Research & Development Engineer I

Duke Careers•Durham, NC

3d•$59,829 - $88,740•Onsite

About The Position

The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University is looking for a Research & Development Engineer I to join our Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (MEMS) team. In this hands-on role, you’ll work at the intersection of engineering education, research, and innovation—supporting faculty, guiding students, and helping bring complex engineering concepts to life in state-of-the-art laboratory environments. Every day, you’ll collaborate with faculty, staff, and student project teams to design, build, test, and maintain specialized equipment and teaching laboratories. You’ll play a key role in ensuring our lab spaces are safe, effective, and technically cutting-edge, while also mentoring students as they develop the practical skills that complement their classroom learning. If you enjoy working with hardware and software, supporting experimental learning, and contributing to the next generation of engineers, this is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related natural science (such as Physics or Chemistry)
Strong foundational knowledge of engineering principles and applied sciences
Ability to perform hands-on technical work in laboratory and fabrication environments
Commitment to safety, collaboration, and inclusive learning environments

Nice To Haves

Teaching assistant or instructional laboratory support experience
Demonstrated experience completing design-and-build engineering projects through coursework, research, employment, or personal projects
Familiarity with machine shop equipment and general fabrication techniques
Exposure to additive manufacturing / 3D printing technologies
Experience with programming, data acquisition, or laboratory instrumentation

Responsibilities

Design, build, test, and maintain specialized instruments, equipment, and experimental systems that support engineering research and education across the MEMS curriculum.
Support and administer teaching laboratories, providing primary and backup laboratory operations for core undergraduate and master’s courses, including Controls, Mechatronics, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Materials, Dynamics, and Mechanical Design.
Train, supervise, and guide students in general fabrication spaces, machine shops, and additive manufacturing environments, ensuring safe and effective use of tools and equipment.
Integrate hardware and software systems, including analog and digital experiments, data acquisition hardware, microcontrollers, CAD/CAM tools, and computer-based control systems using platforms such as LabVIEW and Python.
Manage laboratory operations, including equipment procurement, inventory tracking, scheduling systems, routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of apparatus and systems.
Provide engineering consultation to faculty and researchers.
Support design-and-build instructional projects.
Maintain technical documentation and manuals.
Train student assistants.
Continuously improve laboratory teaching modules to maintain the department’s technical relevance.