Machine Shop Supervisor
About The Position
The Machine Shop Supervisor manages the Clark Hall Machine Shop at Cornell University’s Ithaca campus, including a team of machinists and the operations of professional and student machine shops. The shop is a self-sustaining recharge operation serving Cornell students, faculty, and staff, as well as a limited external academic and professional community. The supervisor provides strategic leadership and oversees operations that support research and education, translating customer needs into manufacturable parts and CAD models, teaching students safe shop practices, and developing fabrication cost estimates. The role involves managing and mentoring staff, coordinating project workflow and resources, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance, and collaborating with researchers on custom components and systems. It also includes overseeing the student instructional shop and training programs, equipment maintenance and procurement, facility performance, and staff safety training and certifications. This is an onsite position in Ithaca, New York. Machine shops have inherent hazards from machinery, welding operations, chemicals, and materials requiring special handling and controls.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical technology or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant training and on-the-job experience.
- 3–5 years of on-the-job experience in a machine tool trade.
- Experience managing or supervising others, especially technical staff.
- Knowledge and prior use of a wide variety of machining equipment, including manual milling machines and lathes, computer-driven milling machines and lathes, and numerically controlled machine programming.
- Demonstrated proficiency in 2D/3D CAD/CAM software; the shop uses Autodesk products.
- Ability to use and apply machining and fabrication techniques.
- Thorough understanding of a broad range of metals and materials and their characteristics.
- Strong customer service focus and good interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
- Demonstrated skill in understanding cultural differences.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in an academic machine shop.
- Certified four-year Tool and Die Maker apprenticeship with a supplemental education program.
- Six or more years’ experience with machine tools.
- CNC and welding training.
Responsibilities
- Manage a team of highly skilled research machinists.
- Mentor apprentice machinists and provide training and technical guidance.
- Coordinate shop workflow, assign priorities, and allocate resources.
- Ensure compliance with safety standards, university policies, and local regulations.
- Evaluate incoming projects, establish timelines, and recommend materials and manufacturing processes.
- Manage the student instructional shop and conduct training programs or supervise training staff.
- Collaborate with researchers to design complex custom components and systems and produce precision components.
- Oversee equipment maintenance, repair, or replacement; procure shop materials; and evaluate facility performance.
- Ensure staff remain current on required safety training and certifications.
- Provide strategic leadership for shop operations and advance the shop’s mission.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health care options.
- Generous retirement contributions.
- Access to wellness programs.
- Employee discounts with local and national retail brands.
- Health and personal leave.
- Three weeks of vacation.
- 13 holidays, including a winter break from December 25 through January 1.
- Two additional floating holidays.
- Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program.
- Tuition aid for external education.
- Cornell Children’s Tuition Assistance Program.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
