Lead Laboratory Technologist

This position provides advanced technical and scientific expertise in support of the academic laboratories of the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, where undergraduate and graduate instruction is conducted using the same experimental apparatus, instrumentation, chemicals, and data systems found in faculty research laboratories. Working directly with faculty and graduate students, the incumbent plans and designs laboratory experiments, advises on technical feasibility and experimental constraints, and designs, adapts, and builds one-of-a-kind fixtures, test stands, and instrumentation systems to fit specific experimental requirements.

The position operates, calibrates, validates, and troubleshoots highly complex and integrated laboratory equipment, interprets equipment and experimental performance data to guide adjustments, and develops the procedures, technical documentation, and training required for safe and repeatable execution. The incumbent also serves as the department’s technical authority for laboratory safety, chemical and hazardous materials handling, and regulatory compliance across AME academic laboratory spaces, and provides direction to laboratory assistants and student staff supporting these operations.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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• Collaborates with faculty and graduate students to plan, design, and develop laboratory experiments for AME academic laboratories, translating instructional objectives into workable experimental procedures, apparatus configurations, and measurement approaches.
• Advises faculty and principal investigators on technical feasibility, equipment capability, and physical or measurement constraints during experimental design, recommending alternative methods, instrumentation, or configurations when requirements exceed existing capability.
• Builds, runs, and evaluates prototype and pilot versions of new or revised experiments prior to deployment; refines fixtures, procedures, and data collection methods based on results to ensure repeatability, accuracy, and safe execution at student scale.
• Drives integration of current scientific and engineering advancements into experiment design, including updated sensing and measurement techniques, data acquisition methods, computational tools, and analysis workflows.
• Develops and formulates written experimental procedures, operating protocols, and hazard controls for each experiment, and revises them as equipment, methods, or course objectives change.

• Designs, modifies, and adapts unique, one-of-a-kind systems in support of instruction, including custom test stands, fixtures, mounting and interface hardware, control systems, and instrumentation packages.
• Leads resolution of project-specific instrumentation challenges, including sensor selection and integration, signal conditioning, data acquisition configuration, wiring and control interfaces, and mechanical or thermal interfacing of components.
• Operates, calibrates, and conducts performance checks on highly complex and integrated laboratory equipment, and maintains calibration…