Lead Laboratory Technologist

The University of Arizona•Tucson, AZ

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This position provides advanced technical and scientific expertise in support of the academic laboratories of the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, where undergraduate and graduate instruction is conducted using the same experimental apparatus, instrumentation, chemicals, and data systems found in faculty research laboratories. Working directly with faculty and graduate students, the incumbent plans and designs laboratory experiments, advises on technical feasibility and experimental constraints, and designs, adapts, and builds one-of-a-kind fixtures, test stands, and instrumentation systems to fit specific experimental requirements. The position operates, calibrates, validates, and troubleshoots highly complex and integrated laboratory equipment, interprets equipment and experimental performance data to guide adjustments, and develops the procedures, technical documentation, and training required for safe and repeatable execution. The incumbent also serves as the department’s technical authority for laboratory safety, chemical and hazardous materials handling, and regulatory compliance across AME academic laboratory spaces, and provides direction to laboratory assistants and student staff supporting these operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent advance learning attained through professional level experience required.
Minimum of 3 years of related work experience or equivalent combination of education and work experience required.
Extensive knowledge of laboratory experimentation principles, measurement theory, and instrumentation practice, with complete knowledge of laboratory operating standards and industry best practices.
Ability to design, adapt, and troubleshoot complex experimental systems and to develop new approaches, methods, or techniques where established solutions do not exist.
Skill in interpreting complex experimental and equipment performance data and translating findings into technical recommendations.
Ability to influence and advise faculty, researchers, and departmental leadership on technical standards, safety requirements, and laboratory processes.
Working knowledge of laboratory safety and regulatory requirements, including chemical and hazardous materials handling.
Ability to work independently on established work, with review to confirm objectives are met, and to provide direction to laboratory support staff and students.
Collaborative, organized, and detail-oriented, with clear and professional written and verbal communication skills and a commitment to student success, safety, and hands-on learning outcomes.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in engineering, a science-related field, or a closely related technical discipline.
Demonstrated experience developing and validating laboratory experiments in direct collaboration with faculty and graduate students.
Hands-on experience with data acquisition systems, sensors and transducers, signal conditioning, and instrumentation calibration.
Experience with mechanical fabrication and machining, including design and build of custom fixtures and test apparatus.
Experience handling laboratory chemicals and hazardous materials and applying institutional and regulatory safety requirements.

Responsibilities

Collaborates with faculty and graduate students to plan, design, and develop laboratory experiments for AME academic laboratories, translating instructional objectives into workable experimental procedures, apparatus configurations, and measurement approaches.
Advises faculty and principal investigators on technical feasibility, equipment capability, and physical or measurement constraints during experimental design, recommending alternative methods, instrumentation, or configurations when requirements exceed existing capability.
Builds, runs, and evaluates prototype and pilot versions of new or revised experiments prior to deployment; refines fixtures, procedures, and data collection methods based on results to ensure repeatability, accuracy, and safe execution at student scale.
Drives integration of current scientific and engineering advancements into experiment design, including updated sensing and measurement techniques, data acquisition methods, computational tools, and analysis workflows.
Develops and formulates written experimental procedures, operating protocols, and hazard controls for each experiment, and revises them as equipment, methods, or course objectives change.
Designs, modifies, and adapts unique, one-of-a-kind systems in support of instruction, including custom test stands, fixtures, mounting and interface hardware, control systems, and instrumentation packages.
Leads resolution of project-specific instrumentation challenges, including sensor selection and integration, signal conditioning, data acquisition configuration, wiring and control interfaces, and mechanical or thermal interfacing of components.
Operates, calibrates, and conducts performance checks on highly complex and integrated laboratory equipment, and maintains calibration standards, records, and traceability for instrumentation used in experimentation.
Oversees testing, calibration, and validation of custom and modified instrumentation before release to instructional use, and documents validation results to establish measurement reliability.
Develops, optimizes, and oversees the use and maintenance of state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and apparatus; diagnoses complex failures, performs or directs repair, and coordinates external service, warranty, and vendor engineering support to minimize downtime.
Interprets large or complex datasets relating to equipment and experimental performance to identify measurement error, drift, or system faults, and guides experimental adjustments with faculty and student research teams.
Provides advanced technical expertise during active laboratory sessions, diagnosing and resolving instrumentation, measurement, and setup failures in real time so that experimentation proceeds on schedule.
Leads the coordination of laboratory experiments with faculty, laboratory coordinators, teaching assistants, and research support staff, sequencing setups, equipment allocation, and reconfiguration across concurrent courses and research use of shared apparatus.
Manages consumables, chemicals, gases, and specialized experimental materials, forecasting usage against experiment and course schedules, initiating purchase requests, and ensuring proper receipt, storage, and handling.
Coordinates installation, commissioning, and decommissioning of laboratory equipment with vendors, faculty, and Facilities Management, including acceptance testing, user training, and disposal of obsolete equipment under University property procedures.
Ensures compliance with all applicable safety and regulatory standards throughout the design, setup, and execution of experiments, fostering a safe environment for faculty, staff, and students.
Manages chemical and hazardous materials used in AME educational laboratories, including inventory, labeling, segregation and storage, safety data sheet maintenance, and coordination of hazardous waste disposal with Risk Management and Research Laboratory and Safety Services.
Reviews new and modified experiments for hazard identification and control prior to deployment, specifying required engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and operating limits.
Coordinates scheduled laboratory audits with campus Risk Management, distributes findings to laboratory supervisors, and tracks corrective actions to completion.
Establishes and enforces training requirements for laboratory users, including undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scholars; verifies completion of required training before laboratory access is granted and maintains supporting records.
Develops advanced technical documentation and training materials, including equipment operating manuals, standard operating procedures, calibration and maintenance records, and experiment guides, to support knowledge transfer and continuity of instruction and research.
Trains and provides direction, guidance, and oversight to laboratory assistants, student workers, and teaching assistants performing less complex laboratory support tasks.
Contributes to long-term laboratory improvement, renovation, and capital equipment planning by identifying equipment and infrastructure needs, developing technical specifications, evaluating vendor proposals, and coordinating with department leadership, Facilities Management, and contractors through project completion.
Supports ABET accreditation activities for AME academic laboratories by maintaining equipment and facility documentation, preparing laboratory data and spaces for review, and documenting how laboratory capability maps to program outcomes.
Coordinates laboratory space, access, and equipment needs for departmental users, including faculty laboratory groups, student design teams, and student organizations using AME laboratory facilities.
Serves as Building Manager for assigned AME facilities, acting as liaison between building occupants and Facilities Management; routes and tracks facility work orders, escalates recurring building system issues affecting laboratory operations, and communicates utility shutdowns, outages, and construction impacts to affected faculty and laboratory users so that experimentation and instruction can be protected or rescheduled.