salary: A full-time starting salary typically ranges from £29,647 to £31,460, with the possibility of progressing once posted to £35,388.

Contract type: Fixed-term contract until November 2026

background

You will work within a team including senior academics, research staff and students to provide high-level technical support to aspects of particle physics group research, primarily in the construction, testing and installation of detectors developed for the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.

Main duties

To be part of the technical team that will provide high-level technical support to aspects of the Particle Physics Cluster experiments and outreach activities, especially for the ATLAS (LHC) experiment upgrade.

• This will include using judgment to divide tasks and devise solutions in setting up equipment and following procedures to diagnose faults. Regular contact will be required with senior teaching and research staff in the Birmingham Group and possibly also at other academic institutes.
• Occasional consultations with external suppliers to devise methods for construction tasks and diagnose and resolve faults in complex equipment.
• The role may also include responsibility for ensuring health and safety procedures are followed and carrying out risk assessments.
• ATLAS Tracker Upgrade: Assist with assembly (gluing and ultrasonic wiring) of hybrid silicon detectors and associated electronics to upgrade a key detector component in the ATLAS experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.
• Detector Testing and Quality Control: Providing technical support for the full range of tests and readouts including thermal cycling as part of ATLAS detector quality control.
• Particle beam sensor testing: With physicist colleagues, detector components are prepared and installed to be tested at the Medical Physics Cyclotron in Birmingham. Maintaining the basic infrastructure for these tests and ensuring their efficient operation.

Person specifications

• HNC or higher qualification in a technical subject involving mechanical, electrical or electronic technologies.
• General skills in mechanical and electrical construction (basic), electrical assembly, electronics design and construction, use of test equipment and provision of design and test documentation.
• Experience with CAD or PCB layout work is highly desirable.
• Ability to accurately anticipate technical problems in specified equipment and suggest solutions.
• Experience meeting exact specifications to high standards.
• Willingness to travel within the UK and abroad to attend meetings and provide support at pilot testing facilities.
• In-depth working knowledge of relevant technical and scientific methods.
• Extensive experience in similar laboratory work, as well as familiarity with a wide range of laboratory equipment.

Informal inquiries can be made to Dave Charlton, via email: dgcharlton@bham.ac.ukOr Carol Krzyzka, email: k.krizka@bham.ac.uk

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