Technical Lead (Engineering, Design and Metallurgy) - 16274

Location: Brunel University London, Uxbridge Campus

Salary: Grade 9 from £53,547 to £63,415 per annum inclusive of London Weighting with potential to progress to £67,113 per annum inclusive of London Weighting through sustained exceptional contribution.

Hours: Full Time (1 FTE)

Contract Type: Permanent

Brunel University of London is seeking an exceptional individual to take on the role of Technical Lead (Engineering, Design and Metallurgy) — a key senior leadership position in the University’s newly unified Technical Services structure.

This is a rare opportunity to lead technical services at a truly technical university—shaping the future of our engineering, design and materials environments while supporting outstanding teaching, enabling world-class research, and embedding professional, compliant practice at every level.

About Brunel

Brunel University of London is a dynamic, research-intensive institution known for its commitment to technical excellence and real-world impact. Established in 1966 and named after the visionary engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the University has a long-standing reputation for innovation in engineering, design and applied science.

We are proud to be home to internationally recognised academic programmes in mechanical, civil, electronic, aerospace engineering, industrial and product design. Our Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST) is a globally respected hub for innovation in metallurgy and materials processing, with strong industrial partnerships and a focus on sustainable manufacturing.

Brunel is a technical university in the fullest sense—rooted in applied knowledge, practical learning, and ambitious research. We are also a committed signatory to the Technician Commitment, recognising the critical role of technical professionals in achieving our mission.

About the role

As Technical Lead (Engineering, Design and Metallurgy), you will be a senior leader in our newly unified Technical Service, providing strategic and operational leadership to technical teams supporting teaching and research across a broad and diverse portfolio. You’ll manage the technical services underpinning engineering and design education and internationally recognised experimental research facilities—ensuring they are safe, professional, efficient and future-focused.

As a senior leader within Technical Services, your remit will include:

• Leading multidisciplinary technical teams (circa 60 people) across engineering, design and metallurgy subject areas
• Providing visible, confident leadership that motivates staff and builds a culture of excellence, inclusion and professional development
• Oversee the implementation of safe systems of work, ensuring full compliance with health and safety legislation and statutory and technical regulations
• Embedding a proactive safety culture through robust systems, training and governance
• Driving continuous improvement and service transformation aligned to the University’s strategic needs
• Collaborating with academic, research and estates colleagues to optimise facilities and support delivery of outstanding teaching and research

You are not expected to be an expert in every technical discipline. What matters is your ability to lead confidently across complexity, support and empower specialist staff, and ensure professional standards are consistently met.

About you

You will be a confident technical leader with significant experience managing people, services, safety and compliance in complex environments. You will bring:

• Proven leadership and team development skills, ideally across multidisciplinary technical teams
• A successful track record of delivering service change or process improvement
• Hands-on experience managing compliance with technical and safety regulations (e.g. LOLER, PUWER, PSSR etc.)
• A deep understanding of health and safety systems in technical or regulated contexts
• Outstanding interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to lead collaboratively across professional and academic boundaries

Experience in engineering, manufacturing, research operations or complex laboratory environments will be highly beneficial—even if your background isn’t in higher education.

Why join Brunel?

This is an opportunity to take a leading role in modernising and professionalising technical services at a university that has engineering in its DNA. You will help shape the culture, systems and services that underpin some of the UK's most innovative academic and industrial partnerships, and offer generous benefits for staff.

We’re ambitious for our technical staff, and we’re looking for someone equally ambitious for the service they will lead.

For an informal conversation, contact Chris Stock (Associate Director of Technical Services – christopher.stock@brunel.ac.uk).

Closing date for applications: 27 July 2025

Interviews (in person): Week commencing 11 August 2025

For further details about the post including the Job Description and Person Specification and to apply please visit https://careers.brunel.ac.uk

If you have any technical issues please contact us at: hrsystems@brunel.ac.uk

All applicants should be eligible to live and work in the UK for the duration of any offer of appointment.

Brunel University London is fully committed to creating and sustaining a fully inclusive workforce culture. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities, we particularly welcome applicants who are currently under- represented in our workforce.