Other positions
Radar and Communications Engineer
Customer Support Engineer (Vacuum Furnaces and Electron Beam Welders)
Customer Support Manager (Vacuum Furnaces and Electron Beam Welders)
Biography
David Paterson is the Chief Workshop Technician in the Electrical and Information Engineering Technology Laboratory (EIETL) within the University of Cambridge Department of Engineering. He brings more than 40 years of professional engineering experience, spanning defense, advanced industrial systems, and higher education.
David began his engineering career in the Royal Air Force (1979–1990) as an Electronics Engineer. During this period, he combined formal training with extensive hands on experience in the maintenance, repair, and modification of ground based communications systems, surveillance radars, and weapons guidance systems, developing a strong foundation in disciplined engineering practice, safety, and fault diagnosis.
From 1990 to 2013, David worked globally as a Customer Support Engineer in Vacuum Engineering, where he oversaw the installation and commissioning of vacuum furnaces and electron beam welders. His role encompassed calibration, preventative and reactive maintenance, fault diagnosis and repair, customer training, and the delivery of system upgrades and bespoke modifications for high‑value manufacturing environments.
He was appointed Customer Support Manager (2013–2016), leading and developing an international engineering support team. In this role, he strengthened customer support operations worldwide through the promotion of strong team culture, close collaboration with vendors, effective incident and problem management, and by representing the customer support function at board level.
In his current academic role, David supports teaching and project based learning within the EIETL. He works closely with undergraduate and postgraduate students, academic staff, and technical colleagues to ensure that laboratory facilities and equipment are safe, reliable, and fit for purpose. He is particularly involved in supporting the Integrated Design Project (IDP) and fourth year undergraduate projects, where he provides technical guidance, operational oversight, and practical engineering advice.
David is committed to promoting health, safety, and wellbeing, enabling students to translate theoretical knowledge into practical engineering solutions, and supporting inclusive, run laboratory environments that encourage learning, innovation, and professional development.
Specialized Engineering Skills and Experience
- Maintenance and repair of high voltage systems up to 150 kV (conventional and switch mode)
- Configuration and operation of advanced temperature control equipment
- PLC and HMI programming for system control
- Hydrogen use and control for specialized thermal processes
- Inert gas control for heating, tempering, annealing, sintering, and cooling cycles (up to 3 bar)
- Vacuum systems: generation, control, and measurement down to 10⁻⁹ mbar using mechanical, diffusion, and cryogenic pumping technologies
- Electro mechanical system fault identification and repair
- Temperature measurement and control up to 2000 °C
Department role and responsibilities
Chief Workshop Technician in the Electrical and Information Engineering Technology Laboratory (EIETL).
General
- Promote practical health, safety, and wellbeing practices
- Communicate directly with students, academic staff, and colleagues
- Provide, maintain, and repair laboratory equipment
- Support laboratory and student administration
- Identify operational issues and opportunities for improvement
Integrated Design Project (IDP)
- Engage with students to discuss ideas and engineering solutions
- Act as subject‑matter expert and primary technical point of contact
- Manage the day‑to‑day operation of projects within the EIETL
- Ensure appropriate resources and provisions are in place
- Collaborate with the Architecture team on project definition and expectations
Fourth‑Year Projects
- Support and accommodate undergraduate project activities
- Provide advice and technical assistance to students as needed
- Maintain commonly used electronic components and equipment
- Process orders for student project parts