Instructional Lab Technician

Northeastern University•Boston, MA

1d•$26 - $36•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Assistant Director for ECE Labs and Safety in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), the Instructional Lab Technician provides essential technical and instructional support for undergraduate teaching laboratories. This role ensures that teaching labs are properly maintained, equipped, and operating safely at all times. Core duties include: working safely with, in, and around electrical equipment; assembling and installing equipment requiring wiring, soldering, or connecting; configuring, operating, and adjusting test equipment within ECE teaching labs; conducting circuit troubleshooting on electronic devices; troubleshooting, modifying, and adjusting experimental circuitry prototypes; recording and reporting test data as it pertains to teaching lab needs; and supporting and, when needed, overseeing the work of students in the ECE Capstone Design course, particularly in the construction and testing of electronic assemblies. The Instructional Lab Technician also assists instructors with developing new experiments and provides direct assistance and mentorship to students and Teaching Assistants. This position requires someone that can work a 10am-6pm schedule; additional flexibility is needed to work occasional evenings or weekends. Work Schedule: Four days on-site per week; one day remote based on teaching and lab schedule. Standard hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; evening and weekend coverage required as necessary.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field, with at least four years of experience supporting or overseeing a university teaching laboratory.
Familiarity with standard electrical test and measurement equipment, including oscilloscopes, power supplies, function/wave generators, and AC/DC and ohm meters.
Familiarity with programming environments including Arduino and Raspberry Pi
Ability to read and interpret electronic schematics and technical documentation.
Knowledge of power supplies and their safe operation.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills
Ability to train, instruct, and mentor students and Teaching Assistants.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to rapidly evolving course requirements.
Ability to work and coordinate with offices including Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), facilities, and risk management.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Experience training or supervising students in a lab or technical environment preferred.
Some circuit design and sensor selection experience preferred.
Familiarity with printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing is a plus.
Basic familiarity with 3D printing is a plus.
Basic knowledge of networking and network troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

Prepare teaching labs on a daily and weekly basis, including equipment setup and takedown; some labs (e.g., microwave labs) require new configurations on a weekly or semi-weekly basis.
Perform routine equipment testing, monitoring, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance on electrical equipment, circuits, and electronic devices.
Update and install software on lab equipment and computers as needed.
Maintain lab inventory, place supply and equipment orders, and coordinate acquisition and installation of new equipment.
Ensure labs are clean, organized, and ready for scheduled classes and open lab sessions.
Maintain and update lab schedules and manage lab availability for students and faculty.
Support students in ECE laboratory courses (e.g., Capstone Design) with topics including Arduino, data acquisition, electronic design, and circuit troubleshooting.
Train and supervise Teaching Assistants
Provide instruction on the proper use and care of lab equipment, components, and kits (e.g., breadboards, measurement tools).
Orient students and Teaching Assistants to lab resources, including the location and use of components, kits, and instrumentation.
Conduct office hours in support of students and Teaching Assistants.
Support the ECE Capstone Design course by advising and mentoring students during project work, managing data acquisition systems, providing safety oversight for electrical, electronic, and radio frequency-based projects, and coordinating breakdown and storage of Capstone project components for parts reuse.
Assist instructors with the development of new lab experiments.
Loan and manage sensors and other equipment for student use.
Support student project work in electronic circuit design, programming, and sensor selection.
Prepare student toolboxes and verify kits for completeness prior to the start of each course or lab session.
Prepare samples for mechanical and electrical testing as needed.
Coordinate full breakdown of equipment at the end of each semester and prepare labs for the upcoming semester.
Assist the Assistant Director for ECE Labs and Safety with lab space planning, facility improvements, and operational upgrades.
Coordinate with faculty, staff, IT personnel, the College Space Operations team, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), facilities, and risk management to support lab infrastructure and safety needs.
Ensure a safe laboratory environment in accordance with departmental policies and applicable OSHA standards.
Identify and address safety concerns related to electrical, electronic, and radio frequency equipment and student project work
Collaborate with the Associate Director for IT Infrastructure and Architecture on IT infrastructure and architecture-related tasks for teaching and research spaces.