Engineering Laboratory Coordinator

Job Title:

Engineering Laboratory Coordinator

Job Summary:

The University of San Francisco College of Arts and Sciences seeks candidates for the position of Engineering Laboratory Coordinator. The successful candidate will become part of the team supporting a young Engineering department and the Innovation Hive fabrication spaces at USF. Working closely with and supporting the Director of Engineering Laboratories, faculty, and staff in Engineering and other departments in the College, the successful candidate will support a hands-on educational environment, assisting in the set up of demonstrations and projects, supporting faculty in project-based courses, running trainings for students and faculty from across the university, maintaining safety protocols, training student workers, and working with students in the labs of the Innovation Hive.

The Innovation Hive (campus makerspace and woodshop), open to the entire USF community, provides a supportive environment and facilities to gain hands-on experience, learn from creative risks, and make things. The Hive houses equipment and space to help people learn through making, collaborate across disciplines, develop resourcefulness, and create solutions to real-world problems that have meaningful impact.

The Engineering department at USF is committed to graduating a diverse population of engineers who are capable of meeting the rapidly changing needs of the 21st century using humane, ethical, and innovative solutions. Through an educational program that uses project-based learning and community engagement, and is fully immersed in a Jesuit liberal arts education, we will set our graduates on professional trajectories at the frontiers of engineering with an eye toward social justice.

We are looking for an individual with a passion for working with students in a hands-on environment, who is excited by the prospect of being part of the development of a young and evolving Engineering department, and who is enthusiastic about working with students and faculty from across the university. Experience supporting courses at multiple levels of undergraduate engineering curricula is desirable. As a representative of the Innovation Hive, this person will also support curriculum from a variety of programs seeking to incorporate project-based education into parts of their curriculum. Candidates should also have a strong, demonstrable commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence.

Full Job Description:

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Director of Engineering Laboratories and members of the Engineering Department to support engineering classes and associated labs. 
• Support faculty during the academic year in setting up demonstrations, laboratory courses, projects, and cutting edge teaching environments representing current best practices in STEM education.
• Implement safety protocols in fabrication spaces and laboratories, including student project areas. 
• Lead workshops on the use of equipment, software, and other skills needed to safely and effectively use Innovation Hive resources.
• Maintain Hive Canvas course site with up-to-date material and equipment instructions.
• Monitor teaching laboratory and project-related budgets and be responsible for inventory, material procurement, and engineering equipment in Chemistry and Physics labs. 
• Prepare, assemble, disassemble, inventory, and procure materials and equipment to support Engineering laboratories and project-based courses, including existing and newly developed courses as the Engineering program evolves. Current courses include, but are not limited to ENGR 110, 210, 234L, 242, 244, 262L, 264L, 310, 362L, 364L, 410, and 411. 
• Oversee the organization of various teaching laboratories and prep rooms, including routine cleaning.
• Coordinate the submission of purchase requisitions for laboratory supplies across lab sections.
• Maintain an inventory of chemicals, general supplies, laboratory equipment, etc. used in teaching laboratories.
• Update standard operating procedures for equipment and material handling to ensure safe and efficient use of tools and space.
• Assist in maintenance and repair of laboratory equipment and instrumentation.
• Acquire supplies through a purchasing system.
• Material handling of chemicals such as dry ice or strong acids and bases.
• Generate and continually update detailed lab prep notes so that in their absence, someone else could comfortably set up and prepare each of the labs.
• Train and supervise student workers to assist in duties outlined above.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Director of Engineering Labs, Associate Dean of Science, or designee.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, physics, environmental science, engineering, or related field.
• Must have a valid California state driver’s license.
• Must be able to carry and lift 50lbs from floor to lab table.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to work in partnership with other staff and faculty.
• Strong organizational and budget management skills, and able to work in diverse situations with demanding deadlines. Able to work efficiently and calmly under pressure.
• Skill with computers; including file handling, spreadsheets, design software, and word processing software.
• Strong time and project management skills.
• Must demonstrate a strong equity lens, cultural humility, and proven ability to work well in a diverse context.
• Commitment to the university’s mission, vision, and values.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Familiarity with all or many of the following families of hand and powered equipment: general wood-working tools, saws and mills; metal working, welding; CNC mills and routers; 3D printers, laser-cutters, vinyl cutters, sewing machines, soldering irons; painting, gluing, finishing; materials testing machines.
• Familiarity with best safety practices and OSHA regulations.
• Knowledge of and skill in independent preparation of laboratory reagents and solutions.
• Experience with soldering, circuit design,  multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies etc
• Familiarity with electronics, embedded systems, microcontrollers, sensors, and physical computing.
• Familiarity with CAD/CAM design and workflow: Fusion, Revit, Rhino, VCarve. 
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite.
• Familiarity with emerging fabrication technologies and willingness to learn new tools quickly. 
• Ability to develop, document, and improve laboratory systems and workflows. 
• Experience developing SOPs, safety training and checklists, training systems,  equipment documentation, and maintenance schedules.
• Experience with digital inventory, asset tracking, scheduling, access control, or laboratory management systems.
• Ability to design and adapt laboratory activities, tools, workspaces, and instructional materials to support students with varied physical, technical, and learning needs.
• Familiarity with universal design principles in hands-on learning environments.
• Knowledge of sustainable fabrication practices, material selection, reuse, recycling, and responsible material disposal. 

We do not expect applicants to check all the boxes on this list. If you possess a strong foundation in a particular fabrication workflow such as drafting then fabricating with a 3D printer, working with students to develop their projects, and a genuine enthusiasm for learning the rest, we encourage you to apply. If you resonate with this role and bring transferable skills, we’d love to hear from you.

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full time

Pay Rate:

Salary

Salary Range :

$72,500 - $77,500 annualized; commensurate with experience