Apprentice Instrumentation Technician Jobs in California

Job Summary

San Jose State University's Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering is an innovative, collaborative, and supportive environment that empowers employees to achieve professional and personal goals while contributing to the university's student-centered mission. A member of the 23-campus California State university system, San Jose State University (SJSU) is situated in the entrepreneurial heart of Silicon Valley. The College of Engineering at San Jose State University comprises ten departments and independent programs which employs nearly 400 faculty and staff to support more than 7,000 local and international students. Committed to excellence and service, the expert staff of the College of Engineering frequently work with multiple external stakeholders and partners from across campus and other institutions.
Reporting to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Student Success, with Work Lead direction from the Engineering Building & Safety Lead or the Engineering Central Shops Department Lead, the Equipment Technician designs and maintains equipment within the college, with a particular focus on departments to which assigned. The Equipment Technician assists with faculty and student projects, trains students to use safe practices, monitors safety practices in student work spaces in the departments to which assigned, and applies corrective actions as needed.
This position advances strategic initiatives and ensures day-to-day business functions are aligned with the core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintains and upgrades equipment and instrumentation in laboratories for the assigned departments, such as electromechanical, material property test, and machine shop equipment.
• Performs fault diagnostics accompanied by highly skilled repair of complex and custom research and teaching equipment.
• Designs and fabricates parts for student and faculty projects.
• Supports redesign of instructional spaces to meet department needs.
• Provides assistance with equipment maintenance and upgrades in other departments in the College of Engineering.
• Ensures safe operation of department labs, club spaces, and machine shops in the assigned departments.
• Trains students in safe fabrication practices.
• Inventories supplies and materials for labs and shops in the assigned departments. Orders parts, tools, and instruments.
• Supervises student assistants.
• Participates as a member of College's technician team. Interfaces collaboratively and effectively with other College technicians; assists other departments with technical issues when needed.
• Programs and maintains omnilocks for the college.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated skill in basic machine shop fabrication practices and tools such as mill, lathe, CNC, drill press, arc welder, CAD/CAM, 3D printing, and others.
• Ability to troubleshoot and repair, install and replace, modify and maintain equipment and associated instrumentation down to the module level. Examples include pumps, engines, various sensors and gages, ovens, material property testing equipment, wind tunnels, electromechanical devices, and machine shop equipment such as drill presses and lathes. Additional consideration will be given to those candidates with knowledge of data acquisition systems, instrumentation and controls, and those who can weld.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with diverse groups of people including department chairs and faculty, students, other college technicians, facilities and operations, and vendors.
• Ability to identify and initiate tasks, to prioritize tasks, and to work independently.
• Ability and desire to learn new technical skills both on-the-job and through pertinent training. This may include the ability to learn, adapt to, and apply artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

Required Qualifications

• Equivalent to three years of progressively responsible journey-level or skilled experience in the maintenance, repair and operation of scientific or technical equipment in the specialty area to which assigned, including one year involving design modifications and fabrication of complex and highly technical equipment or equivalent to two years of semi-skilled experience maintaining and repairing scientific or technical equipment or related equipment experience as part of instructional support activities may be substituted for one year of the required experience or equivalent to two years of trade school or technical arts training with specialization in the type of equipment repair to which assigned. Completion of an apprenticeship program or completion of a full military specialization in the required type of equipment maintenance and repair may be substituted for one year of the required experience. A Federal Communications Commission license is required for some positions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in technology or closely related field, or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a technical environment
• Experience with welding and/or supervision of students or junior employees

Compensation

Classification: Equipment Technician III - Mechanical
Anticipated Hiring Range: $5,924/month - $6,805/month (Step 8 - Step 15)
CSU Salary Range: $5,157/month - $7,513/month (Step 1 - Step 20)
San Jose State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: July 15, 2026 through July 29, 2026. This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Contact Information

People and Culture
jobs@sjsu.edu

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to jobs@sjsu.edu.

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.
The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third party vendor, Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.
SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)
All San Jose State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant's current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San Jose State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

Campus Security Authority - In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, this position is subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority. Individuals that are designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and complete Clery Act training as determined by the university Clery Director.

Equal Employment Statement

San Jose State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, sex stereotype, and veteran status. This policy applies to all San Jose State University students, faculty, and staff, as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. San Jose State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.