Technical Instructor - Civil Engineering

The School of Engineering and Built Environment at the University of Derby is a dynamic and future-focused academic community that blends technical excellence with creative innovation. It offers a wide range of programmes across engineering, architecture, construction, and design, preparing students to tackle global challenges in sustainability, infrastructure, and the built environment.

Key investments in the last few years include dedicated intelligent instrumentation and smart sensor technologies, robotics, renewable energy, power engineering and advanced materials and manufacturing.

About the Role

Technical colleagues within the College of Science and Engineering support a wide range of specialist resources and activities. Working independently and in collaboration with academics, our technicians play an important role in advancing the work in many of our academic disciplines. We support specialist areas such as laboratories, workshops and controlled environments. We also provide specialist support for Research Centres such as the Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering (IISE), East Midlands Institute of Technology (EMIOT) and the Nuclear Skills Academy (NSA).

You will contribute to laboratory and field-based learning across core civil engineering disciplines, including surveying, structural engineering, geotechnics, and fluid mechanics. Responsibilities will include maintenance, demonstrating technical procedures, preparing equipment and experimental setups, and supporting the delivery of practical classes and fieldwork. An important core aspect of the role will involve the support of surveying activities and field trips. This will include the operation, maintenance, and demonstration of surveying technologies such as robotic total stations, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, terrestrial laser scanners, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), you will also support the processing, management, and presentation of survey data, producing outputs aligned with current industry standards.

About You

You will hold qualification(s) equivalent to a degree in Civil Engineering, Surveying, or a related discipline, or possess comparable knowledge and transferable skills gained through relevant professional experience. The ideal candidate will have significant specialist technical experience within civil engineering, including surveying or site-based measurement activities, preferably gained within an industrial, research, or educational environment. You will be proficient in the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of a wide range of surveying equipment, including total stations, GNSS/GPS equipment, digital levels, laser scanners, and associated data-logging devices.

You will have a solid understanding of structural engineering principles, geotechnics and fluid mechanics relating to civil engineering applications. This includes experience supporting laboratory or field-based activities, assisting with the preparation and assembly of test setups and data analysis.

A Full UK Driving Licence (manual) is essential for this role as you will be required to drive the University of Derby vehicles; and hired vehicles (up to 3.5 tonne) to transport equipment between sites. Please note that we are unable to offer adapted vehicles. There is a requirement to load and unload equipment, typically with a maximum weight up to 50kg, with shared lifting processes.

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Richard Bostock, Technical team Leader, via R.Bostock@Derby.ac.uk.

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk

Important Information

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

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