Job Description

Ref Number

B04-06846

Professional Expertise

Laboratory Technical and Lab Support

Department

UCL BEAMS (B04)

Location

London

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

43,981-52,586

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Working Type

On site

Available for Secondment

No

Closing Date

04-Jan-2026

About us

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UCL Mechanical Engineering has been pioneering the development of engineering education, having taught the core discipline for over 170 years. UCL was home to the UK's first-ever Professor of the Mechanical Principles of Engineering, Eaton Hodgkinson, in 1847. It was also where Sir Alexander Blackie William Kennedy introduced organised laboratory practicals in university education training, a world-leading educational innovation at the time. Today our students are taught core engineering disciplines and supervised in individual and group research projects by academics that are recognised research world-leaders in their fields

MechSpace

UCL Mechanical Engineering is a tailored space with Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) capabilities to support multiple engineering projects, through the full design cycle; investigate, design, analyse, build, test and implement. The scope covers individual and group projects across all years, from the IMechE Design Challenge through to flagship competitions, such as the Shell Eco-marathon and Formula Student. Teams also build boats, planes, drones and a Mars Rover.



MechSpace provides a suitable space to give students the best possible chance to make their designs, to learn from the experience and showcase their efforts to a wider audience. Students work alongside industry experts to learn best practice, ready for a career in engineering.



Students are able to use advanced manufacturing and traditional techniques to build their designs. The workshop includes CNC lathes and routers, milling machines, laser cutters, 3D printers and hand tools, along with a 3D scanning capability and inspection room. The CAD suite offers state of the art computers with a full suite of industry standard software and analysis packages such as Catia, Autodesk, Ansys and Altair. There is also a Virtual Reality suite for viewing their designs.

About the role

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The post holder will support students, staff, academics, and industry in their activities in and around the manufacturing workshops as appropriate. This is an enabling and teaching role, delivered on a foundation of technical experience gained from high-tech industry and precision engineering. This post will be able to translate their technical skills into outcomes that support and develop students' skill sets and projects. This post will ensure that all activities are carried out within best practice, effectively and safely, while adhering to, and developing, the Standard Operating Procedures in place.



The post holder must be approachable, able to work within a team and be open to offer advice and direction to students and all users of the facility, including external collaborators from industry. The post holder must engage with students in discussion, as presented in sketches, preliminary drawings, CAD layouts and assemblies and manufacturing drawings. Having understood the requirements, the post holder must advise the students on modification and further development of the design to increase ease of manufacture and reliability of the component and assembly after it has been manufactured.



The role holder will, alongside other members of MechSpace staff, be expected to help maintain a consistent technical staff presence at the MechSpace facility between the hours of 9.00am and 7.00pm. Exact shift patterns will be agreed in advance between the post holder and their Line Manager (the MechSpace Manager) on a periodic basis. On occasion weekend working will also be required. As such some flexibility on the part of the postholder around working hours is essential.



Please refer to the attached & Person Specification for further insight into the post's duties and responsibilities.

About you

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You'll have a strong engineering background, holding an HND/HNC, Level 4 NVQ, or a recognised apprenticeship, supported by substantial post-qualification experience--or equivalent experience in a technical role. You'll bring hands-on expertise from motorsport, aerospace, automotive, or another high-tech industry, with a solid track record in precision manufacturing. This includes working with diverse tools and materials and inspecting close-tolerance components to micron-level accuracy.



Highly organised and self-motivated, you'll manage your workload effectively, delivering high-quality results under pressure. You'll be an excellent communicator, able to explain technical matters clearly to non-technical audiences, and a collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills. Your technical knowledge will span design and manufacturing principles, engineering materials, and Health and Safety regulations, with a willingness to undertake role-specific training. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, attention to detail, and the ability to remain calm in a busy environment are essential.



It would be an advantage if you have experience with 3D CAD software (such as Catia), CNC programming using CAM software (e.g., Mastercam), and conversational controls like Siemens 828D or ProtoTRAK. Familiarity with Higher Education or engineering learning environments, manual machinery, fitting and assembly skills, and the ability to interpret engineering drawings would also be beneficial. Innovative problem-solving and a passion for developing bespoke solutions will make you stand out.



FURTHER INFORMATION



Please note that this is one of two vacancies currently being recruited by MechSpace and is offered on a three-year fixed-term basis.

What we offer

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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/rewards-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.


Our department holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality.