Research Laboratory Mechanic (NEAT)

Responsibilities

• Maintain, troubleshoot, repair, and optimize research hardware and mechanical systems or equipment.
• Create value for the facility by performing preventative and corrective maintenance leading to increased uptime and reliability.
• Operate facility overhead crane, man-lifts, forklifts, and portable cranes.
• Provide rigging for lifting equipment and material, including lifting straps, chain hoists, and other lifting devices.
• Weld horizontally, overhead, and vertically using oxy-acetylene, AC-DC electric arc, M.I.G., and T.I.G. using a variety of material including stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, copper, brass, etc.
• Operate machine tools such as a drill press, power hacksaw, band saw, shears, pipe threaders, brakes, rollers, lathes, mills, and grinders.
• Operate small power tools including air wrenches, drills, grinders, etc.
• Lay out and build complex tubing systems using flaring machines and tubing benders.
• Disassemble, remove, repair, reassemble, and verify various types of valves, and pressure regulators.
• Operate hydraulic systems, high-pressure gas systems including gas tubers, pressure reduction stations, pressure pumps, and seals, etc.
• Work with and be required to have a basic understanding of environmental test chambers, mass spectrometer leak detectors, and vacuum systems.
• Assist in the installation and operation of intricate research test packages in various test facilities.
• Fabricate, install, operate, and maintain mechanical control test panels, and special test equipment.
• Operate, maintain, and calibrate leak detection systems.
• Perform general maintenance on mechanical vacuum pumping equipment, diffusion pumps, cryo-pumps, steam ejector systems, heat exchangers, and cryogenic systems.
• Perform inspection and evaluation of mechanical equipment and facility operating systems. Make recommendations related to maintenance and repair of same.
• Fabricate, install, and operate cryogenic systems including liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen, or liquid helium.

Requirements

• A minimum of 4 years working experience as a Journeyman Level Mechanic such as a Maintenance Mechanic or Machine Repair Technician.
• Completion of a 4-year State approved apprenticeship program with a Journeyman’s certificate highly desired or have equivalent vocational school training with sufficient combined work experience and skills.

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of the operation and maintenance of research test facilities and associated equipment.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions from engineering or supervision.
• Ability to use own judgment and decisions to allow continuity of workflow.
• Self-motivated and a team player with good interpersonal and communication skills.