Cleanroom Research Technician Full-time

Cleanroom Research Technician

The London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) is a unique interdisciplinary collaboration between University College London (UCL), Imperial College London, and King's College London. Its mission is to harness the power of nanotechnology to tackle global challenges across information technology, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. In bringing together cutting-edge infrastructure with leading nanotechnology research activities, the Centre aims to attain the critical mass necessary to compete with the foremost international facilities. At UCL, the LCN is sited in a purpose built eight storey building in Central London, operating as a department within the Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. Among its state-of-the-art facilities is a 255m² Class 1000 cleanroom dedicated to nanodevice fabrication.

The LCN maintains strong links with the broader nanotechnology and commercial sectors, and is engaged in major research collaborations. As the only centre of its kind situated in the heart of a metropolis, it benefits from superb access to corporate, investment, and industrial partners. The LCN also plays a leading role in nanotechnology training, with a prominent media presence aimed at fostering transparency and awareness around this rapidly evolving field.

About the Role

The post holder will provide advanced technical, operational, and safety leadership within the LCN cleanroom. They will:

1. Serve as an expert and point of escalation for multiple complex nanofabrication systems, undertaking advanced diagnostics, maintenance, and repairs.
2. Lead on the development and implementation of local procedures, ensuring high standards of safety, compliance, and operational efficiency.
3. Deliver structured, competency-based user training and provide ongoing specialist support to staff, students, and external partners.
4. Plan and coordinate facility operations, contributing to service development, equipment lifecycle planning, procurement, and estates-related activities.
5. Collaborate with academic staff, suppliers, contractors, and Estates to ensure efficient, safe, and sustainable delivery of cleanroom services.

The post requires autonomous decision-making, forward planning, and strong analytical skills to address issues with medium to long term operational impact.

About You

The post holder will be an experienced technical specialist capable of independently managing day to day operations within a cleanroom or similarly complex research facility. They will provide strong technical leadership, taking ownership of assigned equipment and overseeing performance monitoring, preventative maintenance, calibration, and continuous improvement. The post holder will be able to diagnose and resolve complex faults across vacuum, plasma, thermal, photolithography, and wet‑chemical processing systems, applying rigorous analysis and judgement. They will also develop and update technical procedures, engineering controls, and workflows to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operation.

In addition, the post holder will support facility users by designing and delivering structured training programmes, assessing user competence, and guiding researchers through process optimisation, experimental design, and troubleshooting. They will maintain accurate training records, compliance documentation, and user activity logs, while also coordinating specialist work with Estates and external contractors and contributing technical expertise to infrastructure projects.

What We Offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan • Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit UCL Reward and Benefits to find out more.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. Our department holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award, in recognition of our long-term commitment and 'beacon' status in advancing gender equality.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: UCL Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Available Documents

• Cleanroom Research Technician_JD.pdf