Lab Instrumentation Specialist Senior - Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia

Posted in Education and Training


This job has expired.

Job Info


Description

West Virginia University Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources is currently accepting applications for a Lab Instrumentation Specialist Senior.

This is a highly skilled technical position in an advanced precision scientific machine shop. The shop’s primary mission is to design, construct, assemble and operate scientific instrumentation and apparatus used in research and instructional laboratories for the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE).  Examples of tasks include interpreting technical drawings, precision machining using various mills and lathes, vacuum pump repair, advanced welding, maintenance of liquid nitrogen fill stations, gas cylinders, training faculty and students in the safe use of shop facilities, exercising a knowledge of a wide variety of metals and other materials, maintaining and caring for shop equipment and purchasing and inventory control of tools and materials.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including: 

  • 37.5-hour work week
  • 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar) 
  • 15 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave) 
  • 18 sick days per year  
    (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof) 
  • WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits  
  • 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s. 
  • Wellness programs 
Pay Grade: 17

What you'll do: 
  • Machining:
    • Fabrication of precision components, both small and large scale from a variety of raw materials using horizontal and vertical milling machines (CNC), lathes, drill presses, precision saws, etc.
    • Modification and assembly of existing precision components to form operational scientific instruments and systems.  Requires an understanding of the basic physical properties of a large variety of advanced materials including their mechanical strength, thermal and electrical characteristics.  
    • Shearing, bending, roll forming various types of sheet metal.  Cutting, notching, bending and forming of angle iron.  
    • Machine components to extremely close tolerances and use a computer to create files for the CNC mill.  
    • Dispose of chemicals according to EHS.  
    • Produce, modify and archive technical drawings associated with shop projects.  Nearly all jobs are one-of-a-kind and considerable machining skill is needed to interpret customer drawings and fabrication needs.  Advise in design of scientific apparatus for use by students and faculty. 
  • Welding:
    • Heliarc (TIG) welding of stainless steel, copper, aluminum, as well as various types of exotic steels, and other metal alloys.  Also gas welding (acetylene-oxygen), electric welding (stick), GMAW MIG welding, spot welding (machine), soldering, sand blasting, and plasma arc cutting.  
  • Training, Maintenance and Safety:
    • Provides training and instruction to faculty, postdoctoral fellows, undergraduate students, and graduate students in the proper use of mills, lathes, drill presses, band saws and other shop tools.  Responsible for training, assigning duties, reviewing work, and evaluating performance of hourly student workers.  
    • Maintains shop equipment in working order for advanced service.  Maintains and cleans shop equipment and work areas.  Provides trouble shooting, repair service, maintenance, and upgrades on scientific instruments and apparatus located in research laboratories and classrooms.
    • Responsible for purchase of new shop tools and machines.  Assures supplies are stocked and common repair parts available.
    • Responsible for ensuring shop equipment is properly used, serviced and repaired.  Keeps self and other working in the shop aware of new materials, machines, tools and techniques as they become available.
    • Responsible for adhering to the shop specific Chemical Hygiene plan, procedures and training.
    • Assist in the inventory of chemicals, disposal, distribution, and waste collection.
    • Assist in the purchasing of new equipment, tools, parts, and supplies.
    • Assist in the purchase, control, movement and dispensing of gasses and cryogenic fluids.
    • Operate and repair basic vacuum systems.
  • Design:
    • The incumbent is responsible for the design of a large array of scientific instrumentation for scientific research and instructional purposes.  Design requests for faculty, postdoctoral research assistants, and graduate students are conveyed to the incumbent in a very rudimentary manner (oral instructions or sketches).  The incumbent must recommend materials, provide faculty with design options to suit the described function, prepare project budgets based on design options, and provide drawings and specifications.  Requires work in CAD/CAM programs.
    • Advise the faculty on the construction, operation, repair and purchase of various instruments and supplies.
  • Carpentry:
  • Fabrication of large- and small-scale components and finished products, such as equipment support structures, mounting devices, specialty furniture, presentation quality display cases, etc. from a variety of raw materials using band saws, joiners, wood lathes, radial arm saws, table saws, routers, etc., from verbal and written requests (from often not to scale drawings or descriptions of function).
  • Modification and assembly of existing equipment to supplement or enhance the operation of scientific instruments and systems, requiring the basic physical properties and characteristics of a large variety of materials such as woods, synthetic materials, laminates, and Plexiglass.
  • Repair handles, hasps, drawers, door, etc. in research and teaching laboratories.
  • Apply sealants and finishes to completed products, often requiring match to existing stain used in highly public and high visibility areas (displays and awards).
  • All jobs are unique and considerable precision in carpentry detail is required to interpret customer drawings, description, intended use, etc. to determine fabrication needs and produce desired designs and results.


Qualifications

  • Associate's Degree in Industrial Design or related field or an equivalent combination of directly related work experience
  • A mimium of two (2) years experience in the following:
    • Woodworking, instrumentation and apparatus design, instrumentation development, welding, mechanical systems and maintenance, and machining.
  • Demonstrate ability to safely perform a variety of precision tasks using milling machines, lathes, welding equipment, saws, grinders, hand tools, welding (steel and aluminum), etc. and be familiar with the operation of a plasma torch.
  • Demonstrate ability to make precision measurements using instruments such as micrometers, Vernier calipers, and scales. Program and operated CNC Mill as well as older model precision machines.
  • Demonstrate ability to perform mathematical calculations when designing individual jobs.
  • Knowledge of and ability to learn to interpret technical drawings.
  • Knowledge of and ability to operate a desktop computer and use computer aided design (CAD/CAM) software.
  • Demonstrate ability to operate and repair basic vacuum systems.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the physical properties of a wide variety of metals, plastics, wood, etc. and must be able to machine them safely.
  • Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
  • Ability to set priorities, multitask, and work independently.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of basic AC and DC power electronics.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience in plumbing, electrical and sheet metal working is preferred


About WVU

  • Valid driver's license
  • Certification in welding, design, mechanical systems, or machining preferred.


This job has expired.

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