The Role
We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Senior Electronics Technician to join our Teaching Team and play a key role in delivering hands-on practical teaching across the School of Engineering electronic laboratories.
Based in the workshop, working as part of a team of skilled electronics technicians, you will support taught modules, student projects, and research activities. This is a fantastic opportunity to influence the design and development of laboratory experiments and contribute to the ongoing transformation of our facilities.
You will be involved in a wide range of student-led projects and research initiatives, supporting the design, development, assembly, and testing of:
1. Analogue and digital circuits, including troubleshooting and fault finding
2. Printed circuit boards (through-hole and SMD hand soldering, assembly and rework)
3. AC/DC low-voltage motor drive systems
4. Microcontroller based systems (Microchip PIC, FPGA, Arduino, Raspberry Pi)
5. PCB prototyping and circuit debugging
6. 3D-printing and basic CAD design for prototype components
You will design, demonstrate, operate and maintain specialist electronic equipment, ensuring all work is carried out safely and effectively. You will also instruct and guide students in the use of laboratory equipment and processes, including oscilloscopes, power supplies, signal generators, data acquisition systems, and microcontroller platforms.
To be successful in this position, you must have hands-on practical experience in an electronics role, ideally within a workshop or laboratory environment. You should also have demonstrable knowledge of analogue and digital circuit design, as well as experience designing printed circuit boards for manufacture.
We offer dedicated time and opportunities to develop your skills in new hardware and software technologies, supporting your ongoing professional development and career progression.
Our school offers a relaxed and friendly working environment, supported by a collaborative technical team, flexible working hours, and up to 42 days of holidays (30 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, and 4 Christmas days), along with an excellent pension scheme.
If you are passionate about electronics, enjoy working with students, and want to shape the future of engineering education, we would love to hear from you.
We strongly encourage prospective applicants to make an informal email enquiry before applying. If possible we would welcome a brief online chat to discuss the role before submitting your application. Please complete the online application, including your CV and a two-page cover letter detailing how you meet the essential and desirable knowledge, skills, and experience requirements.
Please note that as part of the interview process there will be a 30 minute in-person practical electronics assessment.
Please contact Stephen Robson, Technical Operations Manager, at to arrange a discussion.
Key Accountabilities
7. Support teaching by preparing laboratories and demonstrating practical techniques, equipment operation, and safety procedures, ensuring students gain hands-on experience and a clear understanding of electronic principles.
8. Design, develop, and construct specialised electronic circuits and equipment for teaching and research, and provide guidance on effective use of modern hardware and programming platforms.
9. Produce electronic schematic diagrams and PCBs using CAD software, and develop, manufacture, and assemble experimental equipment to support teaching and research activities.
10. Set up, maintain, calibrate, and PAT-test laboratory equipment, ensuring laboratories are tidy and equipment is in good working order.
11. Manage consumables for the lab/workshop stores and maintain the School’s equipment asset register.
12. Ensure safe working practices by overseeing risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), promoting a strong safety culture across all facilities.
13. Collaborate with the Technical Team Leader to manage the day-to-day oversight of designated research laboratories, including maintaining tidiness, conducting health and safety inspections, and ensuring risk assessments are up to date.
14. Undertake any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade.
The Person
Knowledge Skills and Experience
15. Strong knowledge of the design, maintenance, servicing, and repair of electronic equipment and circuits
16. Familiarity with PCB design software (ideally Altium or similar)
17. Programming of embedded microcontrollers in C/C++ (e.g., Microchip PIC, Arduino or similar platforms)
18. Use of electronic test equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, signal generators, and power supplies
19. PCB assembly, including through-hole and SMD soldering and rework
Practical Experience
20. Relevant background in a technical or electronics role
21. Practical hands-on work in a workshop or laboratory environment
22. Supporting teaching laboratories or student electronics projects
Professional Skills
23. Demonstrated technical problem-solving and fault-finding skills
24. Good understanding of Health and Safety procedures within a laboratory or workshop environment
25. Ability to contribute to the design and specification of practical electronics activities and experiments
26. Excellent teamwork and communication skills
Qualifications
27. Higher National Certificate in Electronic or Electrical and Electrical Engineering (or equivalent Level 4 qualification), or relevant technical experience.
Newcastle University is a global University 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.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive 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 of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a Gold award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 29176
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