University of Birmingham
R&D Technician - School of Engineering - 40001 - Grade 6
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Job Description
Position Details
School of Engineering
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary: Normally in the range £33,002 to £35,608 with potential progression once in post to £39,906
Grade: 6
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 20th September 2026
Background
The University of Birmingham is a global institution working within a diverse and vibrant City, offering an inspiring education to our students, and undertaking critically important research. We are a place of open, critical thinking, and the creation, sharing and dissemination of knowledge. Professional Services put students at the heart of all they do and enable an exceptional educational experience. They provide outstanding support to our researchers and help the University to grow its influence regionally, nationally, and globally. They ensure the University’s resources are used wisely, manage and improve the infrastructure which sits at the heart of the institution, and support decisions to be made quickly and based on sound evidence. Our Birmingham Professional programme operates across the University, supporting colleagues to network and collaborate, offering opportunities to learn and develop, contributing to the delivery of the University’s objectives, and helping everyone to understand the broader context within which we work.
Role Summary
A full-time technician position is available at the School of Engineering of the University of Birmingham. The selected candidate supports electronic development, in particular, the radio frequency area, design and development of research projects and the design, development, manufacture and use of complex electronic equipment (from first principles) to enable such projects to be carried out successfully by academic and research staff and research students. The post holder will ensure the research space is maintained in great condition, lead the health and safety aspects, and contribute to research impact, research culture, and research excellence, by taking initiatives in various activities.
Assistance to Technical Manager for Operations in duties across the School
Assistance to undergraduate students during final year projects.
Main Duties
- Supports the function of electronic and electrical development
- Maintain the lab to required specification including managing specialised equipment, advising correct procedures, and promoting good practices.
- Act as the health and safety lead for the research area in particular.
- Contribute to research excellence, including mechanical design and manufacturing of testing rigs and components for cutting-edge experiments, and carry out experiments with group members or internal/external collaborators testing with professional reports.
- Contribute to research, including organising public engagement, hosting visitors, maintaining positive relationships with collaborators or fostering new collaborations, etc.
- Contribute to positive research culture, including taking the initiative to organise group and lab activities.
- Supports the School by providing specialist skills to an area of research.
- Engages with the research group and collaborates with academics to support the realisation of experimental proposals.
- Represents Technical Services at research group and other academic meetings.
- Applies specialist skills and knowledge to support academics in the technical specification, design, and implementation of experimental solutions.
- Regularly reports to the Technical Services Management Team, advising on challenges, progress, and achievements.
- Retains supervisory and functional oversight of a specialist research space.
- Supervises the implementation of administrative management systems in the research space, monitoring access, training registers, and usage of the research space and equipment, and coordinating activities.
- Holds and in-depth knowledge of the research space and equipment, responding to queries, advising on use, and addressing issues, elevating as required.
- Maintains a research space asset register and supports academics in specification and procurement and leads in the installation, commissioning, and disposal of equipment.
- Leads in the calibration, diagnostics, maintenance and repair work for specialist equipment, actioning tasks internally or managing supplier relationships to retain optimum efficiency and quality in outputs.
- Holds an authoritative knowledge of operation of specialist equipment, designing standard safe operating procedures, and delivering training programmes.
- Manages and maintains an inventory of consumables for the research space, ordering and arranging disposal through appropriate waste streams.
- Maintains the research space in a clean, tidy and safe condition, as befits a research space performing cutting-edge research and hosting influential visitors.
- Reports on operations and identified risks and opportunities, providing regular feedback to the Technical Services Management Team and research group.
- Acts as a champion for best practice in health and safety within the school.
- Has knowledge of health and safety legislation, policy and guidance related to the research spaces and promotes a positive health and safety culture.
- Collaborates with the Technical Services Management Team on all matters relating to health and safety in the research space, reporting and disseminating information.
- Advises and supports academics in health and safety assessments and planning of risk control measures.
- Ensures that safety information is effectively communicated within the research space and that controls are implemented and maintained.
- Supervises others in responsible conduct and adherence to health and safety actions, inactions, and reporting.
- May be requested to undergo first aid, fire warden training and other required training.
- Promotes equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
- Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade.
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Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
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- Degree in a relevant engineering or associated subject or equivalent work experience relevant to the role.
- Knowledge of health and safety legislation relevant to the research area, and proven ability to apply health and safety management methodology to experimental research.
- An understanding of engineering research methodology and proven ability to apply knowledge to the development and implementation of experimental procedures.
- Specialised knowledge and experience in mechanical design and manufacturing techniques.
- Specialised knowledge and experience in portable appliance testing.
- Proven administrative and software skills with the ability to manage digital repositories, booking systems and workflows.
- Ability to work on own initiative and solve problems.
- Ability to manage a complex workflow with conflicting deadlines under management guidance.
- Effective communication, negotiation, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
- Critical and intelligent attention to detail and high standard of accuracy.
- Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day-to-day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.
- Committed to the development of personal and organisational skills and motivated by self-improvement.
- A higher degree in a relevant engineering or associated subject is desirable, however, it is not essential and equivalent experience will be considered.
Informal Enquiries
To Andrew Dunn, email: a.p.dunn@bham.ac.uk
Use of AI in Applications
We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.
We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.
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