Technician – Product Innovation & STEAM

Role Summary

We are seeking a Technician – Product Innovation & STEAM to join the Maker Lab team at STEAMhouse. Working at the intersection of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), you will support students, academics, entrepreneurs, SMEs, creative practitioners and industry partners to transform ideas into prototypes, products and impactful innovations. Working alongside colleagues across Product Innovation and the Maker Lab, you will deliver technical expertise, demonstrations, practical support and collaborative innovation activity across our workshops and technical facilities, directly feeding into our newly launched STEAM at BCU Strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise, demonstrations and practical support across the Maker Lab and wider STEAMhouse facilities.
• Support product development, prototyping and multidisciplinary making activities.
• Deliver technical inductions, demonstrations and practical workshops.
• Support students, academics, researchers, members and external partners in the safe use of specialist equipment.
• Advise on manufacturing processes, materials and production techniques.
• Prepare equipment, materials and technical spaces for enterprise, skills, teaching, research and commercial activity.
• Maintain workshop equipment, tools and technical resources.
• Promote excellent health and safety practices and contribute to a collaborative technical environment.

Essential Requirements

• HND, Foundation Degree, Degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant technical or creative discipline.
• Practical experience gained within industry, higher education or another technical environment.
• Experience providing technical support, demonstrations or practical training.
• Excellent communication, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.

Desirable Requirements

• IOSH Working Safely, IOSH Managing Safely, NEBOSH or equivalent (training will be provided if required).
• Experience supporting learning and teaching within higher education.
• Experience in one or, preferably, several areas including product design, engineering, fabrication, digital manufacturing, 3D printing, CAD/CAM, CNC, woodworking, metalworking, prototyping, textiles, printmaking, creative technologies or innovation support.

Further Information

STEAMhouse is Birmingham City University's centre for collaborative innovation. Through collaboration, experimentation and interdisciplinary working, we provide an environment where people from different backgrounds can explore ideas, challenge conventional thinking and create new products, services and experiences.

If you are excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of Product Innovation and the Maker Lab, we would love to hear from you.

This is an onsite role 5 days per week. 

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact the Head of Product Innovation & Technical Services at chris.evans@bcu.ac.uk.

Interviews for this role are envisioned to take place in the week commencing 3 August 2026.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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