Job title
Experimental Officer - Mechanical Engineering

Department
Mechanical Engineering

Salary
Starting from £27,929, rising to £34,308 per annum

Grade
Grade 6

SOC Code - Visa Requirements
3119

This role is sponsorable

Closing date
Sunday 26 March 2023

Interview date
To be confirmed

Reference
CF10301R

We are seeking to recruit an Experimental Officer to support laboratory-based activities run by the Centre for Power Transmission and Motion Control (PTMC). The Centre provides continuing professional development (CPD) courses and consultancy directly to industry, as well as undertaking collaborative research projects, and is part of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The Experimental Officer role is to support the delivery of these services, particularly practical teaching activities in the CPD courses. We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with sound technical skills and understanding who is willing to learn new specialist skills as required, and who wishes to work in an educational environment.

The CPD courses are very well established, covering hydraulic components and circuits, control systems and electrical drives. Each course attracts 10-20 industrial delegates, and are typically 4 days in duration, including lectures, tutorials and laboratory exercises. There is an experienced teaching team, and the courses are delivered in a very collaborative manner, with great feedback from delegates.

The post holder will help to run laboratory training exercises for delegates and maintain and develop teaching test rigs. There is the potential to lead some tutorial exercises, and potentially give a small number of lectures in the individual’s specific area(s) of expertise. There will also be opportunities to design, build and run laboratory rigs for research or consultancy purposes.

A knowledge of electro-mechanical systems is required. Experience of hydraulics is preferred, but training can be provided. The successful applicant will have excellent communication skills.

Applicants may have a degree or have served an engineering apprenticeship and possess a minimum of either a HNC, City & Guilds or equivalent in mechanical engineering or a related subject.

About the Department

We are one of the leading Mechanical Engineering Departments in the UK, and provide a progressive technical and academic environment. You will benefit from the supportive Department and Faculty system at the University. Within the Department, the Centre for PTMC leads state-of-the-art research in fluid power, actuation, and the dynamics and control of electro-mechanical systems, as well as running CPD courses and offering consultancy services. The Centre was established in 1968 and has a very strong international research reputation.

Informal enquiries about the post may be made to either:

Professor Andrew Plummer, Director, Centre for Power Transmission and Motion Control.

Mrs Gillian Elsworth, Secretary, Centre for Power Transmission and Motion Control.

What we can offer you:

- a very generous employer contributory pension scheme
- generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
- we are a family-friendly University and with an increasingly agile workforce, are open to flexible working arrangements
- an excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
- a wide range of personal and professional development opportunities
- a number of support options available for new and existing staff to help with the cost of some immigration expenses which you may be eligible for: Relocation allowance, Visa Reimbursement, Interest-Free Loan

We aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students, so we encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups such as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and disabled people, and value the positive impact that will have on our teams.

We are very proud to be an autism friendly university and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader; committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.

Visa information

If you think you may require a visa to work in the UK, you should refer to our guidance on the Skilled Worker Visa before embarking on a job application to ensure you understand the requirements for sponsorship. You may be eligible to work in the UK via other alternative visa routes such as the Global Talent Visa or by having Settlement / Indefinite Leave to Remain - please refer to our Staff Immigration webpages for further details.

Update to our application process

We are constantly seeking to reduce the unconscious bias that enters any assessment process, with the goal of creating an inclusive and equal assessment process. To support this, personal details will be removed from application forms at the initial shortlisting stage.

So, if you’re seeking your next challenge as an Experimental Officer, please apply via the button shown.

Other organisations may call this role Laboratory Support Officer, Engineering Support Officer, Laboratory Support Specialist, Engineering Support Specialist, Lab Technician, or Laboratory Support Technician.