Laboratory Engineer, Department of Mechanical Engineering

University of Saskatchewan•Saskatoon, SK

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Laboratory Engineer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, is primarily responsible for independently applying a high level of professional expertise in the design and delivery of the Controls and Fluid Power portion of the Mechanical Engineering undergraduate laboratory program. This role also provides advanced technical support to research activities and department needs in this and related areas. The position is responsible for incorporating evolving industry practice into undergraduate laboratories and staying current on advanced research techniques. The role reports directly to the Department Head and takes direction from faculty specializing in Controls and Fluid Power. Key accountabilities include managing laboratory space, the consumables budget for the Controls and Fluid Power area, curriculum development for undergraduate laboratories, direct instruction and supervision of undergraduate students, training and supervision of graduate students for instructional and research activities, and providing advanced technical support to research. The work volume is cyclical with potentially high stress during peak periods, and occasional work outside regular hours may be required. Significant judgment is needed for short and long-term planning, capital equipment acquisition, and laboratory safety management. Independent action is required, relying on the incumbent's knowledge of industrial practices and advanced expertise. Errors can have high impact on personal health, safety, and the quality of the academic program. The incumbent will directly instruct undergraduate students in second, third, and fourth-year mechanical engineering design courses, developing and delivering design laboratory activities and advising student design groups. This design instruction is essential for program accreditation and requires supervision by a professional engineer. Hazards associated with laboratory equipment are present, and frequent standing, movement, and lifting of up to 25 lb are expected, with occasional assistance for items over 25 lb. The incumbent participates in occupational health and safety policy and procedure development.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering is required.
Registration as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS), or an equivalent Canadian body, is required for this position.
As a minimum, new hires must be immediately eligible to register with APEGS as an Engineer-in-Training and must become fully registered within four years.
A minimum of two years of experience directly related to the position is required.
A demonstrated commitment to safety protocols in past roles is required.
Aptitude and experience working with instruments and software common in the field (pressure measurement, flow measurement, fluid power control, etc.) is required.
A working knowledge of instrumentation and data acquisition systems is required.
Must have the physical ability to perform moderate to heavy physical labour.

Nice To Haves

A Mechanical Engineering degree is highly desirable.
Formal training and/or demonstrated experience in the operation of specialised equipment, facilities and engineering tools (e.g., computer models and software) used in the controls and fluid power area would be an advantage.
Advanced degree(s) in a relevant field would be an advantage.
Additional experience is strongly preferred.
Experience instructing students is strongly preferred.
Desirable skills include the ability to work within a team, creative thinking, problem solving and troubleshooting skills; effective interpersonal skills; good verbal and written communication skills; and the proven ability to work on multiple projects with competing demands to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

Development and maintenance of the highest level of laboratory safety standards in the Controls and Fluid Power area, including developing and implementing standard operating procedures, participating in safety policy development, recommending/developing and delivering specialized safety training, controlling access to hazardous areas, ensuring secure and safe storage of hazardous substances and proper waste disposal, ensuring compliance with environmental, health, and safety regulations, assessing and mitigating risks, and participating in the Department Safety Committee.
Management of assigned laboratory modules contributing to undergraduate and graduate program development and delivery, including instructing/supervising instruction, collaborating with faculty on laboratory design and documentation, procuring, maintaining, and setting up equipment, preparing and grading assignments and exams, assisting faculty with student discipline and academic integrity, providing recommendations on hiring graduate student Laboratory Demonstrators, training and supervising graduate student Laboratory Demonstrators, and participating in the administration of the mechanical engineering undergraduate laboratory program.
Provision of advanced technical support to experimental and numerical research in the Controls and Fluid Power area, including supporting research through competent operation and development of laboratory infrastructure, providing specialized technical assistance to students and faculty on research projects, evaluating, procuring, installing, and maintaining advanced computational and experimental equipment, training students in specialized research software and equipment, and enabling research capability development.
Procurement and maintenance of infrastructure in the Controls and Fluid Power area, including maintaining facilities with attention to safety, staying current with advanced research techniques, ensuring calibration standards for instrumentation, designing improvements and upgrades to lab infrastructure, preparing and submitting funding applications, and procuring high-end research and lab equipment.
General and technical department support, including ensuring expenditures are within budget, supervising undergraduate design groups, managing design laboratory activities, participating in accreditation activities, participating in department and college committees, ensuring adherence to university and college policies, providing service, technical advice, testing, and analysis to faculty and industry partners, and responding to special needs to promote department success.