Senior Technician Mechanical Engineering

Salary £26,916 - £29,225 per annum

The Sheffield College is a thriving further and higher education community, empowering around 13,000 learners each year to achieve their goals. Driven by our mission to transform lives through learning, we foster an inclusive environment – recognised through our 2026 Investors in Diversity Gold award and 3rd‑place ranking in the National Centre for Diversity’s 2025 Top 100 Most Inclusive UK Employers.

As a Senior Mechanical Engineering Workshop Technician, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of practical engineering programmes within a busy mechanical engineering workshop. You will be responsible for maintaining a safe, organised and fully operational workshop environment, ensuring that machinery, tools, materials and equipment are prepared and available for teaching and assessment activities.

The successful candidate will have substantial experience working in a mechanical engineering workshop and be confident operating, maintaining and setting up a range of manual and CNC machine tools. They will also lead a team of technicians and work closely with teaching staff to support the delivery of engineering programmes.

• Ensure the mechanical engineering workshop is maintained to a high standard, providing a safe, organised and fully operational learning environment.
• Prepare, set up and maintain workshop equipment, tooling, materials and resources for practical teaching sessions.
• Operate and maintain workshop machinery including:
• Manual centre lathes
• Manual milling machines
• CNC lathes
• CNC milling machines
• Horizontal and vertical bandsaws
• Pillar drills
• Bench grinders
• Belt sanders and polishing equipment
• General hand and power tools
• Manufacture components, fixtures, jigs and teaching aids to support curriculum delivery.
• Support lecturers during practical sessions by preparing demonstrations, setting machines and assisting learners with safe workshop practices.
• Ensure machinery is regularly inspected, maintained and reported for repair where necessary, maintaining accurate maintenance records.
• Manage workshop tooling, measuring equipment and consumables, ensuring adequate stock levels are maintained.
• Source engineering materials, tooling, PPE and consumables from suppliers, obtaining quotations, raising purchase requests and monitoring deliveries to ensure value for money and continuity of workshop operations.
• Advise on the purchase and specification of new workshop machinery, tooling and equipment.
• Manage workshop inventory, including engineering materials such as metals, plastics and consumables.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety legislation, including COSHH, PUWER, LOLER (where applicable), risk assessments and safe systems of work.
• Assist in the design and delivery of practical learning activities and engineering projects.
• Support students in developing practical engineering skills whilst promoting safe working practices at all times.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to curriculum staff on workshop processes, manufacturing techniques and equipment capabilities.
• Deliver training and demonstrations to staff on the safe operation and effective use of workshop machinery and equipment.
• Support continuous improvement of workshop facilities, equipment and working practices.

• Working within a mechanical engineering workshop or manufacturing environment.
• Operating and setting manual lathes and milling machines.
• Operating and setting CNC lathes and CNC machining centres.
• Using general fabrication and workshop machinery including bandsaws, drills, grinders and measuring equipment.
• Ordering engineering materials, tooling and consumables from suppliers.
• Managing workshop stock and inventory.
• Reading and interpreting engineering drawings.
• Working to engineering tolerances and quality standards.
• Maintaining workshop machinery and equipment.
• Implementing safe systems of work and ensuring compliance with workshop Health & Safety legislation.
• Supervising or mentoring staff, apprentices or learners within an engineering environment.

• Experience supporting engineering education within a college, apprenticeship provider…