Technical Manager (Design Studio and Makerspaces)

Overview

In this hands-on leadership role, you will manage Durham’s Design Studio and Makerspaces to support autonomous systems, UAVs, robotics, prototyping, teaching, and research. You’ll lead safe operations, equipment maintenance, and user training while expanding capabilities for teaching and prototyping. Collaborating with academic staff and students, you drive practical engineering outcomes from concept to working prototype. You’ll shape a safe, resourceful, and collaborative maker environment with strong impact on teaching and research.

Pay / Benefits

• 30 days annual leave + 8 public holidays + 4 customary days
• Generous pension scheme with USS enrollment
• Cycle to work scheme and car benefit schemes
• Professional development opportunities and courses
• Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programme
• On-site nursery (Ofsted Outstanding) and family-friendly policies

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operation of the Design Studio and Makerspace (DEMO) including access, bookings, inductions, SOPs, consumables, and equipment readiness
• Lead development of DEMO facilities with procurement, commissioning, and future capability planning
• Provide technical leadership for autonomous systems teaching, research, and prototyping (UAVs, robots, sensors, embedded systems)
• Ensure health, safety and compliance with safe working practices and risk controls
• Support teaching and research activities across undergrad and postgrad levels, including projects, labs, dissertations
• Mentor and supervise users and staff during practical activities and self-directed sessions
• Advise on safety, risk assessment, PPE, incident reporting, and training records
• Support extracurricular engineering activities and student societies as technical adviser or leader
• Contribute to planning and delivery of teaching/research outputs and proposals
• Engage with industry, partners, and external academics to support projects and income generation

Key requirements

• Degree-level education in Engineering or equivalent with hands-on experience in manufacturing, electronics, robotics, mechatronics, mechanical design or related fields
• Experience sharing best practices and building collaborative networks
• Ability to give specialist advice on operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of prototyping and fabrication equipment (3D printers, CNC, hand tools, electronics test gear)
• Experience leading teaching/research projects in educational, commercial, or industrial settings
• Experience implementing policies and procedures
• Excellent communication skills for diverse audiences
• Strong digital literacy across MS 365 and instrument control software, with willingness to learn new equipment
• Recognition through industry standards and ongoing professional development
• Knowledge of UK health and safety compliance in workshops/labs
• Independent problem-solving and ability to plan effective solutions
• Expert electronics prototyping skills (soldering, PCB assembly, testing, component selection) and CAD/CAM workflows
• Knowledge of compliance with workshop hazards (machining, laser, batteries, resins, dust, fumes)
• Ability to teach or train others in specific technical skills

• Clear communication
• team collaboration
• instructional ability
• Prototyping and fabrication equipment operation (3D printers, CNC, laser cutting)
• Electronics prototyping and PCB assembly
• CAD/CAM workflows

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