Senior Mechanical Technician

STFC
Edinburgh
3 weeks ago
Create job alert

Join to apply for the Senior Mechanical Technician role at STFC

4 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Join to apply for the Senior Mechanical Technician role at STFC

This range is provided by STFC. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

Salary: Band D (S1) £44,982 per annum

Hours: Full-Time (We understand the importance of work-life balance and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

Contract Type: Open-Ended

Location Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh.

Come and do the kind of science that made you want to become a scientist. Explore the unknown and get to grips with the biggest challenges in Big Science. And, alongside world class engineers, technicians and technologists, use everything you've learnt to find real answers that shape society and improve lives.

Put simply, discover the kind of impact you can make when you work with some of the best facilities and brightest scientists in the world.

About the role

The UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) is the UK’s national centre for leading-edge astronomical instrumentation and systems. We design and build instrumentation for world-leading astronomy facilities on the ground and in space. Here you will work alongside world-leading scientists, engineers and technologists to develop and build leading-edge scientific instruments.

We have a friendly and flexible work environment, on a beautiful site combining the historic Royal Observatory Edinburgh architecture with a high-tech engineering facility including modern laboratories and cleanrooms.

We are currently seeking a Mechanical Technician to support the development, manufacture, assembly, test, delivery, installation and commissioning of equipment across various ground-based and space-based astronomy projects.

Specifically, your duties will include:

  • Working as a senior technical person within the Mechanical Technician Team (Engineering Support Group)
  • The manufacture and modification of precision mechanical, optomechanical and electromechanical parts and assemblies to defined requirements.
  • This will include inspection, metrology, fitting and alignment of internally and externally sourced precision parts to verify dimensional and geometric tolerancing, and other quality requirements.
  • Planning, organising and testing of parts, assemblies and mechanisms including the use of environmental test facilities, such as vacuum and cryogenic test systems and cleanroom operations. (Training will be given on specialist equipment and processes).
  • Planning, organising and doing the assembly and test of these parts and assemblies into more complex systems.
  • Planning and coordinating integration, test and commissioning of development and completed systems both on site and occasionally at telescope.
  • Planning, coordinating and doing specialist work within a clean room environment. (Training will be given on specialist equipment and processes).
  • Working and collaborating in cross-functional teams across a variety of projects.

Person Specifications:

  • ONC or City & Guilds in an appropriate Engineering Mechanical / Manufacture Engineering discipline or equivalent as minimal formal qualification.
  • Time served mechanical technician or machinist with post apprenticeship experience in machining or assembly and / or mechanical maintenance or similar. Including working within a structured engineering environment with an established safety and quality culture.
  • Experience of manufacturing precision parts using a variety of manual or CNC machine tools (e.g. Haas machines) and / or experience of working with precision parts and assemblies including build and test activities.
  • Experience of organising, producing and inspecting technical work to defined safety, quality, and delivery requirements.
  • Experience with safety related processes and regulations relevant to machining, assembly or workshop environment.
  • Able to perform a variety of manual handling and assembly tasks.
  • Understanding of manufacturing drawings, specifications, and instructions, with a working knowledge of relevant engineering standards, and some experience of CAD (e.g. AutoCAD) and CAM software (e.g. EdgeCAM)
  • Evidence of good collaboration skills and working as part of a team including clear verbal and written communication in English.

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact .

STFC offers our staff a wide range of excellent non-paying employee benefits, including but not limited to 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days) and excellent learning and development opportunities. Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, technicians and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible.

The closing date for applications is 3rd September 2025.

Seniority level

  • Seniority levelNot Applicable

Employment type

  • Employment typeFull-time

Job function

  • Job functionScience
  • IndustriesResearch Services

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at STFC by 2x

Sign in to set job alerts for “Mechanical Technician” roles.

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom 4 days ago

Bathgate, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 week ago

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 week ago

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 week ago

Kirkcaldy, Scotland, United Kingdom 5 months ago

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 day ago

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 week ago

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 week ago

Loanhead, Scotland, United Kingdom 3 months ago

Loanhead, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 months ago

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 day ago

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 months ago

Dunfermline, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Livingston, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

Loanhead, Scotland, United Kingdom 4 weeks ago

Broxburn, Scotland, United Kingdom 5 days ago

Dunfermline, Scotland, United Kingdom 4 weeks ago

Loanhead, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 months ago

Rosyth, Scotland, United Kingdom 4 months ago

Livingston, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

Dunfermline, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 week ago

Dunfermline, Scotland, United Kingdom 4 months ago

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 days ago

Dunfermline, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

Vehicle Preparation Assistant - Edinburgh

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago

Livingston, Scotland, United Kingdom 8 months ago

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.


#J-18808-Ljbffr

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Senior Mechanical Technician

Senior Mechanical Technician

Senior Mechanical Technician

Senior Mechanical Technician: Lab Equipment Design

Senior Mechanical Technician (FTC)

Senior Mechanical Technician: Manufacturing & Lab Support

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How Many Edge Computing Tools Do You Need to Know to Get an Edge Computing Job?

If you’re trying to start or grow a career in edge computing, it can feel like you’re navigating a maze of tools, frameworks and platforms — Kubernetes, Docker, IoT frameworks, AWS Greengrass, Azure IoT Edge, OpenShift, TinyML toolkits, networking orchestration, real-time streaming frameworks, and on it goes. Scroll job boards and community forums and it’s easy to conclude that unless you master every buzzword imaginable, you’ll never get a job. Here’s the honest truth most edge computing hiring managers won’t necessarily say out loud: 👉 They don’t hire you because you know every edge computing tool — they hire you because you can solve real system problems using the tools you know. Tools matter, yes — but only when they support clear outcomes: reliable systems, performance at scale, secure edge deployments and real business value. So how many edge computing tools do you actually need to know to secure a job? For most edge computing roles, the answer is fewer than you think — and a lot clearer when sorted by fundamentals and roles. This guide shows you what matters, what doesn’t, and how to focus your time wisely so you come across as capable, confident and employable.

What Hiring Managers Look for First in Edge Computing Job Applications (UK Guide)

In today’s fast-evolving tech landscape, edge computing is one of the most sought-after fields — blending distributed systems, embedded systems, networking, cloud, IoT, data and real-time processing. But that also means hiring managers are highly selective. They scan applications fast and look for signals of relevance, impact, technical depth and real-world delivery long before they read every line. This guide demystifies what hiring managers in edge computing look for first in your application — so you can tailor your CV, portfolio and cover letter to jump out of the stack. Whether you’re targeting edge systems roles, embedded IoT edge jobs, edge-native data roles, edge platform engineering or edge-AI positions, this checklist will help you position your experience in a way hiring managers can trust immediately.

The Skills Gap in Edge Computing Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

Edge computing is rapidly moving from niche concept to critical infrastructure. As organisations deploy connected devices, sensors, autonomous systems and real-time analytics, processing data closer to where it is generated has become essential. From smart cities and manufacturing to healthcare, transport, defence and telecommunications, edge computing underpins systems where latency, reliability and resilience matter. Demand for edge computing skills across the UK is rising steadily — yet employers consistently report difficulty finding candidates who are genuinely job-ready. Despite growing interest and academic coverage, universities are not fully preparing graduates for real edge computing jobs. This article explores the edge computing skills gap in depth: what universities teach well, what they consistently miss, why the gap exists, what employers actually want, and how jobseekers can bridge the divide to build sustainable careers in edge computing.