be part of the Technical Services Group and make a difference in the education of our students, support of our academics, and research in the field of Aerospace Engineering.

Main duties and responsibilities

The Aerospace PTO plays an important role in ensuring the smooth functioning of aerospace equipment and supporting academic activities in the department. They are responsible for providing technical support to staff and students, maintaining and repairing equipment, and ensuring that all aerospace equipment is properly stored and meets the university's health and safety regulations. They also collaborate with other technical staff and researchers to support projects and experiments and assist in the procurement of new equipment and supplies.

In addition to these technical duties, the Aerospace PTO is also responsible for managing staff within the allocated section and monitoring their workloads. They are expected to have a thorough knowledge of safety procedures applicable to laboratories and workshops and to ensure that these procedures are adhered to. The PTO is also responsible for the preparation of materials and equipment for practical classes and the management and housekeeping of workshops. They work closely with the Technical Manager to ensure that the demonstration areas are well maintained and that the ordering and maintenance of stock levels and equipment are efficiently managed.

Skills and experience required

You should have proven work experience in an aerodynamics testing environment and strong experience of aerospace testing such as aerodynamics testing using wind tunnels.

You should have the ability to perform precise and accurate tests and measurements. They should also be proficient in aerospace testing software installation and configuration, as well as have a good understanding of Health and Safety processes.

In addition, the ideal candidate should possess a positive and adaptable attitude, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They should be a team player with a strong ethos of cooperation and a professional attitude towards learning new skills.  Ideally the candidate should have strong organisational and project management skills.

Qualifications required

Educated with a degree in STEM subject or related technical subject or equivalent qualifications or equivalent work experience.

Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria, click the 'Apply' button above. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.

Internal applicants – please ensure you apply via your employee self-service portal.

We regret that we are unable to offer UKVI sponsorship for this post; applicants will either hold UK Right to Work or demonstrate access to UK Right to Work before an offer is made.

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Alex Kingstrom, Technical Manager, a.kingstrom@herts.ac.uk

Closing Date: 12 May 2026

Interview Date: To be confirmed

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