Job Description

The role

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The Smart Internet Lab Technician will be based in the Science and Engineering Faculty, supporting the day-to-day operations of the Smart Internet Lab. This role involves technical support for a research laboratory, a large-scale testbed spanning across Bristol city centre and various hosting sites, and a diverse portfolio of national and international projects. Responsibilities include building and implementing electronic modules, communications hardware, software, and testbeds for postgraduate students, Research Associates, and academic staff. The technician will also manage experimenters' access to the lab.



The Smart Internet Lab specializes in advanced hardware and software technologies for future optical networks, IoT, data centres, cloud-based applications, cellular networks, and distributed technologies. It features state-of-the-art facilities such as optical transmission and cellular testbeds, and software-defined network platforms.



The Smart Internet Lab has been at the forefront of world-leading research and development in the fields of:


Next-generation cellular networks (5G towards 6G) and their applications. Next-generation optical transmission networks. Optical technologies for data centres, packet switching, and burst switching. Grid and cloud networking. Software-defined networking (SDN) and optical network virtualization. Orchestration and service management in hybrid-network domains. Smart City ICT solutions.

The Smart Internet Lab has dedicated connectivity to both national and international research network infrastructures, and forms part of the UK National Dark Fibre Facility (NDFF). This network infrastructure has enabled the development of close collaborations with leading research institutions and industry across the UK, Europe, USA, Brazil and Japan.

What will you be doing?

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Provision of technician support for research and experimentation activities within a facility, laboratory, or a designated suite of laboratories. Typical duties would include:


Providing technical support to research activities in collaboration with stakeholders and Principal Investigators. Maintaining accurate records of laboratory equipment usage, methods, and outcomes, analysing and interpreting lessons learnt when required. Managing technician tasks, timelines, and deliveries. Supporting researchers with equipment installation and device retrofitting. Operating, servicing, maintaining, and calibrating specialist equipment. Sourcing and managing stocks of lab materials and consumables and contributing to larger purchases, liaising with relevant contacts and suppliers to ensure fit for purpose solutions and cost effectiveness. Independently solving problems and taking initiative. Recognise and resolve simple to more complex problems, e.g. fault diagnosis, process improvement. Maintaining stocks of lab materials and consumables, as well as input into larger purchases, liaising with relevant internal contacts and suppliers to ensure cost effectiveness. Ensuring compliance with health and safety guidelines, conducting risk assessments, and developing SOPs.

Training others in equipment usage and basic processes.

You should apply if

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You should apply if you have:

Experience using the Linux operating system. Willingness to learn new network and server technologies. Strong IT skills with the ability to adopt new software or systems. Proven experience completing tasks to a high standard, with excellent attention to detail and a methodical approach. The ability to carry out procedures accurately and efficiently, including basic fault diagnosis and effective problem-solving. Experience of working in a similar environment. Ability to work with minimal supervision towards pre-defined goals.

Additional information

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For informal queries please contact: Steve Leaback : steve.leaback@bristol.ac.uk

To find out more about what it's like to work in the Faculty of Engineering, and how the Faculty supports people to achieve their potential, please see our staff blog:

https://engineering.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/category/engineering-includes-me/

Contract type: Open ended with fixed funding until 31/05/2026

Work pattern: Full time

Grade: G

Salary: 30,805 - 35,116 per annum

School/Unit: School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering

This advert will close

at

23:59 UK time

on Tuesday 24th June.

Interviews are expected to take place on Monday 7th July.

Our strategy and mission

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We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an

inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential.

We want

to attract, develop, and retain individuals

with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives - particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.


JOB NUMBER###

SUPP112394

CONTRACT TYPE/WORK PATTERN###

Open ended / Full time

POSTING END DATE###

24 Jun 2025

FACULTY/DIVISION###

Faculty of Engineering

SALARY###

30,805 - 35,116 per annum