Job Description

Ref Number

B24-00053

Professional Expertise

Laboratory Technical and Lab Support

Department

Vice-Provost (Strategy) (B24)

Location

London

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

43,374 51,860

Contract Type

Permanent

Working Type

On site

Available for Secondment

No

Closing Date

01-Jun-2025

About us

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Are you someone who speaks fluent Raspberry Pi? Do you talk to robots more than humans some days? Ever bodged a circuit with whatever was on hand, and been weirdly proud of it? Then welcome - this could be your place.



At UCL East, we're building more than a campus. We're building a future. Situated in the heart of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, this is UCL's boldest move since we were founded. We're disrupting boundaries, forging unexpected collaborations, and building spaces that invite experimentation. UCL East is home to thinkers, doers, coders, builders, problem-solvers - and ideally, you.



Our Innovation Laboratory sits at the centre of this storm of creativity. With cutting-edge facilities and a mission to break out of silos, we're creating the kind of environment where real change begins. And we're proud to be based in Newham - one of the UK's most diverse boroughs - where that change can be driven by anyone, from anywhere.



We've already opened the doors to two state-of-the-art buildings, and this is just the beginning. If you like your learning hands-on, your code clean (mostly), and your ideas just a little bit wild, we think you'll fit right in. Oh, and one of our brilliant students has even made a video tour of the lab, so please check it out!

About the role

------------------


Not all superheroes wear lab coats.



Some wear workshop boots, carry a multimeter, and keep everything running behind the scenes.



We're hiring a tech all-rounder at UCL East's Innovation Lab.



We're looking for someone who understands that the magic happens somewhere between the solder fumes and the server room. As our new Innovation Laboratory Technician, you'll help run one of the most exciting technical spaces in UCL--where breadboards battle 3D printers, laser cutters hum in the background, and motion-capture rigs quietly track the dance of data.



The Innovation Lab is a flexible, dry lab used for both structured teaching and experimental drop-ins. You'll help keep it running at peak performance, making sure students and staff have the tools (and the know-how) to bring their ideas to life. From electronics and coding to CNC machining and CAD, your job is to help make it all happen - safely, smoothly, and with just the right amount of creative chaos.



You'll also dip into our Light Fabrication Workshop, a smaller but mighty space geared toward ecology, adaptive tech and rapid prototyping. Whether it's troubleshooting a laser cutter, teaching someone how not to toast their breadboard, or helping a team bodge together a brilliant last-minute prototype, you'll be at the heart of it all.



This isn't just about keeping the lights on. It's about creating the kind of environment where sparks fly - in the best possible way.

About you

-------------


You're someone who knows what Swarfega is for. You've probably spent late nights debugging code that talks to a sensor you salvaged from a skip. You've hacked, fixed, bodged and built enough systems to know that sometimes the best prototype starts with tape and a deadline.



But here's the real clincher - you're not just good with machines. You're good with people, too. You've worked in busy labs, vibrant maker spaces, or similar environments where the footfall is high, and the questions keep coming. Whether it's a first-year student holding a multimeter upside down, or a researcher deep in CNC programming, you know how to guide, explain, support--and do it all with patience and clarity.



You understand the rhythm of a teaching lab: the chaos before class, the calm in-between, and the moments when everything goes sideways. You're confident juggling priorities, setting up equipment, and making sure everyone gets the most out of their time in the space - safely and creatively.



You're hands-on and head-first into the technical side of creativity. You know your way around oscilloscopes and motion trackers, CAD software and circuit boards. You've probably got a mental (or literal) inventory of every tool in the lab, and know just which one to grab in a pinch.



You'll be safety-conscious, highly organised, and completely unphased by the phrase "Can you just take a quick look at this?" Most of all, you get a buzz from helping people turn ambitious ideas into working, blinking, laser-cut reality.

What we offer

-----------------


The UCL Ways of Working for professional services supports colleagues to be successful and happy at UCL through sharing expectations around how we work - please see www.ucl.ac.uk/ways-of-working to find out more. As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:


41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days) Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE) Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan Immigration loan Relocation scheme for certain posts On-Site nursery On-site gym Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.


We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.



You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/



We particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within UCL at this level.