Technician A – Manufacturing Systems Lab

Penn State University•University Park, IL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Penn State is searching for a full time Technician A – Manufacturing Systems Lab - Grade 2 to join the team. Duties include: Assist in the set up and operation of student laboratory exercises; work closely with small groups of students Train faculty and graduate assistants for instruction of class practicums Responsible for maintaining supplies and materials to ensure the efficient operations of the metal cutting laboratory, metal joining laboratory, materials casting laboratory, and electrical/computer laboratory Initiate purchase orders and maintain supplier information and catalogs Meet with sales representatives Prepare recommendations for new products to purchase Perform duties of machinist Set up and operate shop equipment such as milling machines, lathes, drill presses, etc. Work to tolerances of ±0.0001 inch from drawings and sketches Perform duties as foundry worker Set up and operate induction furnace, cupola, gas melting furnace, centrifugal casting machine, molding machines, core-making equipment, nondestructive testing equipment, hand molding, pattern making, and material analysis equipment Perform duties as a welder Operate various equipment in the lab for forging and metal joining; perform brazing, silver soldering, and heat treating When necessary, assist, replace, and assume the duties of the technician in any other Industrial Engineering Laboratory Perform duties involving carpentry, plumbing, metal joining, painting, electrical wiring, fork lift operation, and foundry work, as required Assure safe operation of equipment and use of safe practices by the students; correct unsafe practices and conditions where possible Report hazardous conditions to class instructor and supervisor. Maintain work and storage area in a clean and orderly condition Program and operate various computer-controlled equipment including robots, lathes, milling machines, and coordinate measuring instruments Operate state-of-the-art controls for electronic control welders, carbon-sulfur analysis equipment, programmable controller material handling system, etc. Attend workshops and seminars concerning the latest technology of new equipment Train faculty, staff, and students to operate and/or program new equipment Maintain new equipment according to information gained at workshops and seminars Submit expense accounts as appropriate Perform routine repair and regular preventative maintenance duties on laboratory equipment; troubleshoot major repairs Make recommendations as to what needs to be overhauled or discarded Work with supervisor and/or faculty member to obtain specific details regarding jobs to be done as appropriate; make minor adjustments to work specifications as required; refer problems to supervisor Operate equipment and record data in proprietary research projects Work closely with faculty and staff to modify instruments to convert them from one research function to another Perform demonstrations of laboratory exercises as requested; prepare material for exercises Set up and repair a wide variety of electronic, electrical, computer, and mechanical equipment in the General Engineering Laboratories Assess the value and importance of specific equipment being donated to the Department for use in the laboratories Make recommendations as to new laboratory layouts to accommodate new or discarded equipment or laboratory renovations Install new equipment and connect with existing equipment Supervise part-time student hired each semester to assist in the machining, welding, and materials casting areas.

Requirements

Requires the use of advanced shop mathematics, together with the use of complicated drawings, specifications, charts, tables, handbook formulas, all varieties of adjustable measuring instruments and the use of broad training in a recognized trade or craft.
Equivalent to a complete accredited, indentured apprenticeship or equivalent to high school plus a 2-year technical college education.
3 to 4 years of effective experience.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Responsibilities

Assist in the set up and operation of student laboratory exercises
Work closely with small groups of students
Train faculty and graduate assistants for instruction of class practicums
Maintain supplies and materials for efficient operations of various laboratories
Initiate purchase orders and maintain supplier information and catalogs
Meet with sales representatives
Prepare recommendations for new products to purchase
Perform duties of machinist, including setting up and operating shop equipment
Work to tolerances of ±0.0001 inch from drawings and sketches
Perform duties as foundry worker, including setting up and operating various furnace and casting equipment
Perform duties as a welder, operating equipment for forging and metal joining, brazing, silver soldering, and heat treating
Assist, replace, and assume duties of technicians in other Industrial Engineering Laboratories when necessary
Perform duties involving carpentry, plumbing, metal joining, painting, electrical wiring, fork lift operation, and foundry work
Assure safe operation of equipment and use of safe practices by students
Correct unsafe practices and conditions
Report hazardous conditions to class instructor and supervisor
Maintain work and storage area in a clean and orderly condition
Program and operate various computer-controlled equipment
Operate state-of-the-art controls for electronic control welders, carbon-sulfur analysis equipment, programmable controller material handling system, etc.
Attend workshops and seminars concerning the latest technology of new equipment
Train faculty, staff, and students to operate and/or program new equipment
Maintain new equipment according to information gained at workshops and seminars
Submit expense accounts as appropriate
Perform routine repair and regular preventative maintenance duties on laboratory equipment
Troubleshoot major repairs
Make recommendations as to what needs to be overhauled or discarded
Work with supervisor and/or faculty member to obtain specific details regarding jobs to be done
Make minor adjustments to work specifications as required
Refer problems to supervisor
Operate equipment and record data in proprietary research projects
Work closely with faculty and staff to modify instruments for research functions
Perform demonstrations of laboratory exercises as requested
Prepare material for exercises
Set up and repair a wide variety of electronic, electrical, computer, and mechanical equipment
Assess the value and importance of specific donated equipment
Make recommendations as to new laboratory layouts
Install new equipment and connect with existing equipment
Supervise part-time student assistants