Senior Machinist Technician

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Senior Machinist Technician for the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). This position is primarily responsible for the operation of and instruction within the mechanical engineering teaching laboratory's machine shop.

Reporting to the Manager of Instructional Laboratories, the incumbent is responsible for the machining needs of the space, including instructing students on the proper use of equipment, operating and maintaining fabrication equipment (CNC mills, CNC lathes, bandsaws, grinders, etc.), and providing consultations for advanced machining techniques and CAM programming. The incumbent also assists with setting up laboratory experiments, performing maintenance on laboratory equipment and machine tools, instructing students on the operation of laboratory equipment, taking inventory, and other tasks required for the day-to-day operation of the laboratory, with a focus on the machine shop. The incumbent maintains and operates machining equipment and other mechanical and electrical instrumentation. The Senior Machinist Technician should be willing to operate equipment such as conventional and CNC machine tools, CAM programs, wind tunnels, material testing systems, hardness testers, and other similar systems. The incumbent will also interface with student clubs in the design and manufacturing of club projects and may be called upon to chaperone student clubs in testing.

Responsibilities

Training and instructing students on proper machining methods and safety in the machine shop, as well as operating and maintaining fabrication equipment.

Performing and supervising machining operations for undergraduate students and graduate research, including advanced machining processes.

Maintaining and operating laboratory and shop equipment, including CNC mills, CNC lathes, laser cutters, 3D printers, mechanical and electronic instrumentation, and computers interfacing with instrumentation / equipment.

Providing assistance for students in the design and implementation of research projects, including holding machining and CAM consultations for student projects.

Interfacing with student clubs regarding project design and testing supervision.

Setting up and providing support for experiments, and performing maintenance to ensure the effective operation of laboratory equipment.

Maintaining machine shop inventories and ordering replacement supplies, as well as coordinating billing for shop materials.

Performs other tasks, duties, and responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum three (3) years of experience in a research environment or other general experience working in a "hands-on" laboratory or shop environment.

Machining and teaching / mentoring experience.

Bachelor's degree in a related field, including mechanical engineering.

Preferred : Certifications and / or completed courses on Fusion or SolidWorks, advanced machining, or related topics preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.