Engineering Laboratory Coordinator

University of San Francisco

2d•$72,500 - $77,500•Onsite

About The Position

The University of San Francisco College of Arts and Sciences seeks an Engineering Laboratory Coordinator to support its Engineering department and the Innovation Hive fabrication spaces. The coordinator works closely with the Director of Engineering Laboratories, Engineering faculty and staff, and colleagues across the College to support hands-on education. The role helps set up demonstrations and projects, supports project-based courses, leads training for students and faculty, maintains safety protocols, trains student workers, and works with students in Innovation Hive labs. The Innovation Hive is a campus makerspace and woodshop open to the USF community. It offers facilities for hands-on learning, creative experimentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and developing solutions to real-world problems. The Engineering department emphasizes project-based learning, community engagement, humane and ethical innovation, diversity, and social justice within a Jesuit liberal arts education. The successful candidate will be enthusiastic about working with students and faculty across the university and supporting the development of a young, evolving Engineering department. Experience supporting undergraduate engineering courses at multiple levels is desirable. The role also supports programs incorporating project-based education into their curricula and requires a demonstrable commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, physics, environmental science, engineering, or a related field.
Valid California state driver’s license.
Ability to carry and lift 50 pounds from the floor to a laboratory table.
Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to work in partnership with staff and faculty.
Strong organizational and budget management skills; ability to work in diverse situations with demanding deadlines and remain efficient and calm under pressure.
Computer skills, including file handling, spreadsheets, design software, and word processing software.
Strong time and project management skills.
Demonstrated equity lens and cultural humility, with proven ability to work effectively in a diverse context.
Commitment to the university’s mission, vision, and values.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting courses at multiple levels of undergraduate engineering curricula.
Familiarity with hand and powered equipment such as woodworking tools, saws and mills, metalworking and welding equipment, CNC mills and routers, 3D printers, laser cutters, vinyl cutters, sewing machines, soldering irons, painting and finishing tools, and materials testing machines.
Familiarity with safety best practices and OSHA regulations.
Knowledge and skill in independently preparing laboratory reagents and solutions.
Experience with soldering, circuit design, multimeters, oscilloscopes, and power supplies.
Familiarity with electronics, embedded systems, microcontrollers, sensors, and physical computing.
Familiarity with CAD/CAM design and workflows, including Fusion, Revit, Rhino, and VCarve.
Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite.
Familiarity with emerging fabrication technologies and willingness to learn new tools quickly.
Ability to develop, document, and improve laboratory systems and workflows.
Experience developing standard operating procedures, safety training and checklists, training systems, equipment documentation, and maintenance schedules.
Experience with digital inventory, asset tracking, scheduling, access control, or laboratory management systems.
Ability to design and adapt laboratory activities, tools, workspaces, and instructional materials for students with varied physical, technical, and learning needs.
Familiarity with universal design principles in hands-on learning environments.
Knowledge of sustainable fabrication practices, material selection, reuse, recycling, and responsible material disposal.
A strong foundation in a fabrication workflow, such as drafting followed by fabrication with a 3D printer, experience working with students on projects, and enthusiasm for learning additional workflows.

Responsibilities

Work with the Director of Engineering Laboratories and Engineering Department members to support engineering classes and associated labs.
Support faculty in setting up demonstrations, laboratory courses, projects, and teaching environments during the academic year.
Implement safety protocols in fabrication spaces, laboratories, and student project areas.
Lead workshops on equipment, software, and skills needed to use Innovation Hive resources safely and effectively.
Maintain the Hive Canvas course site and keep its materials and equipment instructions current.
Monitor teaching laboratory and project-related budgets; manage inventory, material procurement, and engineering equipment in Chemistry and Physics labs.
Prepare, assemble, disassemble, inventory, and procure materials and equipment for Engineering laboratories and project-based courses, including existing and newly developed courses.
Organize teaching laboratories and preparation rooms, including routine cleaning.
Coordinate purchase requisitions for laboratory supplies across lab sections.
Maintain inventories of chemicals, general supplies, laboratory equipment, and other teaching laboratory materials.
Update standard operating procedures for safe and efficient equipment and material handling.
Assist with maintenance and repair of laboratory equipment and instrumentation.
Acquire supplies through a purchasing system.
Handle materials including dry ice and strong acids and bases.
Create and continually update detailed laboratory preparation notes so others can set up and prepare labs in the coordinator’s absence.
Train and supervise student workers.
Perform additional duties as assigned by the Director of Engineering Labs, Associate Dean of Science, or designee.