ATLAS Experiment Upgrade Technician

University of Birmingham - School of Physics and Astronomy

Location: Birmingham

Salary: £29,647 to £31,460 Grade 5, with potential progression once in post to £35,388

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract up to November 2026

Placed On: 9th October 2025

Closes: 30th October 2025

Job Ref: 80327

Background

You will work in a team with senior academics, research staff and students to provide high level technical support to aspects of the particle physics group’s research, primarily in construction, testing and installing upgraded detectors 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 for aspects of the particle physics group’s experiments and outreach activities, particularly for the ATLAS (LHC) Experiment upgrade. This will involve using judgement to break down tasks and devise solutions in the preparation of equipment and following procedures to diagnose faults. Regular contact will be required with senior academic 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 to diagnose and solve faults with complex equipment. The role may also include responsibility for ensuring that health and safety procedures are followed and making risk assessments. ATLAS tracker upgrade: Assisting in the assembly (gluing and ultrasonic wire bonding) of hybrid silicon detectors and associated electronics for an upgrade of a major detector component of the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Detector Testing and Quality Control: providing technical support for the full suite of testing and readout including thermal cycling as part of ATLAS detector quality control. Testing sensors in a particle beam: With physicist colleagues, preparing and mounting detector components to be tested in the Birmingham medical physics cyclotron. Maintaining the basic infrastructure for these tests and ensuring efficient operation.

Person Specification

HNC or higher qualification in a technical subject, involving mechanical, electrical or electronic techniques. General skills in (basic) mechanical and electrical construction, 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 foresee technical problems in finely specified equipment and to suggest solutions. Experience in meeting precise specifications to high standards. Willingness to travel within the UK and abroad to attend meetings and provide support at experimental testing facilities. In-depth practical knowledge of relevant technical and scientific methods. Extensive experience of similar laboratory based work, together with familiarity with a wide range of laboratory equipment.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dave Charlton, email: d.g.charlton@bham.ac.uk, or Karol Krizka, email: k.krizka@bham.ac.uk.

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