Teaching Laboratory Support Technician

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £28,397 to £30,210, with potential progression once in post to £33,938

Closes: 7 May 2024

Role Summary

Reporting to the Support Team Leader, the post holder’s primary responsibility within the team is to assist with the set-up, servicing and development of apparatus used for teaching experiments and demonstrations in the physics undergraduate teaching laboratories.

You will provide technical expertise and support to academic teaching staff. You may supervise a number of technical staff but even where you do not directly supervise staff you will still be expected to act as a role model and coach others as appropriate.

You will need a significant understanding of the technical requirements of apparatus in undergraduate physics classes, an in-depth understanding of all main subject areas, the ability to respond quickly and positively by troubleshooting problems, while adapting to changes in protocols, to ensure a positive experience for practical laboratory teaching staff and their students. You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate classes. In order to flexibly use resource, you may be offered the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or wider university.

Main Duties

• Ensure that the apparatus and laboratories are suitably prepared for practicals and students’ projects and oversee/ensure the setup/takedown of equipment/materials used during sessions.
• Perform tests on equipment, make quantitative measurements to ensure it is functioning and correctly calibrated, and record evidence of this.
• Maintain electronic, mechanical, optical, and vacuum equipment in collaboration with the Team Leader or other members of the team. Understand equipment to a standard whereby faults can be identified, reported, and repaired or otherwise rectified (because of timetable constraints, faults and shortages must be put right without delay)

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• A relevant science or engineering degree or substantial experience in a laboratory environment including electronics is preferred.  GCSE level 2 (A*- C/4-9) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English.
• Substantive experience in maintaining and developing instrumentation used in a physical sciences based laboratory is required. This will include significant experience in the production of electronic instrumentation, including design, PCB layout, assembly, and repair; familiarity with mechanical design, including CAD, and machine-shop techniques; the use of instruments such as oscilloscopes, signal generators and analysers.  Experience in an advanced teaching lab or similar is an advantage.
• Experience with use of computers in conjunction with hardware for measurement and control, and procedural programming (e.g., C/C++, Python, MATLAB).

Informal enquires to Tendai Makuwatsine, email: t.e.makuwatsine@bham.ac.uk.

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the above ‘Apply’ button.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

Advert information