Human Resources

Summary

The position of Laboratory Instrumentation Technician in the Department of Physics supports the fabrication and design of scientific instruments for undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and faculty in both instructional and research activities. Additionally, the role includes responsibilities as the department's safety and property officer.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

• Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments.
  
• Fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools and maintain
  apparatus, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, material
  properties, layout, and machining and fabrication procedures.
  
• Advise on problem-solving solutions in manufacturing laboratory equipment and working in a self-supervised environment.
• Operation of fabrication machinery. Lathes, Mills, Saws, Drill Presses and T.I.G & M.I.G welders and oxy-acetylene torches
• Fabricate and repair research and instructional instrumentation from
  blueprints, sketches, or oral descriptions accurately and precisely.
  
• Design parts using C.A.D software.
  
• Order parts and materials as needed.
  
• Maintain shop inventory.
  
• Maintain shop financial records, construct cost estimates for job  requests, and produce financial reports for department supervisors.
  
• Maintain Machine Shop safety and housekeeping.
  
• Act as Department Safety Liaison and Property Manager. Maintain records and documentation consistent with MTU systems and requirements.
  
• Coordinate work with MTU Facilities and outside contractors for lab and
  department maintenance, building improvements, or moving heavy
  equipment.
  
• Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.
  
• Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

Two-year associate degree program in machining, or graduate of a machinist
trade’s school program.

Required Experience

• Four years of continuous full-time machine shop experience.
• Two years of welding experience: MIG, TIG. & OXY-Acetylene and soldering.
• Two years of experience in part design.
• One year of experience in producing cost estimates/quotes for part fabrication
work.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Four-year bachelor's degree program (BS or BA) in addition to the listed required education (minimum requirements).
• Four years of experience in designing, fabricating, and repairing research-grade scientific equipment.
• Two years of experience in all phases of machine-shop management: customer relations, inventory, training, and finance.
• Two years of experience in creating and maintaining safety procedures and SOP documentation.
• Two years of experience in facility management.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Excellent communication, customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to use web-based and MS Office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to follow instructions and perform work with minimum
supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain an organized, clean, and safe working
environment.
• Demonstrated ability to perform general maintenance tasks. The use of ladders will be required to perform some of these tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to perform a variety of machining operations to extremely close tolerances using lathes, milling machines, grinders, drill presses, highly specialized tools, and other shop equipment with minimum supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to set-up, adjust, and operate Computerized Numerically
Controlled machine tools.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, layout, and perform machine tool and bench
operations using unusual and difficult set-ups and machining methods.
• Demonstrated ability to perform fitting and assembly operations to extremely
close tolerances.
• Demonstrated ability to inspect work; detect errors in drawings, operations,
and defects in parts or materials.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and perform metal and plastic fabrications work such as beveling, cutting, rolling, seaming, soldering, and brazing. Perform ceramic grinding on many types of experimental ceramics.
• Demonstrated ability to perform finishing operations such as grinding, buffing,
polishing, hardening, coating, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to use and learn CAD programs for precision design and
fabrication of parts.
• Demonstrated ability to perform finishing operations such as grinding, buffing,
polishing, hardening, coating, etc.
• Experience in standard harnessing and rigging for moving heavy loads (2 tons).
• Experience working with vacuum and research grade high vacuum systems.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 3 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:
• Employee Safety Overview
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Data Security Training

Background Check:
Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Other Conditions of Employment:

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

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FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Rate/Salary

The minimum salary for this position is $60,000. The final salary will depend on experience and qualifications.

Title of Position Supervisor

Department Lab Coordinator

Posting Type

Dependent on Funding