Fabrication Specialist

Position Summary

The Rice School of Architecture seeks a highly skilled, safety-conscious, and collaborative Fabrication Specialist
. This position serves as the operational cornerstone for the school’s workshops, fabrication spaces, and advanced equipment housed in the recently completed William T. Cannady Hall. The school prides itself on a wide array of hands‑on, design‑build, and research initiatives that produce innovative, high‑quality projects, executed with the highest standards of craft, safety, and technical precision.

The Fabrication Specialist focuses on daily workshop operations, software and equipment maintenance, and safety management. They oversee the end‑to‑end functionality, calibration, and troubleshooting of both traditional machinery (wood and metal) and advanced digital fabrication tools (CNC routers, laser cutters, 3D printers, and Zünd cutter). They manage tool and material inventory, coordinate equipment procurement, track shop spending, and supervise the recruitment, scheduling, and training of student shop workers.

The Fabrication Specialist develops and leads safety orientations, technical workshops, and software tutorials that empower students and faculty to safely and effectively bring their design concepts to life. They serve as a vital technical resource and mentor to students and faculty, assisting them in resolving complex fabrication challenges, exploring new material techniques, and supporting research or exhibition‑related fabrication needs.

Reporting to the Director of Finance & Operations, this role works closely with faculty, staff, and students to align workshop activities with the strategic and curricular needs of the school. Operating autonomously and with delegated authority in a dynamic, maker‑centered environment, the ideal candidate possesses a strong technical troubleshooting curiosity, a deep appreciation for architectural craft, exceptional collaborative skills, a very strong work ethic and a proactive approach to maintaining a safe, organized, and cutting‑edge laboratory environment.

The Rice School of Architecture is a uniquely sized, top‑ranked program with a focus on design excellence, including exceptional student work, world‑class faculty research, and meaningful community engagement. The school draws upon Houston’s diverse offerings in the arts, culture, and industry, to educate architects for a dynamic, interconnected world, and we work towards hiring with the same ambition.

The ideal candidate is a proactive, collaborative, and creative professional with a strong commitment to workshop cleanliness, safety, and organization. They drive operational excellence across daily workshop operations. They possess technical expertise in both traditional wood/metal shop machinery and modern digital fabrication technologies, demonstrating a keen attention to craft, particularly around woodworking/milling, and detail in all they do. This individual excels at working with a diverse, fastpaced student body and faculty, demonstrating excellent communication, patience, and problem solving skills.

• Must be willing and able to work a flexible schedule to meet the requirements of the position during the academic year, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Physical Demands:
  Must be able to safely operate, manipulate, and maintain heavy workshop machinery and handle wood, metal, and plastic materials. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. with no assistance.

This position is exclusively on‑site, necessating all duties to be performed in person and on campus at the Rice School of Architecture. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.

This is a full‑time, benefits‑eligible position, and the proposed hiring range is $63,000 – $68,000 annually
, depending on qualifications and experience. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

• Bachelor's Degree
• 2+ years of woodworking, metalworking, and digital fabrication experience (CNC-router, laser cutters, and/or 3D printers, etc.).

• Demonstrated ability in wood and metal fabrication; welding experience is preferred.
• Thorou…