Instructional Engineer

About the Role

Reporting to the facilities manager, the instructional engineer is primarily responsible for instructional lab administration and supervision. The position may also extend to supervising the AA Machine Shop and Composite Lab as needed.

Responsibilities

• Instructional Lab Research Support (75%)
  • Participate in laboratory curriculum development: work with faculty to create new experiments, consult on all aspects of the design, construction, and implementation of the experiment, then instruct and train TAs on how to proceed with the experiment and ensure that the apparatus is operating correctly.
  • Prepare instructional information (from paper format to more technology-based formats) for students as needed.
  • Consult on instructional-based research projects with students and instructors, including defining the scope of work, research methods, and implementation of equipment to support the research objectives.
  • Train students and instructors on the use of departmental equipment, including modifying equipment to meet research needs.
  • Work with A&A staff and faculty to supply any needed test specimens or other machined parts in support of undergraduate labs.
  • Regularly review and implement best practices in manufacturing and lab operations.
  • Install, repair, modify, and maintain instructional and research lab equipment.
  • Design or modify instrumentation.
  • Participate in drop-in or by-appointment office hours for students to get feedback on the feasibility of their projects based on current departmental resources.
• Wind Tunnel Support (15%)
  • Complete model evaluations prior to testing.
  • Provide safety training for groups who use the 3x3 wind tunnel.
  • Support wind tunnel testing in the 3x3 as needed.
  • Answer emails in the shared account regarding wind tunnel questions.
  • Consult with student groups regarding projects in the 3x3.
  • Assist with KWT testing as a backup.
  • Perform regular cleaning and maintenance under the direction of the wind tunnel manager as needed.
• Facilities & Safety (5%)
  • Follow up with Facilities Services to ensure that work is complete, accurate, and timely.
  • Enforce laboratory safety compliance: modify or maintain Machine Shop orientation, maintain safety training materials for users.
  • Ensure compliance of new shared departmental labs with evolving EH&S (Environmental Health and Safety) lab safety standards.
  • Maintain the User Policies manual in partnership with the Facilities Manager, ensuring compliance with recharge center and evolving EH&S safety policies.
  • Keep instructional videos for existing and new lab experiments up to date.
  • Assist research groups with waste disposal as needed.
  • Implement and enforce safety procedures and accident prevention programs for A&A facilities and personnel in concert with the A&A Safety Committee.
  • Identify EH&S safety classes that should be attended by lab personnel; verify attendance for new students, staff, and faculty as they join the shop.
  • Ensure that all required EH&S laboratory safety documentation—including PPE Assessments, Risk Assessments, Standard Operating Procedures, and Training Records—are up to date and in place for each lab.
  • Supervise RSO, Senior Capstone, Junior lab, and other student project teams in basic and advanced manufacturing practices.
  • Provide lab onboarding training: administer an onboarding series for team and club leadership, including training in safety and technical resources.
  • Perform routine testing of lab equipment to ensure proper functionality.
  • Make recommendations for new equipment.
  • Coordinate equipment procurement and installation for new instructional experiments.
  • Set up equipment for student lab experiments and verify they are operational.
  • Purchase replacements for consumables and/or damaged items.
• Process Improvement and Research Design Consultation (5%)
  • Serve in collaboration with the Facilities Manager as a point of contact for students to identify resources within the department to complete their course and extracurricular (RSO’s) projects.
  • Partner with classroom instructors to identify and support departmental facility resources to support academic labs, including making recommendations about future purchases, providing procedures and/or training to students, and providing feedback on the feasibility of student requests.
  • Collaborate with the facilities manager to onboard new faculty to resources available to support their courses.
  • Participate in project teams—including the facilities manager, administrator, and others within or external to the department—to update and streamline facilities resources available to students for coursework and extracurricular activities.
  • Document and organize procedures for facilities.
• Other Duties
  • Serve as backup building coordinator.

Requirements

• Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering or scientific discipline and one year of experience as an engineering technician or related experience.
• Additional Qualifications
  • Basic machining skills.
  • Knowledge of and hands-on experience with data acquisition.
  • Understanding of fundamentals of and experience with computer programming.
  • Excellent troubleshooting skills.
  • Effective written and oral communication skills.
  • Effective interpersonal and group student mentoring skills.
  • Attention to detail and good organizational skills.
  • Flexibility and motivation to learn new skills and techniques.
  • Hands-on experience with electronics, circuits, and soldering.
  • Hands-on experience preparing and assembling electro-mechanical designs.
  • Hands-on experience with fabrication equipment.
  • Hands-on experience with 3D CAD modeling and program debugging.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects while meeting firm deadlines.
  • Ability to monitor and enforce safety protocols.
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Knowledge of and hands-on experience with additive manufacturing.
  • Knowledge of and hands-on experience with CNC machining.
  • Experience with equipment maintenance.
  • Experience with and specific knowledge of composite manufacturing and/or mechanical testing.

Pay

Pay Range: $56,448.00 – $93,180.00 annual

Schedule

First Shift (United States of America). This is a regular, full-time (100% FTE) position.

Benefits

For information about benefits for this position, visit UW Staff Benefits.