Requisition Number:

38928Location:

Boulder, Colorado Employment Type:

University StaffSchedule:

Full-TimePosting Close Date:

19-May-2022Date Posted:

02-May-2022 Close All Job Summary

CU Engineering encourages applicants for the Mechanical Lab Engineer position! The Mechanical Engineering (ME) Lab Engineer is a student-facing technical engineering lead position in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Applied Science. This position supervises the Mechanical Engineering Labs located in the Idea Forge, a flexible, cross-disciplinary engineering student project space with special focus on student-led design initiatives and close partnerships with industry.

This position provides engineering instruction and crafts customizable testing and data acquisition solutions for mechanical engineering course project needs. This position has technical, operational, budgetary, and decision-making oversight for the operations of the ME Labs in the Idea Forge. Additionally, this position sets lab policies, hires and trains student lab support staff, and is responsible for daily operations within the lab. Equipment overseen includes, but is not limited to, measurement and testing equipment (e.g. vibration, hardness, and strength testing, etc.) and data acquisition hardware and software (e.g. National Instruments data acquisition systems or similar, Matlab, Simulink or similar, Arduino, etc.).

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Who We Are

The Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering is pioneering scientific breakthroughs, launching innovative technologies and educating creative engineers that will solve today's societal challenges by improving human health, enabling security and promoting sustainability.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Testing & Data-Acquisition Support

• Designs, supports, solves problems, and continuously improves testing and data-acquisition hardware and software for mechanical engineering course-related demos and projects.
• Provides on-demand assistance to students and instructor users who experience difficulty with testing and data acquisition equipment or software.
• Uses industry contacts and independent research to continuously create learning and technological opportunities for CU engineering students, ensuring that students have modern, robust technology at their disposal.
• Provides informal instruction of various testing platforms as needed per student project (e.g. LabVIEW, Simulink or similar, Arduino or similar, desktop instrumentation, sensors; and principles of digital data acquisition and measurement).

Academic Support

• Coordinates ME Lab (Sr. Design Studio, Drop-In Design Laboratory, Grad Design Studios) spaces (over 10,000 sq ft) for various mechanical engineering courses (e.g. CAD, Component Design, Measurements, System Dynamics, Manufacturing Processes and Systems, Senior Design, and Graduate Design) and associated course lab activities.
• Collaborates with course instructors and TAs to assess and meet Mechanical Engineering Lab user needs relative to course learning objectives.
• Provides excellent support to faculty, students, and staff and cultivates an atmosphere of helpfulness, responsiveness, respect, flexibility, and courtesy to facilitate coursework and student learning.
• Resolves ambitious demands from instructors, TAs, students, and the ME Department in a respectful, resourceful manner.
• Communicates clearly and optimally, promoting good working relationships within a team environment.

Student Support

• Provides just-in-time instructing to build customized solutions for student projects, often in the form of informal advising and troubleshooting sessions.
• Models best-practice approaches for the identification of testing equipment and execution of test procedures based on students’ project goals.
• Assists students in designing engineering experiments and offers relevant suggestions and support for the accurate interpretation and analysis of the results attained.
• Assists in the assessment of the quality of student test data to ensure it is most appropriate for their design process.
• Advises students on proper safety procedures and plans (e.g. PPE, MSDS, etc.)
• Reviews test plans and helps students translate their plans to repeatable test setups.

Mechanical Engineering Technology Maintenance

• Installs, tests, and fixes measurement/DAQ hardware and software.
• Identifies, solves problems, and performs all equipment repairs and/or contacts the appropriate technical support and repair services.
• Maintains system documentation for Mechanical Engineering Lab equipment (e.g., hardness tester, shock tower) and software. Documentation should describe lab equipment use and be updated to reflect system changes as they occur.
• Performs regular safety and maintenance reviews for Mechanical Engineering Lab equipment.
• Resolves operational procedures for equipment use.

Lab Leadership & Oversight

• Supervises the Mechanical Engineering Lab (Senior Design Studio, Drop-In Design Laboratory, Graduate Design Studios) spaces by establishing lab processes, safety protocols, use of space, and general upkeep practices.
• Hires and supervises student employees within the Mechanical Engineering Labs to support user needs.
• Is responsible for lab annual budget by resolving equipment needs and priorities as well as maintaining regular stock of lab tooling for student and course project use.
• Evaluates the effectiveness and appropriateness of Mechanical Engineering Lab hardware and software technologies.
• Researches, suggests, and implements improvements and additions to equipment, software, and services provided for faculty, staff, and students.
• Develops and maintains check-in and check-out processes for laptops, all test equipment, hardware, specialty tools, digital media, measurement tools, and other equipment available in the check-out office as well as student work tables and storage cabinets.

What You Should Know

• This is a full time on campus position.
• All University of Colorado Boulder employees are required to follow the campus COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
• New employees must provide proof of vaccination or receive a medical or religious exemption within 30 days of employment.

What We Can Offer

Starting salary is $70,000 - $85,500 annually.

BenefitsThe University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.Be StatementsBe innovative. Be inventive. Be Boulder.What We Require

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering, preferably in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or closely related field.
• One year professional experience testing or instructing a broad range of mechanical systems.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

What You Will Need

• Understanding of capabilities and applications of mechanical testing equipment, metrology, and data acquisition.
• A strong understanding of mechanical systems and mechanical drawings for mechanical engineering fabrication.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Desire to work with students to help them obtain basic professional and technical skills.
• Sophisticated problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing organizational needs.
• Ability and willingness to demonstrate knowledge and resources currently existing in CEAS and the university to enhance the use of spaces and resources for users.

What We Would Like You To Have

• Three years professional engineering experience oriented toward a variety of "hands-on" engineering experiences.
• Laboratory experience and knowledge of various instrumentation technologies for measurement of parameters such as pressure, temperature, flow rate, acceleration, velocity, displacement, and vibration.
• Experience working in a higher-education environment.

Special InstructionsTo apply, please submit the following materials:

1. A current resume.
2. A cover letter that specifically addresses how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications and responsibilities of the position.

We may request references at a later time.

Please apply by May 19, 2022 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

Posting Contact InformationPosting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu