The Department and role purpose    

The Department of Physics at Durham University is one of the top UK Physics departments with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. Ranked in the top 10 in REF2022 in terms of power, 96% of Durham Physics research was considered either to be of “internationally excellent quality” or “world leading”.

The post holder will be responsible for assisting with the day-to-day technical functions and operations in the Physics Department, providing technical and engineering related assistance from within the Mechanical Engineering Services (MES) workshop.

The post holder will be required to provide flexible mechanical engineering support as part of a technical team supporting all teaching and research activities conducted within the Physics Department. Primarily the construction, repair, testing and machining of equipment and components for research and teaching projects using computer aided design packages used in the programming of CNC machines.

Core responsibilities:

• Act as more knowledgeable team member without responsibility for team members.
• Plan and organise own workload with or without involvement with project work streams.
• Resolve queries and requests for information and advice and escalate more specialist and complex queries or issues to more experienced team members.
• Respond to stakeholder needs to deliver and shape an excellent stakeholder experience.
• Apply theory and practice, from academic and professional development and previous knowledge within a service team.
• Contribute to collaborative decision making within the team with service provision to deliver an excellent stakeholder experience in accordance with policy and procedures.
• Work collaboratively across the organisation and/or externally with colleagues and stakeholders to deliver a service.
• Provide guidance and advice to resolve problems and queries for a broad range of service users.
• Collaborate with team members to implement service alterations.
• Organise and schedule resources, activities and events.
• Identify priorities and monitor processes and activities to ensure success.
• Provide more in-depth independent research and analysis activities within the role.
• Analyse work activities to ensure the effective and efficient use of capital and consumable equipment and resources.
• Provide demonstrations and instruction to others outside the team.
• Support the capture of business requirements from users and work with colleagues to translate these into recommendations for future service provision.
• Liaise with contacts and participate in networks and communities internally and possibly externally, contributing to effective collaborative working.
• Advise others and make recommendations into work processes and procedures for consideration by senior management to improve services.

Role responsibilities:

• Deliver professional mechanical technical services to undergraduates, postgraduates, research assistants and academic staff to support teaching, outreach, research and learning activities to meet sector and professional body standards.
• Ensure the smooth running of a teaching or research facility and/or a range of laboratories, workshops, studios and/or experimental facilities.
• Apply knowledge and skills to build, adapt, construct and repair mechanical equipment to component level working from precise instructions, engineering drawings, manuals etc. using a wide range of milling machines and lathes (CNC and manual), ancillary equipment such as mechanical saws and grinders and a wide range of hand tools etc. to fulfil these tasks.
• Utilise new and existing resources to deliver teaching, research and/or learning objectives.
• Prepare and set-up equipment and facilities for the delivery of teaching, learning and research activities, including various outreach activities and summer schools.
• Liaise with others to identify resource requirements, store and deliver resources and keep accurate records of stock levels.
• Liaise with academic staff and students and colleagues across the University to ensure a smooth and efficient service.
• Prepare safety documents and risk assessments for tasks carried out both internal and external to the workshop area.
• Record, monitor and collate information, analyse patterns and trends as part of workshop concerning teaching, learning and research activities.
• Construct and/or repair mechanical components, equipment and tools under the supervision of more experienced MES staff.
• Use initiative to define and clarify mechanical faults and make amendments, also have the ability to modify mechanical equipment, work from precise instructions, working diagrams, sketches and manuals.
• Support and assist with the provision of health and safety whilst adhering to set guidelines.
• Any other reasonable duties.
•  
•