Senior Prototyping & Workshop Leader

Work with cutting-edge facilities and diverse projects. Shape systems, processes and capability in a role with real influence. Combine your technical excellence with leadership and want to play a key role in enabling innovation.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior technical leadership role at the heart of a dynamic and future-focused College. As a Senior Technical Officer, you will play a pivotal role in leading prototyping and workshop operations that directly support cutting-edge teaching, research and industry collaboration.

Working as part of the College’s Technical Leadership team, you will drive a consistent, sustainable and high-performing prototyping function—ensuring staff and students have access to the expertise, systems and facilities they need to bring ideas to life.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading and developing a skilled technical team – coaching, mentoring and building capability to deliver high-quality services.
• Overseeing workshop operations – ensuring efficient, safe and sustainable delivery of manufacturing and prototyping services.
• Providing expert engineering advice – supporting design, manufacturing and problem-solving across diverse projects.
• Driving best-practice systems and processes – improving workflow, job tracking and service delivery outcomes.
• Partnering with academic and professional stakeholders – translating teaching and research needs into practical technical solutions.
• Ensuring compliance and quality – aligning outputs with relevant legislation, standards and WHS requirements.
• Managing assets and resources – contributing to CAPEX planning, asset audits and lifecycle management.

About you:

You are a technically strong and credible leader who thrives in a collaborative, service-oriented environment. You bring trade qualifications in fitting and machining and extensive experience in mechanical engineering fields, manufacturing or prototyping settings, along with a demonstrated ability to lead, supervise and develop technical teams. Your expertise spans design for manufacture, fabrication processes and quality assurance, complemented by a proven track record of improving systems, workflows and operational efficiency. You have a sound understanding of relevant legislation, standards and WHS practices, and you engage stakeholders with ease, translating complex requirements into practical, effective solutions.

This continuing position is full time at a HEW 7 Higher Education Worker level and is based at our Callaghan Campus.

About our University:

The University of Newcastle stands as a global leader distinguished by a commitment to equity and excellence. Our vision is to be a world-leading University for our regions and creating a better future for our regions and the globe. Underpinned by this vision and our values of excellence, equity, engagement and sustainability, the University of Newcastle’s Looking Ahead Strategic Plan 2020-2025 outlines the University’s commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience and serving our communities.

What we offer:

• The remuneration for this position ranges from $103,641 to $116,596 plus superannuation and excellent employment conditions in line with University of Newcastle professional staff conditions.
• Flexible working arrangements (in line with the University’s Flexible Work Policy).
• 35 hour week.
• 17% super and salary packaging.
• Additional University Holiday days, generous personal leave and parental leave, annual leave loading and additional purchased leave scheme.
• Discounts in private health insurance, gym memberships, software, travel and more.
• Wellbeing programs.

Your next steps:

Please visit here for a guide on how to apply for a role. If viewing this on a job board other than the University’s please click ‘Apply’ to reach the University’s website, where a copy of the Position Description can be accessed. Please download a copy before commencing your application.

Your application must include:

• Your resume.
• A cover letter outlining your motivation to apply for this opportunity.
• A statement addressing the Essential Criteria listed in the job description demonstrating your qualifications and experience with examples.

To ensure that your application receives full consideration, it’s important to structure and address the selection criteria outlined in the application process. This helps us better understand your experience and suitability for the role. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to reviewing your application.

Please upload your Cover Letter and response to the requested Criteria as one PDF document. Your Cover Letter and Response to the Essential Criteria should not exceed 4 pages (approximately 2,000 words).

Applications for this position will only be accepted from those with Australian residency or a valid work permit. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

For specific position enquiries, please contact Chris Neenan, Senior Manager, Technical Services (02) 4921 7285 or via email.

Closing date: Monday 6th April 2026 11:59pm AEST.

Our assessment process:

Typically, candidates that progress beyond the shortlist stage can expect to undertake the following (minimum) assessment activities as part of the recruitment process:

• Interview (an ‘in person’ interview will be conducted as part of the process).
• Referee checks.
• Pre-employment checks as appropriate to the role.

Our University is committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for every member of our community. This commitment is central to our values and our efforts to build a diverse workforce where everyone can thrive.

As part of this, and in alignment with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence 2025, from 1 January 2026, the University will also consider gender-based violence risk factors as part of our recruitment processes. The completion and return of the University’s Gender-based Violence Declaration Form will form part of the pre-employment checks for this position and any offer of employment will be conditional upon review by the University.

Our adherence to the Code is about more than compliance—it’s about living our values. Together, we can ensure our University remains a place where respect, safety, and inclusion are non-negotiable.

We are excited to be Looking Ahead with you.