R&D Prototyping & Lab Operations Specialist

R&D Prototyping & Lab Operations Specialist

At the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), it is our engineers and technicians who drive the breakthroughs that define our success. The members of our technical staff collaborate closely with leadership and multidisciplinary teams to design, build, and deploy sophisticated robotic solutions that address complex challenges in industrial, commercial and government sectors. Each project benefits from their expertise, creativity, and hands-on problem-solving, fueling progress and innovation across the organization.

As part of our dedicated team, you will work alongside world-class robotics professionals committed to pushing the boundaries of technology and redefining ideas into solutions for real-world applications. We foster a culture of professionalism, respect, and collaboration, offering a flexible and encouraging environment where you can sharpen your skills, lead impactful projects, and take control of your career development.

We are a fast-paced, real-world prototyping lab within the university that bridges the gap between high-level concepts and functional, rugged hardware. We don't just design on screens; we build one-off systems that must operate under demanding, real-world conditions.

We are seeking a dynamic R&D Prototyping & Lab Operations Specialist to serve as the operational co-pilot for our hardware team. This is a unique, highly autonomous role for a skilled builder who possesses both mechanical/hardware intuition and a passion for operational excellence. In this role, you will oversee lab logistics, protect the focus of our engineering team, co-build early-stage physical prototypes, and own the test infrastructure that ensures our designs work the first time.

If you are a proactive problem-solver who notices what needs to be done before being asked, thrives on variety, and loves turning loose requirements into physical reality, this lab is your sandbox.

Your primary responsibilities are to:

• Prototyping, Assembly, & Test Operations
  • Co-Build & Early Assembly:
    Partner closely with the Hardware Lead during early-stage, "first-time" builds. Absorb design intent dynamically, handle physical assembly, and identify mechanical fit or tolerance issues early.
  • Test Infrastructure & Execution:
    Own physical testing from setup to teardown. Design and build custom test fixtures, execute repetitive and cyclic test protocols meticulously, record detailed data, and present organized results to the design team.
  • DFM & Documentation Catch-Up:
    Capture the "as-built" state of one-off prototypes. Update CAD models, take build photos, and note assembly steps to establish repeatable workflows and tribal knowledge retention.
  • Vendor & Shop Liaison:
    Act as the primary interface with the campus machine shop and external fabrication vendors. Deliver prints, inspect incoming custom parts for accuracy, and triage out-of-spec components.
• Lab Logistics & Supply Chain Management
  • Materials & Consumables Ownership:
    Proactively manage inventory for all lab consumables (fasteners, adhesives, stock materials, PPE). Implement and maintain a lightweight reorder system to eliminate project downtime.
  • Hardware Intake & Logistics:
    Own the shipping and receiving process for the lab. Retrieve packages from central shipping, verify contents against purchase orders, organize materials, and ensure engineers have immediate access to their parts.
  • Lab Readiness & Maintenance:
    Maintain a safe, clean, and highly organized workspace. Ensure tools are properly maintained, calibrated, and returned. Coordinate basic IT and firmware updates for lab equipment and testing PCs.
• Engineering Team Support
  • Operational Buffer:
    Handle administrative and logistical friction (tracking delayed orders, resolving vendor errors, organizing project tear-downs) to isolate design engineers from distractions.
  • Cross-Disciplinary Integration:
    Assist the Electrical Engineering team by managing the mechanical fit-checks of custom PCBs into physical enclosures.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience:
  
  3+ years of hands-on experience in an R&D lab, rapid prototyping facility, custom fabrication shop, makerspace, or similar high-ambiguity hardware environment.
• Education:
  
  Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related technical discipline (equivalent hands-on experience and a proven track record of complex physical builds will be heavily considered in lieu of a degree).
• Technical
  
  Skills:

• Strong mechanical aptitude and safety-first mindset using basic shop tools (saws, drills, hand tools, lightweight machining equipment).
• Familiarity with reading engineering drawings, schematics, and navigating 3D CAD models (e.g., Solid Works, Fusion
  360) to verify dimensions.
• Experience setting up basic data acquisition, sensors, or test equipment.

• Independent judgment and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to effectively interact with a multifaceted population of internal and external partners
• Ability to work on multiple projects at the same…