At a Glance
- Tasks: Support practical engineering programmes in a dynamic workshop environment.
- Company: Join The Sheffield College, a leading education community empowering 13,000 learners annually.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous annual leave, and a supportive pension scheme.
- Other info: Flexible working opportunities and continuous professional development await you.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by mentoring students and enhancing their engineering skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in mechanical engineering workshops and proficiency with manual and CNC machinery required.
The predicted salary is between 26916 - 29225 £ per year.
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.
About The Role
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.
- Main Responsibilities
- 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.
Essential Experience
- 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.
Desirable Experience
- Experience supporting engineering education within a college, apprenticeship provider or training environment.
- Knowledge of CAD/CAM software and CNC programming.
- Experience with metrology equipment and quality inspection techniques.
- Relevant engineering qualification (Level 3 or above) in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or a related discipline.
- Assessor, teaching or training qualifications (or willingness to work towards one).
- What We Can Offer You
As the successful candidate, you will be offered a salary of between £26,916 - £29,225 per annum based upon a combination of the skills, knowledge and experience that you can bring to the role.
Alongside your salary, your pension is one of the most valuable benefits of joining the College.
The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), administered locally by SYPA, provides financial security in retirement and support for your loved ones.
- Our Full Benefits Package
- SYPA – with a generous employer contribution
- Annual leave – 30 Days (222 hours) + 8 Bank Holidays (59.2 hours) – this includes a discretionary Christmas closure period
- Health and wellbeing, we offer
- Employee assistance programme through Bupa
- Occupational Health through PAM
- Free eye tests for VDU users
- Free parking is available at the majority of our campuses
- Hybrid and flexible working opportunities
- Continuous professional development opportunities
- A people‑focused working culture where you can grow and thrive
- Disability Confident
We are a Disability Confident employer and are committed to removing barriers for applicants with a disability during our recruitment process, upon appointment and as an employee.
Please review our Recruitment Guidelines for Disabled Candidates which provides further information on reasonable adjustments and how the Disability Confident scheme works in practice.
If you require any reasonable adjustments or any support at any point throughout the process, please contact jobs@sheffcol. ac. uk.
Armed Forces Covenant
As part of our commitment through the Armed Forces Covenant, we’re pledged to support the Armed Forces Community.
Recognising the value Personnel, Veterans and military families contribute to our community and country.
Safeguarding
We are an employer who is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students.
Successful applicants will be required to have an enhanced DBS check and will be subject to safer recruiting procedures.
Further details on our safer recruiting procedures, including the employment of ex‑offenders can be found here Safeguarding.
Closing date
Please be aware – if we have a high number of applications, we may decide to close the vacancy earlier.
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Technician Mechanical Engineering in Sheffield
✨Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events
Join local engineering meetups or industry conferences related to mechanical engineering. Whether it's a workshop or a career fair, these events are goldmines for networking and getting a foot in the door. Plus, you can showcase your passion and enthusiasm directly to potential employers like onlyFE.
✨Connect with Professors & Peers
Tap into your university’s resources—professors often have connections in the industry. Don’t be shy to ask about potential openings or recommendations. Your classmates might also know of companies hiring. Often, it’s who you know that gets you in front of the right people!
✨Highlight Your Projects and Practical Experience
When you land those interviews, make sure to talk about your hands-on projects or internships. Whether it's a design project or hands-on experience with CAD software, specific examples will make you stand out. Companies like onlyFE love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of onlyFE and apply directly through there. It shows initiative and interest in their specific values. Plus, you'll often find openings that aren't advertised on job boards, giving you a better chance to land that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Technician Mechanical Engineering in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Expertise:In mechanical engineering, it’s vital to highlight your technical skills and projects. Make sure to include relevant software proficiency (like CAD tools) in your CV. If you've worked on specific engineering projects, detail your key contributions — we want to see how you’ve applied your skills in a practical setting!
Focus on Problem-Solving Examples:Employers in mechanical engineering love to see how you handle challenges. Use your cover letter to share specific instances where you’ve solved a complex problem or improved a design. This will show us you're not just knowledgeable but also capable of applying that knowledge effectively.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Include any relevant certifications or training that can set you apart from the competition. Whether it's coursework from your degree, a recognised certification, or extra training in new technologies, we love to see candidates who continuously improve their skill set. This tells us you're serious about your career in engineering!
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don’t forget to customise your CV for onlyFE and the Senior Technician Mechanical Engineering role specifically. Pull examples from your experience that align with the job description — it shows us you've done your research and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the team. We recommend applying through our website to ensure your application gets to the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at onlyFE
✨Brush Up on Your CAD Skills
Since mechanical engineering often involves design processes, be ready to showcase your proficiency in CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. Bring along a digital portfolio or even some sketches that demonstrate your design capabilities — it’s a great way to show what you can bring to the table at onlyFE.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions that test your understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving skills. You might get hypothetical scenarios where you need to design a component or troubleshoot a mechanical system. Practising these types of questions will give you the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way!
✨Show Your Team Spirit
As a full-time mechanical engineer, collaboration is key! Be ready to share examples of past team projects or any experiences where you contributed to solving a complex problem with others. Demonstrating your ability to work in a team will resonate well with the interviewers at onlyFE.
✨Discuss Your Future Goals
Since this is a full-time position, your long-term vision is important. Be open about your career aspirations, whether it’s mastering a specific tool or leading projects. This shows that you're committed not just to learning but also to growing with onlyFE, making you a more appealing candidate.
