Maker Space & Machine Shop Supervisor

Love where you work! Put your machining expertise to work in our state-of-the-art fabrication facilities and inspire the next generation of engineers in our Duke Engineering Building. Discover our close-knit campus and find out what Pitt-Bradford has to offer you!

About the role

Pitt-Bradford is looking for a highly skilled, safety-focused machining professional to serve as our Maker Space & Machine Shop Supervisor. This is a hands-on leadership role at the heart of our $24.5M George B. Duke Engineering and Information Building — a position that demands deep technical knowledge of advanced fabrication equipment alongside the passion to mentor, support, and collaborate with students in our Maker Space.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the manager and resident expert for the engineering building’s Machine Shop, Maker Space, and Student Project Lab.
• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot advanced fabrication equipment including CNC and manual mills, lathes, welders, 3D printers, laser cutters, and plasma cutters.
• Enforce and continuously improve shop safety protocols in compliance with University, Environmental Health and Safety, and applicable federal/state regulations.
• Demonstrate equipment use and safe operating procedures for students, faculty, and staff.
• Mentor students in the Maker Space — helping them bring ideas to life through hands-on guidance and technical problem-solving.
• Open and close fabrication facilities and maintain a clean, organized, and orderly shop environment.
• Manage workflow, equipment maintenance schedules, inventory, and purchasing of consumables and tooling.
• Recruit, train, and supervise student workers who assist with shop operations.
• Develop and deliver training programs and workshop activities for students, faculty, and community members.
• Build partnerships with community organizations and local companies to create internship opportunities for students.
• Craft plans for additional programming and identify potential revenue streams for the fabrication space.

Requirements

• An associate’s degree with at least 7 years’ of hands-on machining and fabrication experience is required. Journeyman’s Machinist papers and relevant experience may be substituted for the education requirement.
• Ability to read technical drawings and a basic understanding of GD&T.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office/Google Suite.
• Strong working knowledge of 3D and 2D CAD software and CAM programming for CNC toolpaths is highly desirable.
• Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a genuine passion for working closely with a diverse student body, faculty, and staff.
• Previous supervisory or leadership experience is preferred.

Skills

Candidates must demonstrate proven, practical proficiency with the following equipment — not just familiarity:

• CNC and manual mills and lathes (operation, setup, and maintenance).
• Stick, MIG, and TIG welders; plasma cutters.
• FDM and SLA 3D printers.
• CO₂ laser cutters.
• Wood, plastic, sheet, and general metal fabrication tools.
• Soldering and basic electronics prototyping.
• Microcontroller programming (e.g., Arduino).
• Plaster, resin, and/or metal casting.

Extra attention will be paid to applicants who can demonstrate strong machining experience and equipment expertise through previous work examples or a portfolio.

Physical Effort

• Moderate physical effort required.
• May be required to stand/move for several hours at a time.
• May be required to move objects up to 50 pounds with or without assistance of equipment.

Benefits

• Robust retirement savings: Pitt matches 100% of eligible employee contributions between 3–8% of base salary. After three years, that match increases to 150% — one of the most competitive retirement benefits in higher education.
• Comprehensive health coverage: including group medical, life, vision, and dental insurance.
• Generous paid time off: including vacation, sick, and personal time.
• Education benefit: university-paid tuition for employee and dependents.

For more information visit https://www.hr.pitt.edu/benefits/health-welfare.

Pay

$68,000 - $75,000/yr.

Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; some nights and weekends.
• Full-time regular.