Job Description and Person Specification (HR5)
Post Number: /
Job Description
School/Department: / Optoelectronics Research Centre
Post Title: / Senior Engineer
Please enter Level under appropriate Career Pathway / ERE / TAE / MSA / CAO / R.Nurse / Clinical
4
ERE Category / Academic Posts / Non-Academic Posts
Academic
(mixed) / Research
only / Teaching
only / Enterprise / Education Development
Posts Responsible to (and Level): / Silica Fibre Fabrication Group Leader
Posts Responsible for (and Level):
Job Purpose:
Operation and maintenance of the group’s cleanroom facility and laboratories, and resolve technical issuesassociated with the equipment to ensure their efficient and effective operationfor research staff and students. Provide knowledge ofoptical fibre fabrication technology to advise on research projects as well as making a contribution to the overall research output of the group.
Key Accountabilities/Primary Responsibilities (6-10 bullet points maximum)
  • Facility Maintenance and Operation
Responsible for maintaining thesilica group fibre fabrication facilities in the cleanroom, and associated laboratories, and resolvingall technical issues relating to services availability and equipment operation. Develop and improve the existing workingprocedures and protocol to ensure the working environment is safe for staff, researchers, subcontractors, and visitors, and that the safety standards are met.
Monitor cleanroom equipment and infrastructure and carry out regular service maintenance and calibration schedules to maintain reproducibility and accuracy of fabrication output.
  • Technical expertise
Train researchers and staff on the correct and safe operation of equipmentand use a broad understanding of fibre technology to advise users onfabrication issues.
Advise users on the correct procedures for the use and disposal of existing chemicals as well as devise safe handling practices for new process chemicals that are introduced into the cleanroom facility.
  • Fabrication
Provide knowledge of optical fibre technology, specifically, modified chemical vapour deposition (MCVD), outside vapour deposition (OVD), fibre drawing, and advanced glass-working techniques.Manufacturea variety of standard and non-standard preforms and fibre for internal/external requests and make a significant contribution to the research output of the group.
  • Organisation and Resource Management
Communicate with suppliers and subcontractors to resolve technical issues and ensure projects run smoothly. Responsible for maintaining all operational and safety documentation relating to equipment and the facilities and ensure that they adhere to the current health and safety legislation.
.
  • Liaising and People Management
Required to liaiseon a technical level with suppliers and manufactures to resolveissues with laboratory apparatus.
Role may involve supervision of the technician in the group and monitoring of their daily work schedule.
Conduct facility tours for visitors, students, and the media, promoting the silica cleanroom facility and explaining the research activities in the ORC. / % Time
55
20
10
7.5
7.5
Internal & External Relationships: (nature & purpose of relationships)
  • Report to Silica Group Leader - to discuss technical and scientific activities in the group.
  • Communicate with research staff and postgraduate students – to provide instruction and support.
  • Facilities maintenance- for issues relating to buildings maintenance and support.
  • Senior Safety Officer – to discuss issues relating to chemical handling, use and disposal.

Special Requirements:
Working with and handling of gases and chemicals.
Person Specification
Criteria / Essential / Desirable / How to be assessed
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience:
Degree or equivalent professional qualification in Physics/Chemistry/Engineeringrelated discipline and experience in an engineering environment.
Postgraduate degree or,a professional postgraduate qualification.
Proven experience in maintaining of facilities and resolving process equipment and services issues.
Knowledge of optical fibre technology or materials processing. / √
√ / √
√ / Interview/CV
Planning and Organising:
Able to plan workload and resources to meet critical project deadlines and manage medium-term internal and external research projects. / √ / Interview
Problem Solving and Initiative:
Analyse equipmentperformance and identify problems arising from mechanical or electric issues. / √ / Interview/CV
Management and Teamwork:
Able to demonstrate technical expertise in the field to support the group’s research activities.
Manage a shared cleanroom facility to ensure a coherent working environment for research staff, students and contractors. / .
√
√ / Interview/CV
Communicating and Influencing:
Able to communicate effectively to students, peers and senior staff alike in order toexchange information, negotiate and persuade. / √ / Interview
Other Skills and Behaviours:
Display a proactive approach to aiding the research activities of the group.
Able and willingness to work flexible hours / √ / √ / Interview
Special Requirements:
Knowledge and experience in the correct handling practices for gases and chemicals. / √ / Interview/CV

Job Hazard Analysis Form - Appendix to Job and Person Specification

Please tick one of the following statements:

This post is an office-based job with routine office hazards e.g. use of VDU (if ticked, no further information needs to be supplied)
This post has some hazards other than routine office e.g. more than use of VDU / √

Please tick all those that apply, and put N/A if not applicable

Environmental Exposures / O* / F / C
Outside work / N/A
Extremes of temperature (eg fridge/ furnace) / √
Potential for exposure to body fluids ## / N/A
Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa) ## / N/A
Exposure to hazardous substances (eg solvents, liquids, dust, fumes, biohazards). Specify …………………………………………………………. ## / √
Frequent hand washing / √
Ionising radiation. / N/A
Equipment/Tools/Machines used
Food Handling ## / N/A
Driving university vehicles(e.g. car/van/LGV/PCV) ## / N/A
Use of latex gloves (note: prohibited unless specific clinical necessity) ## / N/A
Vibrating tools ( e.g. strimmers, hammer drill, lawnmowers) ## / N/A
Physical Abilities
Load manual handling. / N/A
Repetitive Crouching/Kneeling/Stooping / √
Repetitive Pulling/Pushing / N/A
Repetitive Lifting / N/A
Standing for prolonged periods / √
Repetitive Climbing i.e. steps, stools, ladders / √
Fine motor grips (e.g. pipetting) / √
Gross motor grips / N/A
Repetitive reaching below shoulder height / N/A
Repetitive reaching at shoulder height / N/A
Repetitive reaching above shoulder height / N/A
Psychosocial Issues
Face to face contact with public / √
Lone working / √
Shift work/night work/on call duties ## / N/A

O – Occasionally (up to 1/3 of time); F – Frequently (up to 2/3 of time); C – Constantly (more than 2/3 of time) ## denotes to HR the need for a full PEHQ to be sent to all applicants for this position.

FOR SCHOOL/SERVICE USE ONLY / ResourceLink Post Number
Which post does this job report to
Is this post a Line Manager? / Yes / No
If yes, which posts directly report into it? / ResourceLink Post Number
Post 1
Post 2
Post 3
Post 4
Post 5
Post 6
Post 7
Post 8
Please add additional rows as required

1