About us   

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.

Please note that this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.

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

The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate experience in:

• 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).

If you want to find out more about the role please contact Reiss Bennett, Curriculum Manager - Reiss.Bennett@sheffcol.ac.uk

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

Further information can be found on our Benefits and Career Development  pages.

Next Steps: 

To apply: Click apply online and follow the links to complete the online application.

As a Leader in Diversity employer, we encourage applications from everyone and value diversity in our workforce.  

Closing date: 17th of November 2026

Please note shortlisting may take place before the closing date so early applications are encouraged.

Where there are internal applicants at risk, these will be considered in the first instance.