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About us

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 organized 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. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) over 90% of the department’s research was judged “world leading” or “internationally excellent”.

At UCL Mechanical Engineering, we develop and apply core competencies to produce world-class research into a wider range of engineering challenges than most would imagine. Amongst many other avenues we are:

• Leading research into low carbon shipping
• Designing the greenest engines and novel sustainable fuels
• Studying the flow of red blood cells in channels thinner than a human hair
• Using ‘lighter than air’ building materials to develop the solar power stations of the future.
• Developing the most advanced brain models for dementia
• Designing propulsion systems for advanced multihull ships.

About the role

We are seeking a strong technical lead who will lead the design and manufacturing for the department’s major research projects on behalf of the workshop.

Of particular note, this role requires a dual design CAD and precision machining skills-set, requiring the ability to create, modify, and research projects, in some cases from concept through to complete manufactured components, working alone or with students, academics, and researchers.

The role on occasion will require managerial responsibilities including leading technical staff on projects, deputising for the production manager and recruitment of staff. Assisting in the strategic planning of the technical services of the department and best use of its allocated spaces that directly serve the learning needs of its students is also required.

Working closely with the Workshop Manager you will maintain an equal workload for priority projects, concentrating on research linked directly with academic staff principally. The role holder will also assist in activities such as maintenance of laboratories and equipment, stock control and production as required.

The role holder will also work closely with the Departmental Safety Officer to maintain high standards of health and safety in our workshops and laboratories, recording equipment inspection and maintenance and maintaining inspections at agreed times around the department.

The post holder will be able to advise and instruct staff and students on complicated mechanical engineering projects and help organise activities so that they can be completed in good time.

The role holder should be approachable and able to work within a team and be able to lead projects when requested with fellow staff members and students. Communications may take the form of individual and group meetings, email and telephone conversations. The post holder must engage staff and students in discussion; consider ideas as presented in sketches and preliminary drawings; and, having understood the requirements of the component or rig, advise the student or staff member on modification and further development of the design to increase ease of manufacture and reliability of the component and system after it has been manufactured. The role holder should also assist students and staff in assembly of devices, and with modifications for improvement and to ensure smooth and reliable operation.

Support of the department’s wider operations will be required from time to time, for example repurposing of laboratories and teaching spaces which may be large scale projects that have specific deadlines. This may involve flexibility with working hours to reach deadlines on occasion.

About you

As the Technical Lead in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Workshop , we are keen to accept applications from applicants with who can bring strong leadership to the role, leading other technical staff by example in punctuality, attitude, and performance. Strong interpersonal skills, is a central requirement of this position as you will be called upon to hold meetings with senior staff to discuss complex inventions and offer technical advice to find solutions to difficult problems.

We are also keen to see evidence of extensive experience in a design and manufacturing role within a workshop environment where you have had responsibility for assembly of complex devices and the development of innovative designs.

The successful application must .be able to demonstrate excellent CAD modelling skills. Equally, you must demonstrate first class CNC machining ability, with many years of programming, setting and operating using a wide range of CNC Machining Centres including 5 axis, 3+2 and Mill Turn equipment. Experience with wire EDM would be an advantage.

Good knowledge of Mechanical Engineering principles and processes, with the ability to advise fellow staff, researchers and students on technical issues regarding concept, design, drawing, manufacture, assembly and installation of mechanical engineering devices and systems is required.

You must also demonstrate an aptitude to lead the technical team in planning for advanced development of the workshop, to demonstrate an understanding of new technology and how to apply possible improvements in our environment.

For more detail on the requirements of this vacancy, please refer to the attached job description.

What we offer

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

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.