Senior Research Technician (Metal Casting and Atomisation) - College of Engineering and Physical Sciences - 104013 - Grade 5

Position Details

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £28,397 to £30,210, with potential progression once in post to £33,938

Grade: 5 

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to December 2026 

Closing date: 16th July 2024

Background

The University of Birmingham is committed to engineering excellence, and the School of Metallurgy and Materials is one of the UK’s leading centres for research, education, and innovation. The School is proud of its strong and extensive links with industry and boasts a creative and dynamic environment, which provides opportunities for both staff and students to develop.

The School of Metallurgy and Materials has a long history of research in metal casting and processing. The school is part of one of only a handful of UK universities to have its own foundry, in which research into new casting processes and materials is carried out. The role holder will primarily work in the foundry laboratory in the School of Metallurgy and Materials to support research and teaching activities.

Role summary

You will provide technical expertise, support, and guidance in research and teaching activities within the foundry laboratory in the School of Metallurgy and Materials. You will lead on the installation, operation, maintenance, and management of equipment including casting furnaces, atomizers, and heat treatment furnaces.

You will need an in-depth understanding of the research questions, techniques and experimental protocols. You will be able to use your strong technical 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. 

Although you will be working primarily within the Sustainable Physical Metallurgy research group, the foundry is a shared research facility used by academic staff with research interests in a range of disciplines including aluminium casting, single-crystal investment casting, and additive manufacture. 

The role will require a commitment to maintaining high health and safety standards in a shared, communal, research laboratory alongside colleagues and students from a range of research groups. 

You will form part of a large, diverse team of technical staff who collectively support the research and teaching activities in the School of Metallurgy and Materials. You will provide support to colleagues and students at all levels in the school, and will be expected to act as a role model and coach others as appropriate.

In order to flexibly use resource, you may be offered the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or wider university. 

Main duties

You will be responsible for assisting in running and managing the foundry and associated experimental laboratories. You will assist with teaching and outreach activities in the foundry. You will maintain high standards of Health & Safety in the foundry and associated experimental laboratories.  You will use your in-depth knowledge of methods and procedures to advise on techniques and experimental procedures being used by researchers and students. This will involve providing training for, and communicating with colleagues and students at a range of experience levels. You will need to be able to diagnose and resolve problems, and suggest solutions in regards 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 and Principal Investigator 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 the research activity. Create, comply with, and promote the risk assessments and operating procedures for the area. You may contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.

Health and Safety duties

Proactive support for health and safety within the laboratory. This may include being required to look after a communal area as part of your duties. Comply with all current rules and ensure all required assessments are in place, approved and up to date. Fully understand the safety aspects of equipment operation, and be able to demonstrate/train staff and students at all levels on the correct usage of the equipment. Ensuring that regular maintenance processes are carried out and that appropriate records are maintained.  Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the relevant staff members. Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for laboratory. Postholders may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider.

General Administration and Organisation

Ensuring all records are accurate and kept up to date. Proactively maintain stocks of consumables and, when required, generate purchase order requisitions using University systems. Receiving and correctly storing consumables/ equipment and chemical reagents. Ensuring that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional, and safe condition; reporting any problems through the appropriate channels. Ensuring that PAT testing, calibration of equipment, and locally and centrally held equipment inventories are up to date and maintained.  Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures. Maintaining relevant research lab databases/ records.

Other Duties

In collaboration with the relevant manager the post holder will take an active role in the training and mentoring process for junior or newly appointed staff. Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others. Any other duties as may reasonably be required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

Extensive relevant workplace experience, equivalent professional qualification, or degree in engineering or materials science. Experience working in a foundry or metal casting environment is desirable. Positive and proactive attitude.  In-depth practical knowledge of relevant technical and scientific methods.  Extensive experience of similar laboratory-based work, together with familiarity with a wide range of laboratory equipment. Positive service attitude and shows courtesy in dealing with others. Ability to organise and manage own work load and demonstrate flexibility in terms of work practices/requirements. Ability to work under minimal supervision but function as part of a team.  Knowledge of current legislation relevant to the role. Knowledge of current H&S policies and ability to uphold same. Proficiency in commonly used software packages. Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures GCSE level 2 (A*- C/4-9) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English. 

Dimensions

You will provide specialist expertise in your area and provide advice and support to a range of customers. You may supervise staff; even where you do not have supervisory responsibilities you will be expected to act as a role model for other staff. You may be involved in budget monitoring.

Planning and organising

You will be required to work independently on daily, weekly and monthly tasks but also on projects with medium-longer-term horizons without daily supervision. You will ensure that you have the resources required, which will require planning ahead and procurement of goods.

Problem solving and decision making

You will be able to research, modify and adapt protocols after consulting relevant manager, and prepare for research experiments. You will be able to uphold Health and Safety procedures. You will need to be confident in identifying problems, breaking them down and implementing solutions. Although you will work under the direction of more senior staff you will be able to carry out your work with a large amount of autonomy. 

Internal and external relationships

This role will be advising and supporting research staff and/or students, and with external contacts such as company representative