Your role

As our Precision Mechanic, you contribute to the development and maintenance of scientific instrumentation by providing specialist precision manufacturing expertise within the mechanical workshop. Working closely with engineers and researchers, you advise on production designs, manufacture precision mechanical components, and support the assembly, repair and functional improvement of mechanical instruments. You will contribute to effective operation and organisation of the workshop and timely delivery of high-quality manufactured components.

Responsibilities

• Produce precision mechanical components of scientific instrumentation using a range of machining and fabrication tools, with particular expertise in turned parts.
• Support research groups in the repair and functional improvement of existing mechanical components.
• Advise designers on the manufacturability and performance of mechanical design.
• Coordinate regular maintenance, repair, and replacement of workshop equipment.
• Coordinate the availability and restocking of materials and tooling for the workshop.
• Build and maintain relationships with external materials and tooling suppliers and contract workshops.
• Advise on ongoing modernisation efforts within the mechanical workshop.

Capabilities

• You build effective working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
• You communicate information clearly and professionally.
• You take ownership of responsibilities and deliver outcomes within agreed timeframes, including under occasional time pressure.
• Problem Solving: You identify challenges and apply sound technical judgement to determine appropriate and effective solutions.
• You respond positively to changing priorities and organisational requirements and demonstrate openness to learning new skills to meet evolving project and organisational needs

Skills, Experience and Qualifications

You have

• Technical training in mechanical engineering and relevant experience producing precision mechanical components in a professional mechanical workshop environment.
• Extensive expertise in producing turned parts on both conventional and CNC lathes, from a range of materials, including metals, plastics.
• Experience in quality control for tooling and manufactured components
• Experience maintaining workshop machines
• Demonstrated experience with modern CAD, CAM, and CNC software.
• Very good technical communication skills in both English and German (minimum B2 level).

You may also have

• Experience producing milled parts on both conventional and CNC milling machines
• Qualifications or experience supervising and training colleagues or trainees in mechanical workshop environment.
• Experience in plastic shaping techniques and plastic adhesive procedures.
• Experience supporting or coordinating mechanical workshop operations

Salary guidance

Grade 5 with a monthly salary starting from 4.147,92 EUR net of tax, excluding health insurance and pension contributions, plus additional EMBL benefits.

Contract duration: 3 years (renewable up to 9 years)

Please ensure that your application includes both an up-to-date CV and a cover letter

Why join us

EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation. 

We encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team – we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders and cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformational point in our people strategy.

Enjoy lots of benefits:

• Financial incentives: Salary free of income tax, Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances

• Flexible working arrangements

• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)

• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to public holidays

• Relocation package including installation grant (if applicable)

• Campus life: Free shuttle bus (Heidelberg), library, subsidised on-site cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)

• Family benefits: Kindergarten (Heidelberg), 10 days of child sick leave, generous paid maternity/parental leave and monthly family & child allowances

• Benefits for international newcomers: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.

• For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Visit our International Applicants page, to find out more.

• EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.

• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.

• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.

Closing Date

13/10/2026