Glassblowing Technician

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Technical Team within the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. You will support education and research by providing expert glassblowing services, maintaining workshop equipment, and assisting in the design and fabrication of custom glassware for the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.

You will be required to fabricate, modify and repair scientific glassware using Boro-Silicate and Quartz glass and to maintain workshop equipment and manage stock levels. You will also be required to provide relevant scientific glassware advice to staff and students and to assist in applying relevant Health and Safety regulations for anyone using these areas.

Overall you will be part of an extensive technical team across the School and will work alongside other technicians in other areas, building up a diverse knowledge of the technical support needed to successfully support staff and students through their education and research work.

About the person:

• You must have Academic and/or vocational qualifications i.e. five GCSEs at Grade C or above (or equivalent) to include a science subject or NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
• Minimum of two years recent experience in scientific glassblowing, to include:
  - Manufacture and repair of laboratory glassware.
  - Experience in bench work, hand burner and lathe work.
  - Cutting and grinding.
  - Manufacturing experience using Boro-Silicate and Quartz.
  - Maintenance of gas supply including cylinders and regulators.
• A good understanding of relevant regulations and procedures, including Health & Safety requirements.

As a skilled technician you will also have:

• Demonstrable ability to create accurate technical drawings and guide the process from concept to finished apparatus.
• The ability to plan own work schedule responding to new pressures and adjusting priorities.
• The ability to demonstrate working successfully as part of a team.
• The ability to provide guidance and advice to colleagues/students.
• Be competent in the use of Information Technology and relevant software packages including MS Office.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to develop and demonstrate standard equipment and techniques.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.

What we offer:

Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more on our website.

Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.

For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit our website.

If you are an international applicant and don't already hold a visa that permits you to take up the role you are applying for, please use the information provided on our website to self-assess whether the University is likely to be able to support a visa application.

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