Principal Technical Officer (Aerospace)
University Of Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire, UK
Published today
Full Time
Post Title: Principal Technical Officer (Aerospace)
SBU/Department: School of Physics, Engineering & Computer Science
FTE: 1 fte (working 37 hours per week)
Duration of Contract: Permanent
Annual Leave: 25 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year
Location: College Lane, Hatfield
We are excited to announce a role in the School of Physics, Engineering & Computer Science! This is a unique opportunity to be part of the Technical Services Group and make a difference in the education of our students, support of our academics, and research in the field of Aerospace Engineering. There has been significant investment in the School in the form of a new purpose-built building, Spectra. The Aerospace section has four wind tunnels to include a large closed channel unit installed by AeroLab. The section has a dedicated aerospace simulation laboratory as well as a plethora of drones.
Main duties and responsibilities
The Aerospace PTO plays an important role in ensuring the smooth functioning of aerospace equipment and supporting academic activities in the department. They are responsible for providing technical support to staff and students, maintaining and repairing equipment, and ensuring that all aerospace equipment is properly stored and meets the university's health and safety regulations. They also collaborate with other technical staff and researchers to support projects and experiments and assist in the procurement of new equipment and supplies.
In addition to these technical duties, the Aerospace PTO is also responsible for managing staff within the allocated section and monitoring their workloads. They are expected to have a thorough knowledge of safety procedures applicable to laboratories and workshops and to ensure that these procedures are adhered to. The PTO is also responsible for the preparation of materials and equipment for practical classes and the management and housekeeping of workshops. They work closely with the Technical Manager to ensure that the demonstration areas are well maintained and that the ordering and maintenance of stock levels and equipment are efficiently managed.
Skills and experience required
You should have proven work experience in an aerodynamics testing environment and strong experience of aerospace testing such as aerodynamics testing using wind tunnels.
You should have the ability to perform precise and accurate tests and measurements. They should also be proficient in aerospace testing software installation and configuration, as well as have a good understanding of Health and Safety processes.
In addition, the ideal candidate should possess a positive and adaptable attitude, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They should be a team player with a strong ethos of cooperation and a professional attitude towards learning new skills. Ideally the candidate should have strong organisational and project management skills.
Qualifications required
Educated with a degree in STEM subject or related technical subject or equivalent qualifications or equivalent work experience.
Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.
Internal applicants - please ensure you apply via your employee self-service portal.
We regret that we are unable to offer UKVI sponsorship for this post; applicants will either hold UK Right to Work or demonstrate access to UK Right to Work before an offer is made.
Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Alex Kingstrom, Technical Manager, a.kingstrom@herts.ac.uk
Closing Date: 12 May 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Reference Number: REQ000691
Date advert placed: 21 April 2026
Our vision is to transform lives: UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of their protected characteristics, and recognize there are different ways applicants may achieve the criteria in this document. We offer a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave, flexible location opportunities within the UK, discounted Sports Village memberships and free Active Staff sessions, personal and professional development and family-friendly policies. #GoHerts
SBU/Department: School of Physics, Engineering & Computer Science
FTE: 1 fte (working 37 hours per week)
Duration of Contract: Permanent
Annual Leave: 25 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year
Location: College Lane, Hatfield
We are excited to announce a role in the School of Physics, Engineering & Computer Science! This is a unique opportunity to be part of the Technical Services Group and make a difference in the education of our students, support of our academics, and research in the field of Aerospace Engineering. There has been significant investment in the School in the form of a new purpose-built building, Spectra. The Aerospace section has four wind tunnels to include a large closed channel unit installed by AeroLab. The section has a dedicated aerospace simulation laboratory as well as a plethora of drones.
Main duties and responsibilities
The Aerospace PTO plays an important role in ensuring the smooth functioning of aerospace equipment and supporting academic activities in the department. They are responsible for providing technical support to staff and students, maintaining and repairing equipment, and ensuring that all aerospace equipment is properly stored and meets the university's health and safety regulations. They also collaborate with other technical staff and researchers to support projects and experiments and assist in the procurement of new equipment and supplies.
In addition to these technical duties, the Aerospace PTO is also responsible for managing staff within the allocated section and monitoring their workloads. They are expected to have a thorough knowledge of safety procedures applicable to laboratories and workshops and to ensure that these procedures are adhered to. The PTO is also responsible for the preparation of materials and equipment for practical classes and the management and housekeeping of workshops. They work closely with the Technical Manager to ensure that the demonstration areas are well maintained and that the ordering and maintenance of stock levels and equipment are efficiently managed.
Skills and experience required
You should have proven work experience in an aerodynamics testing environment and strong experience of aerospace testing such as aerodynamics testing using wind tunnels.
You should have the ability to perform precise and accurate tests and measurements. They should also be proficient in aerospace testing software installation and configuration, as well as have a good understanding of Health and Safety processes.
In addition, the ideal candidate should possess a positive and adaptable attitude, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They should be a team player with a strong ethos of cooperation and a professional attitude towards learning new skills. Ideally the candidate should have strong organisational and project management skills.
Qualifications required
Educated with a degree in STEM subject or related technical subject or equivalent qualifications or equivalent work experience.
Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.
Internal applicants - please ensure you apply via your employee self-service portal.
We regret that we are unable to offer UKVI sponsorship for this post; applicants will either hold UK Right to Work or demonstrate access to UK Right to Work before an offer is made.
Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Alex Kingstrom, Technical Manager, a.kingstrom@herts.ac.uk
Closing Date: 12 May 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Reference Number: REQ000691
Date advert placed: 21 April 2026
Our vision is to transform lives: UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of their protected characteristics, and recognize there are different ways applicants may achieve the criteria in this document. We offer a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave, flexible location opportunities within the UK, discounted Sports Village memberships and free Active Staff sessions, personal and professional development and family-friendly policies. #GoHerts