INSTRUCTIONAL ENGINEER

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

POSITION PURPOSE

The A&A instructional engineer is responsible for supporting the A&A Department teaching laboratories. These laboratories require upgrades, development of experimental equipment, coordination with faculty and teaching assistants, and scheduling and maintaining operations of the laboratories. Facilities include general undergraduate laboratories (including electronic equipment), wind tunnel, and structural testing equipment. The instructional engineer will be responsible for inventory of instructional laboratories, maintenance, safety, proper storage of equipment and supplies, documentation and tools belonging to the laboratories.

The person in this position must possess modern laboratory and computer-related skills to be able to create and integrate data acquisition systems and unique new sensors with the demands of evolving technology, possess a strong mechanical aptitude, and the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects.

This position has primary responsibility for Instructional lab administration and supervision. The position responsibilities may extend to supervising the AA Machine shop and Composite Lab as needed. This position reports to the Departmental Facilities Manager.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Instructional Lab Research

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. As needed, prepare instructional information (from paper format to more technology-based formats now) for students.

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 use of departmental equipment. This may also include modifying equipment to meet the research needs.

Work with A&A staff and faculty to supply any needed test specimens or other machined parts in support of undergraduate labs.

Regular review and implement best practices in manufacturing and lab operations.

Install, repair, modify and maintain the 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

Complete model evaluations prior to testing

Safety training for groups who use the 3x3

Support wind tunnel testing in the 3x3 as needed

Answer emails in shared account regarding wind tunnel questions

Consult with student groups regarding projects in the 3x3

Help with KWT testing as a back up.

Perform regular cleaning and maintenance under the direction of the wind tunnel manager as needed

Facilities & Safety

Follow-up with Facilities Services to ensure that work is complete, accurate, and timely.

Assist with the coordination of facility shutdown and communicate information in a timely manner to the appropriate people.

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.

In partnership with the Facilities Manager, maintain the User Policies manual: compliance with recharge center and evolving EH&S safety policies. Keep up-to-date instructional videos for existing and new lab experiments.

Manage work orders with UW Facility Services for space modification & maintenance.

Assist research groups with waste disposal as needed.

In concert with the A&A Safety Committee, implement and enforce safety procedures and accident prevention programs for A&A facilities and personnel.

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 the Laboratory Personal Protective Equipment Hazard Assessment is in place for each lab and that lab personnel have copies.

Supervise RSO, Senior Capstone, Junior lab, and other student project teams in basic and advanced manufacturing practices.

Other duties as assigned.

Provide lab onboarding training: administer an onboarding series for team and club leadership, which includes training in safety and technical resources.

Equipment

Perform monthly testing of lab equipment to ensure that they are functioning properly.

Assist the facilities manager with ensuring that all equipment for research and instruction are tagged with a UW Property sticker and entered into the UW's inventory system.

Perform regular testing of the equipment to ensure that they are functioning properly.

Make recommendations for new equipment.

Coordinate equipment procurement and installation for new instructional experiments.

Process improvement and Research Design Consultation

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, this may include but is not limited to making recommendations about future purchases, providing procedures and/or training to students, providing feedback on the feasibility of student requests and collaborating with the facilities manager to onboard new faculty to resources available to support their courses.

Participate in project teams which may include the facilities manager, administrator, and others within the department or external to the department to update and streamline the facilities resources available to students to complete their coursework and/or enhance their extracurricular activities.

Document and organize procedures for facilities

Serve as back up building coordinator

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's degree in engineering or scientific discipline.

1 year experience as an engineering technician or related experience.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Basic machining skills.

Knowledge of and hands on experience with data acquisition.

Understands 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

Attention to detail

Ability to manage multiple projects while meeting firm deadlines

Ability to monitor and enforce safety protocols

DESIRED 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.

Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select "Apply to this position". Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your "My Jobs" page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at or

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.