Multi Skilled Maintenance Technician

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

What’s in it for you? Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Newcastle is an inclusive global University community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

Newcastle University is committed to being a fully inclusive Global University which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, as well as being open to flexible working practices.

Salary: £26,341 to £27,924 with progression to £30,497 per annum

Closing Date: 4 September 2022

The Role

Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centre – North East is one of 4 centres located around the UK, the North East centre, managed by Newcastle University, focuses on the assembly, manufacture and testing of electric motors and power electronics. This state-of-the-art facility is based in Washington, Sunderland working in partnership with various project partner companies from all around the UK.

You will be responsible for the electrical and mechanical maintenance of over 30 pieces of brand-new cutting-edge equipment from bespoke motor assembly machinery to 7 axis collaborative robotic arms. As directed by the Engineering and Deputy Engineering Manager you will safely conduct preplanned and reactive maintenance on equipment to ensure it operates correctly as well as completing any other tasks as required such as tool changes or machinery set up. This is also an excellent opportunity for training on all our equipment and any courses that would prove beneficial.

This position is a full-time contract with Newcastle university which includes excellent benefits such as highly competitive holiday and pension packages as well as flexible working times. No shift or weekend work unless specifically required for a project which will be infrequent and compensated to suit.

We are looking for someone who can work safely at all times in a small team (which is currently expanding). You will have experience of preplanned maintenance in a production environment, be experienced with fault finding, root cause identification and rectification/ breakdown analysis and be familiar with risk assessments and isolation procedures.

We are seeking people who are time served in a maintenance technician position, with familiarity of both mechanical and electrical disciplines and who have strong communication skills which may be put to use working with internal and external stakeholders.

We would love to hear from you.  To get in touch, please contact Martin Feeney, Technical Engineering Operations Manager DER-IC Ne at Martin.feeney@newcastle.ac.uk or on 07736 635908 and Daniel Ward, Deputy Technical Engineering Operations Manager, DER-IC Ne at Dan.ward@newcastle.ac.uk or on 07736 635887.  

Key Accountabilities

•    Responsible for the day-to-day operation of workshop facilities and items of machinery, equipment and instrumentation. Undertake fault diagnosis, testing, repair, calibration and preventative/ reactive maintenance on machinery, equipment and instrumentation.
•    Ensure compliance with relevant safety procedures including relevant risk assessments. Follow best working practices for the disposal of waste and hazardous materials according to standard University procedures. In conjunction with the Engineering team and School Safety Officer monitor compliance with all statutory and local safety arrangements.
•    Train and advise staff and project partners in appropriate workshop equipment, procedures and good workshop practice to ensure that they are able to carry out their work in a safe manner. Provide workshop induction,  supervision and training for staff and project partners using the facilities to ensure safe working practices are followed.
•    In conjunction with the project partners, academic, research and other technical staff as appropriate, identify consumable and equipment requirements and initiate their ordering according to the School and University purchasing procedures. 
•    Specify, develop, design and construct specialised mechanical components and equipment for production, project and/or research purposes within the centre and to advise upon best use of modern technology. Some computing programming methods may be necessary.
•    Design, modify, calibrate, maintain, service and repair mechanical equipment and machinery within the school from generalised instructions, specifications, diagrams and manuals using specialised fault diagnosis equipment and specialised techniques as and when appropriate to ensure the effective completion of project requirements. To keep records of materials and or components used, details and specifications of drawings used and any technical data acquired in the development of any project.
•    Provide general advice and assistance, and where appropriate detailed instruction, to staff or research/ project partners with respect to tests, experiments and the construction of components and equipment, this may also require the demonstration of various associated techniques. To consult with and advise academic, research and engineering staff upon the selection, suitability and use of test and measurement equipment.
•    Prepare diagrams, drawings, and mechanical specifications either manually or computerised for use by either research or project groups. To Design and manufacture components and equipment for production/ project and research purposes.

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience    
•    Demonstrable post apprenticeship work experience in a relevant technical role.
•    Working knowledge of Health and Safety procedures    
•    Good technical and problem solving capability    
•    Experience of working in and maintaining a Mechanical Workshop
•    A good theoretical and practical knowledge of the design, modification, maintenance, service and repair of mechanical components, equipment and machinery    

Attributes and Behhaviours
•    Excellent team working skills    
•    Demonstrates good organising ability to meet deadlines, with a positive and proactive approach to duties and diligence and attention to detail    
•    Ability to adapt to changes in the workshop, fatory floor, and  research/ project  priorities    

Qualifications    
•    Time served apprenticeship in a maintenance technician discipline (NVQ level 3 or equivalent)     

The University holds a silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. The University also holds the HR Excellence in Research award for our work to support the career development of our researchers, and is a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.