Instrument Machinist

Overview

Department: Oregon Fabrication and Design (OFAD) on the UO main campus, with facilities in Pacific Hall and the Knight Campus.
Rank: Research Assistant.
Annual Basis: 12 Month.
Review of Applications Begins: May 1, 2026; position open until filled.
Special Instructions to Applicants: With your online application, enter the names and contact information of three professional references; candidates will be notified prior to contacting references. Please upload a resume describing how you meet the minimum requirements, professional competencies, and any preferred qualifications. The position is based out of Eugene, Oregon, on campus.

The OFAD instrument shop provides professional instrument construction for research endeavors at the University of Oregon. This position interacts with faculty, staff, postdocs, graduate students, and other research professionals both within and outside of the University. The Instrument Machinist (IM) provides design consultation services and operates a variety of standard and specialized equipment to create and assemble instruments for research use.

This position performs manual machining, CNC programming, CNC turning, CNC milling, waterjet cutting, laser cutting/etching, sheet metal fabrication, plastic fabrication, additive manufacturing, and other related duties as assigned. The person in this position will need to understand the scientific purpose of the materials they are manufacturing and work closely with the researcher to build custom parts, often from scratch, with frequent modifications.

The instrument machinist provides their technical skills, inventiveness, spatial reasoning, and creative abilities to the design, engineering, prototyping, and fabrication of research instrumentation for the advancement of research excellence on the University of Oregon campus. The IM provides their expertise to principal investigators and graduate students within the campus community to develop custom equipment requirements for proposed or ongoing grant submissions.

The IM assists in the diagnosis and repair of existing research apparatus by researching, troubleshooting, and designing repairs. The IM occasionally assists and trains graduate students and undergrads associated with department labs in the use of diagnostic and fabrication equipment housed in the UO s research instrumentation shops.

• Two years experience in machine shop practice
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical science or engineering plus two years of experience with machining, OR Associate’s Degree in a technology field plus at least three years of experience related to machining or fabrication; OR equivalent combination of training and experience.

Studies have shown that individuals are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

• Knowledge and skill to operate both common and specialized equipment in the fabrication shops, including lathes, mills, grinders, soldering machines, saws, welders, and drill presses.
• Ability to read and interpret complex design specifications (including CAD files, oral and written instructions, and incomplete/rough design plans), along with planning and implementing a variety of design, construction, fabrication, and assembly processes.
• Problem-solving skills, including the repair, maintenance, fabrication of parts, and proper calibration of standard machines and equipment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement and work independently when necessary
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with all applicable safety codes and guidelines, including the ability to take precautions that assure the safety of themselves and others.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to interpret and address customer needs and work in a team environment.

• Experience in a…