This occupation is found in a wide range of employers. The employers will typically operate in chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, formulated products or analytical services. Employers can range in size, from large multinational organisations through to smaller businesses. Technician scientists may operate within a science department of a larger organisation or within a smaller science focussed business that provides science services. Technician scientists are typically laboratory-based.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to carry out established laboratory based investigations and scientific experimentation using bench and instrumentation techniques. A technician scientist will apply a range of skills and follow well established principles associated with their organisation’s science and technology. They carry out routine lines of enquiry, development or investigation. They collect scientific information and analyse, interpret and evaluate data. They prepare results and provide progress updates of their work.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wider scientific team, which may include laboratory scientists and laboratory technicians. They communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for the quality of the work they undertake. They operate in settings where there is certainty and limited ambiguity. They take personal responsibility for decision making in predictable contexts. They work safely and ethically often under highly regulated conditions because of the need to control quality and safety of scientific products. They critically evaluate appropriateness of commonly used approaches to solve science problems, using a range of approaches to formulate evidence based responses to defined and routine problems and issues within their area of work. They contribute to solutions to problems within the wider scientific team, using appropriate project management procedures. They perform record keeping and checks and use data capture systems relevant to the technical and scientific procedures that they use. They use their awareness of any research interests and the technical context and processes of the laboratory alongside senior team members to contribute to the proposal of new scientific ideas. They may manage resources within a clearly defined area.

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