Job no: 507029
Work type: Staff Full Time
Location: UMass Amherst
Department: Elect & Computer Engineering
Union: USA/MTA
Categories: Laboratory & Research

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

Manage undergraduate laboratories in analog/digital electronics and embedded systems including equipment maintenance, parts inventory control and providing assistance to faculty and students in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). Assist department with health and safety measures and oversee department package receiving for research and instruction.

Essential Functions

Circuits, Electronics and Project Labs: Primary management responsibility for instructional labs: ECE 210 (Circuits and Electronics I), ECE 310 (Circuits and Electronics II), ECE 304 (Junior Design Project) and ECE 415/416 (Senior Design Project) including:

• Maintaining spare parts inventories for instructional labs.
• Ordering equipment for instructional labs, in consultation with faculty, as needed for replacement and additions.
• Assisting TA’s in setting up instructional labs by providing necessary parts, ensuring functional and calibrated signal generators, scopes, breadboards, etc.…., and by demonstrating proper use of equipment.
• Conducting soldering instruction class for students in ECE 210 each semester.
• Providing electronics parts, equipment and assistance to ECE faculty, staff and students involved in instructional and research labs.
• Maintaining a current detailed inventory of all ECE electronics equipment in sophomore, junior, and senior electronics labs, reporting missing or defective items to the ECE Department Head.
• Providing a general supply for the ECE Department of ICs. transistors, resistors, capacitors, etc.…, as storage space and budget permits, for use by faculty and students.
• For ECE 304, 415 and 416, ordering equipment and supplies for approximately 100 students organized into design teams using OneCard, tracking records and providing account documentation. Picking up supplies from local sources as needed and assigning lab benches to student teams.
• Coordinate Senior Design Project demonstration event. Facilitate all required logistics for a two-day event.

Semiconductor Instructional Processing Lab (SIPL): Primary management responsibility for SIPL, the instructional clean room supporting ECE 571(Microelectronic Fabrication) including:

• Preparing SIPL equipment for student use on each lab day.
• Providing timely supply of expendables (photolithography processing chemicals, lab clothing, wafers, etc.…) for use in the SIPL. Stay informed of latest trends and requirements for management of chemicals used in research projects.
• Maintaining all equipment in the SIPL.
• Providing assistance to SIPL TAs and students by demonstrating proper use of SIPL equipment, safety procedures, etc.
• Overseeing operation of the SIPL Clean Room including scheduling of clean room usage and performing all aspects of laboratory technical support for the users of the clean room.
• Working with EH&S staff to coordinate safe disposal of hazardous materials, communicate with Intermediate Processing Facility staff to coordinate recycling of unneeded supplies and equipment.
• Communicating with faculty, staff, EH&S regarding safety precautions for use of the clean room. Ensure all users complete required laboratory safety training.

Departmental Duties: Maintaining security of the labs and associated equipment (code changes of room locks, physical locks and cabling of PCs, etc.

• Assisting the preparation and coordination of annual events.

Other Functions

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Equivalent of High School Diploma. Proven experience with circuits, electronics, and semiconductors.
• At least two years of Technical School and 3 years of work experience.
• Knowledge of fundamental principles of and skills in troubleshooting and prototyping analog/digital electronics and embedded systems.
• Skill in designing and fabricating printed circuit boards.
• Knowledge of the tools, testing, equipment, materials, standard practices, codes and laws that apply to the field for electronics testing.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions that pertain to electronic equipment testing.
• Ability to work with various software operating systems such as Windows OS, Mac OS and Linux.
• Ability to work with basic software apps on both local and cloud platforms such as Microsoft Word; Excel; PowerPoint and Docs; Sheets; Slides.
• Knowledge of basic scripting languages such as Python or Matlab.
• Ability to read and interpret sketches, specifications, technical literature and written and oral instruction.
• Ability to accurately maintain equipment inventory.
• Ability to work cooperatively with a heterogeneous public of faculty, students, and other staff.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical Lab/Office Environment
• This job has potential hazards due to exposure to toxic gases and chemicals including acids, corrosive substances and flammable substances.

Work Schedule

Monday- Friday 8:00am – 4:30 pm

Salary Information

Grade 16- USA/MTA Position

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include with your application, a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: Jan 7 2021 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: