Job description

The post holder will join an established team in the Department of Engineering in the faculty of Natural, Mathematical, and Engineering Sciences. The technical team provides high-quality technical support to the department’s teaching, research and, on occasion, outreach activities.

A enthusiastic, proactive and experienced teaching technician is required to help facilitate the operations of the teaching, maker space, research and project space laboratories. The role holder will be expected to provide general technical support across all teaching and project laboratories and occasionally support research activities. The technician will be expected to support, enhance and deliver taught classes across various degree programmes from BEng to MSc.

The role holder will be expected to deliver training, provide advice, and continued support on using various equipment for users across all facilities.

In addition, a significant element of the role will be ensuring safety compliance and encouraging user ownership and the collaborative use of Teaching and Research facilities by staff, students, and researchers.

The role holder will be willing to work in various teams across the faculty and college where appropriate and play an essential part in the development of strategic projects that may be delegated by management.

The post holder must align with Vision 2029 and any other strategies within the department and the faculty. Per the Technician Commitment, the post holder will be expected to engage in Continuing Professional Development and training initiatives actively.

The post holder will be responsible to the Technical Services Manager for  Engineering and the Head of the Department for Engineering.

About the Department of Engineering

Recently re-founded, the Department of Engineering is rapidly expanding into a world-class research and teaching department. As a department, we have invested in new laboratories and maker space at the centre of the Strand campus, with circa 1500sqm of dedicated research and teaching laboratories under development, with Maker and Project space comprising a significant part of this footprint. Research currently focuses on robotics, telecommunications, manufacturing, sustainability, combustion, bioprocessing, materials and mechanics, electronics, thermofluids, energy and power.

We offer both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, with a distinctive approach, combining both traditional teaching methods with modern, project-based learning, catering for the needs of our students and the industries in which they will work.

For more information:

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/engineering 

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract

This is a full-time  post

Key responsibilities

• Support the development and scaling-up of undergraduate teaching, maker space and project spaces.
• Maintain the equipment for safe use and manage the inventory, scheduling, and risk assessments for activities.
• Develop training materials and provide training and supervision for the faculty, researchers, and students.
• Support the department in integrating hands-on teaching activities into the curriculum.
• Support the supervision and training of students in laboratories, particularly the project spaces.
• Encourage user ownership and shared responsibility within the facilities and promote an inclusive environment for diverse students.
• Provide, when required, technical cover and support across the department’s teaching and research laboratories.
• Collaborate with colleagues to encourage the shared use of equipment and resources across all the department's teaching and research laboratories.
• Continuously engaging with the entire technical team across the faculty.
• Developing and sharing skills and knowledge across the faculty.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1.       Undergraduate degree in Engineering (ideally Mechanical Engineering), Physical Sciences, or considerable knowledge and skills gained through work experience in a relevant technical or scientific post, plus a proven track record in working in a laboratory or equivalent science and technology field.

2.       Skills in sketching, technical drawing, CAD (2D or 3D)- (Fusion 360 or equivalent).

3.       Knowledge and experience with tools that involve design, 3D printers, Laser cutters, power/hand tools or similar manufacturing equipment, OR knowledge in equipment maintenance and statutory training.

4.       Experience working in and providing technical support across various laboratory techniques and practices.

5.       Knowledge of controls and mechanical rigs (mechatronics, fluids, classical mechanics and aero), materials characterization, and basic electronics.

6.       Understanding of and experience in health and safety procedures and practices in the laboratory environment.

7.       Self-motivated with the proven ability to undertake independent work and work and collaborate as a part of a team/s.

8.       Ability to prioritize tasks whilst working to deadlines and demonstrating attention to detail.

9.       Experience in working individually or as part of a team to achieve specified goals.

10.     Strong interpersonal and behavioural skills with the proven ability to build professional and effective working relationships with internal contacts, the wider university community, external suppliers and other HE institutions.

11.     Excellent written, oral, and IT communication skills and competency with the Microsoft Office suite of programmes.

12.     Willing to learn and be proactive to adapt to new skills and/or working methods.

Desirable criteria

1.       Formal Health and Safety qualification or willingness to gain qualification/s whilst in post, e.g. NEBOSH/IOSH.

2.       Evidence of an active commitment to professional development such as working towards CEng or CSci.

3.       Experience in training and/or supervising students.

4.       Understanding of problem-based learning, project-based learning, design thinking, making workshops and/or rapid prototyping.

5.       Good organisational and time management skills, with excellent attention to detail.

Further information

Interviews will be held end of June in person.