About us
Ranked No. 1 in London and No. 10 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2021), UCL's Faculty of Life Sciences offers an outstanding and diverse portfolio of Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes in biological and biomedical sciences, pharmacy, pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences, neuroscience and machine learning. We are an exciting and dynamic environment in which to work and committed to research and teaching that addresses major global challenges, such as climate change, sustainability, technological change and the data revolution and inequality.
The Faculty comprises five academic Divisions including Biosciences, one of the world's foremost centres for research and teaching in the biological sciences and one of the largest Divisions within UCL. The Division has a diverse portfolio addressing all areas of biology from protein interactions to cell function, organism development, genetics, population studies and the environment. Computational modelling approaches are frequently used alongside experimental research programmes and much of our research crosses traditional boundaries, including the relationship of biodiversity to the health of the planet.
The Biosciences Mechatronics Workshop has built an international reputation, collaborating as it does with many of UCL's outstanding research laboratories, including that of Nobel Laureate Professor John O'Keefe. Its innovative designs often appear in publications within the highest ranking scientific journals such as Nature and Science.
The Biosciences Mechatronics Workshop supports and accelerates innovative scientific research through the designing, developing and building of new research instruments, as well as maintaining and repairing existing ones. The Workshop also provides support for the Biosciences teaching laboratories. Its team have multi-disciplinary engineering expertise in both mechanics and electronics, enabling comprehensive scientific and technical support. A high level of investment in the workshop provides state-of-the-art design and manufacturing technologies, including both CNC machines and 3D printing facilities.
About the role
UCL is pleased to offer an exciting and rewarding opportunity for a Senior Mechanical Workshop Engineer to support innovative research in the Division of Biosciences.
The appointee will join a thriving and busy workshop, working on a broad range of projects that involve a significant amount of creativity and independence. The role involves the design, development and building of specialized, sophisticated scientific equipment in consultant with research and teaching staff. A further important component of the post is the maintenance and repair of pre-existing standard and specialised scientific equipment. Finally, the position will also require the keeping of accurate documentation of projects including its designs and costings.
About you
We would be delighted to hear from applicants who are able to meet the following criteria:
- Minimum BTEC HNC in Mechanical Engineering
- Apprenticeship / training as an instrument maker or toolmaker
- Experience within a workshop servicing both repairs and the development of new instrumentation
- Knowledge of mechanical engineering fundamentals and design for manufacture.
- Experienced application of 3D CAD
- Strong machine shop skills using convential machine tools, including the use of engineering science and principles in the design process, alongwith experience of prototype production.
- Effective at communicating at all levels
- Able to identify and solve a broad range of problems using an analytical approach.
- Innovative and inventive, with demonstrable evidence of creative solutions to problems and positive outcomes from the implementation of your ideas.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft 365
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing projects.
While not essential, your application will be enhanced if you have one or all of the following:
- Familiarity with CNC manufacturing technologies
- Experience with pneumatic systems
- Experience of working in a university or research environment
- Basic knowledge of electrical engineering
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 our Rewards and Benefits page 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.