Electronics Shop Manager

Job Description

Job Summary:

The Electronics Shop Manager provides advanced technical expertise in support of the research and teaching mission of the SEAS/Physics Electronics Shop shared by the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and the Department of Physics within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). This position serves as a key partner to faculty, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and students engaged in experimental research requiring custom electronic instrumentation, rapid prototyping, system integration, and specialized technical problem-solving.

The role is primarily technical and researcher-facing, with responsibility for consulting on, designing, fabricating, testing, troubleshooting, and refining custom electronic systems and instrumentation for a wide range of research applications. The Electronics Shop Manager also provides operational oversight for shop resources, including equipment, workflows, safety practices, inventory, budget support, and technical documentation.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Research Collaboration and Technical Consultation

• Provide advanced engineering consultation and hands-on technical support to faculty, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and students developing or modifying custom electronic instrumentation for research and instructional use.
• Collaborate with researchers to translate scientific and experimental requirements into practical engineering solutions, including development of prototypes, subsystems, and fully integrated instruments.
• Advise researchers on best practices in instrumentation design, signal integrity, grounding, shielding, noise reduction, measurement reliability, and maintainability.
• Support a broad range of experimental and instructional applications across SEAS, Physics, and other Harvard units.

Instrumentation Design, Fabrication, and Technical Execution

• Design, fabricate, assemble, test, troubleshoot, and refine custom electronic systems, often on accelerated timelines, in support of active research programs.
• Support instrumentation needs across a broad range of applications, including analog, digital, mixed-signal, embedded, sensing, and RF/microwave systems, as appropriate to project requirements.
• Develop and review schematics, PCB layouts, wiring diagrams, interface specifications, and related technical documentation.
• Program, configure, and troubleshoot microcontrollers, embedded systems, FPGA-based platforms, and associated hardware/software interfaces used in research instrumentation and control systems.
• Integrate commercial instruments, sensors, actuators, and data acquisition systems into custom experimental platforms.
• Perform diagnostic testing, failure analysis, debugging, repair, and iterative refinement of custom and existing instrumentation to ensure continuity of research operations.

Training, Mentorship, and User Support

• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff in the safe and effective design, fabrication, testing, and use of electronic systems and shop equipment.
• Lead or support safety training and orientation for shop users, including faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students.
• Provide guidance to users on the proper use of shop resources, tools, and instrumentation, promoting sound engineering practice and safe operation.

Shop Operations and Strategic Planning

• Manage day-to-day operations of the Electronics Shop, including prioritization of requests, coordination of workflows, and support of multiple concurrent projects.
• Develop recommendations for short- and long-term enhancements to shop capabilities, including acquisition of capital equipment, software, tools, and other technical resources.
• Oversee maintenance, calibration, and readiness of shop equipment, test instruments, and fabrication tools.
• Manage inventory of electronic components, consumables, and supplies; support purchasing and budget planning for shop operations.
• Establish and maintain shop procedures, technical documentation, and standard operating practices to support high-quality, safe, and reproducible work.

Safety, Compliance, and Shop Stewardship

• Partner with the Director of the SEAS Safety Program and Environmental Health and Safety to help maintain a safe, compliant, and well-managed shop. Stay up-to-date on, follow, and ensure compliance with University policies, procedures, and applicable legal rules and regulations.
• Prepare shop and related documentation for audits, inspections, and other compliance reviews.
• Promote a culture of safety, technical rigor, and responsible shop practice in all aspects of operations and researcher support.  

Perform other duties as required.

Working Conditions:

The work is performed in an electronics shop environment with occasional exposure to high voltage equipment.  Safety glasses are required and will be provided. 

Physical Requirements:

There are no significant physical demands of the position, beyond the ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.  

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field required.
• Minimum of eight years of relevant experience in an electronics laboratory, instrumentation development environment, research engineering setting, or similar technical role.
• Demonstrated experience with designing, building, testing, and troubleshooting custom electronic instrumentation.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Portfolio or documented record of successful electronic instrument, system, or prototype designs required.
• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field preferred.
• Broad electrical engineering background, with demonstrated ability to apply sound engineering judgment in a research environment and quickly develop expertise in new technical areas as needed.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and shifting priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with faculty, researchers, students, and staff across disciplines and levels of technical expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively in a service-oriented research support environment.
• Experience in an academic, university, or research laboratory setting strongly preferred.

Preferred technical experience includes:

• Analog circuit design, including discrete and integrated implementations across a wide range of voltage, current, and frequency conditions
• Low-noise, precision, and measurement-sensitive design
• Mixed-signal systems
• Sensor integration, including optical, temperature, displacement, and related scientific sensing applications
• RF and microwave techniques
• PCB design, layout, fabrication, and instrument enclosure development
• FPGA programming
• Microcontroller programming and embedded systems design
• Soldering, rework, wiring, and electronics fabrication
• Proficiency with laboratory instrumentation such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, noise analyzers, and related test equipment

Additional Information

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity and Education
• Other Information:
  • Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to be considered for this position. If available, please upload a portfolio of instrument, system or prototype designs. 

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 059. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.

Salary Grade: 059