Design Lab Assistant Jobs in Needham, MA (NOW HIRING)

About the Opportunity

JOB SUMMARY:

The Sr. Electronic Lab Technician provides comprehensive technical and operational support for teaching, research, and student project activities within the Department of Chemical Engineering. This role supports faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scholars by delivering expertise in design, fabrication, equipment maintenance, and laboratory operations. The position ensures that laboratory infrastructure, equipment, and instructional environments function efficiently, safely, and reliably. The Sr. Electronic Lab Technician maintains equipment, coordinates equipment acquisition, and provides technical guidance and mentoring to students. This position plays a critical role in supporting hands-on learning and research productivity within the department. Reporting to the Dir. of Operations and Business Management in the Chemical Engineering Department, the Sr Electronic Lab Technician will perform an array of duties, including: (1) Working safely with, in, and around lab equipment; (2) Assembling/installing equipment or parts; (3) Performing tasks/tests on equipment and instruments; (4) Configuring, operating and adjusting various analytical instruments; (5) Conducting troubleshooting on various electronic and mechanical equipment; (6) Troubleshooting, modifying, and repairing lab equipment and instruments (7) Supporting and, when needed, overseeing the work of students in the Chemical Engineering Capstone Design courses and (8) Providing assistance to students.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of mechanical/electrical testing equipment. Ability to fabricate samples for mechanical/electrical testing. Knowledge of safe lab operations. Ability to work with and coordinate with the Department Safety Officer, purchasing, and NU facilities. Proficiency in programming, including Arduino, Raspberry PI, and some circuit design and sensor selection. Knowledge and skills required are normally obtained through vocational training/technical certification and 5-8 years of experience.

• Trade school and 5-8 years of experience
• Effective communication for collaborating with researchers and students.
• Strong mechanical and fabrication skills.
• Commitment to maintaining a safe work environment.
• Proficient in 3D printing and associated CAD software (SolidWorks and/or AutoCAD) Experience with Data Acquisition systems Experience with MATLAB
• Proficiency with MS office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point).

Additional Requirements

• Work is performed in laboratory and classroom environments.
• Regular use of equipment, tools, and laboratory instruments.
• May require lifting, moving, and installing equipment and materials.
• Work required to be done on campus, Monday through Frid

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Lab Maintenance & Operations

• Maintain, replace, or install teaching and research lab equipment and analytical instruments to ensure safety, reliability, and continuous operation.
• Perform or assist with scheduled preventive maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting in teaching and research labs.
• Provide safety oversight for electronic-based and mechanical-based projects, manage data acquisition systems, and troubleshoot issues.
• Repair - Diagnose, disassemble, and make all necessary repairs to equipment in the teaching and research labs.
• Collaborate with departmental staff and other Northeastern University units to support fabrication, as needed
• Be an active member of the Department Safety Committee.
• Locate Replacement Equipment & Parts- Find suitable replacements for un-repairable or outdated lab equipment and parts.
• Lab Space Repairs and Improvements - Work with NU facilities (submit work orders) to have electrical, plumbing and HVAC problems in teaching and research labs corrected.
• Contribute to and maintain teaching laboratory inventory tracking and stock management.
• Contribute to and maintain equipment maintenance logs and calibration records

Fabrication & Programming Operations

• Fabrication- Use 3D printing & hand tools to support teaching lab operations.
• Support students with Design- Use CAD software (AutoCAD & SolidWorks) to create drawings of parts, fixtures and assemblies used by research lab personnel, teaching lab students, ChemE Car members and Capstone students.

Student Supervision, Technical Consultation, Training & Mentoring

• Consult and mentor on student projects in the ChemE Teaching Labs, specifically regarding design, construction, testing, and troubleshooting of electronic and mechanical assemblies
• Assist students when needed by: Providing safety oversight for electric- and electronic-based projects, supporting hands-on learning by providing technical guidance that enhances student project outcomes and research productivity.
• Consult and mentor students onpart design, manufacturability, tolerancing, material selection, and fabrication best practices.
• Train & supervise students in safe 3D printer and analytical instrument operations

Procurement Support

• Source outside vendor for equipment and instrumentation if unable to fix in-house
• Order shop supplies, tooling, materials, and consumables
• Coordinate the acquisition of new equipment by obtaining quotes, advising on technical specifications, and supporting purchasing decisions.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

Resume

Cover Letter

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

Expected Hiring Range:

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.