Senior Research Technician

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, School of Physics and Astronomy

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £24,291 to £26,094, with potential progression once in post to £30,207

Fixed term contract for up to 2 years

Closing date: 18th February 2022

Job summary

You will provide technical expertise, support and guidance in research support. You may supervise a number of technical staff but even where you do not directly supervise staff you will still be expected to act as a role model and coach others as appropriate.

You will need an in-depth understanding of the research questions, techniques and experimental protocols. You will be able to use your in-depth knowledge to advise on procedures, diagnose and resolve problems, and proactively suggest solutions to issues which arise. You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate experimental procedures. 

Main duties

• Assist in the assembly (gluing and ultrasonic wirebonding) of silicon detector prototypes.
• Develop and maintain basic infrastructure (e.g mechanical support structure, cooling, cabling) for detector characterisation in the BILPA clean rooms, at the Birmingham MC40 cyclotron and at international beam test facilities.
• Develop tooling for assembly of sensors into detector modules, and modules onto mechanical support structures.
• Regular contact with colleagues at Birmingham and at other academic institutions, as well as occasional consultation with external suppliers, to devise methods appropriate to the construction of the experimental apparatus under development and to diagnose and solve faults with complex equipment.
• You will be responsible for assisting in managing the experimental and laboratories.
• You will use your in-depth knowledge of methods and procedures to advise on techniques and experimental procedures being used by researchers and/or students. This will involve communicating with colleagues at a range of levels and inexperienced students.
• You will need to be able to diagnose and resolve problems and suggest solutions in regard to techniques and experiments.
• Carry out specialist technical and experimental procedures which will need you to use your judgment to assess the correct technique to use, and to consider how these may be improved, referring to your manager for approval on any proposed changes.
• You will need to maintain accurate records of all techniques and experimental procedures you carry out, and for any other research activities you may be involved in including results.
• Ensure compliance with legislation relevant to the area of research/activity.
• Comply with and promote the operating procedures for the area, including the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures regulation.
  

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Extensive relevant workplace experience, equivalent professional qualification or degree in an appropriate subject.
• HNC or higher qualification in a technical subject, involving mechanical, electrical or electronic techniques.
• General skills in (basic) mechanical and electrical construction, electrical assembly, electronics design and construction, use of test equipment and provision of design and test documentation.
• Experience with CAD or PCB layout work is highly desirable.
• Ability to foresee technical problems in finely specified equipment and to suggest solutions.
• Experience in meeting precise specifications to high standards.
• Willingness to travel within the UK and abroad to attend meetings and provide support at experimental testing facilities. 

Informal enquiries to Dr Laura Gonella, [email protected], Professor Peter Jones, [email protected] , Professor Paul Newman, [email protected] .