Scientific Technical Services Machine Shop Engineering Technician 3

Western Washington University

Scientific Technical Services Machine Shop Engineering Technician 3

Western Washington University, with over 16,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western is the highest-ranking public, master's-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to the 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Scientific Technical Services (STS) supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity. 

More specifically, STS supports research, scholarship and teaching by providing access to advanced multi-user scientific instrumentation, machine and electronics shops, and equipment design, fabrication and repair services. Through its core facilities, STS helps We researchers accelerate the discovery of new knowledge, partners with instructors to teach graduate and undergraduate laboratory classes, and provides regional industry access to specialized equipment. 

The STS Shops provide campus-wide equipment design, fabrication, troubleshooting and repair services through well equipped electronics, machine, woodworking, and plastics forming facilities. Staffed by skilled craftsmen and engineers, shop personnel are accustomed to working with faculty, staff, and students on projects large and small, ranging from the most technically-demanding scientific applications, to fabrication and repair of everyday research and teaching items. Services include design assistance, custom fabrication and assembly, and equipment maintenance, trouble-shooting and repair. 

Scientific Technical Services (STS) provides technical support to faculty, staff, and students for a wide variety of teaching and scholarship activities involving instrumentation, and the design, manufacture, and repair of equipment to all divisions at WWU. Under general direction, this position will perform senior-level engineering technician work designing, developing, modifying, constructing, installing, calibrating, testing, and repairing instruments, apparatus, and equipment within a scientific, instructional, or engineering application. Applicable skills for this position include mechanical, electro-mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic, cabinetry, carpentry, welding, machining, and sheet metal. The focus of this position will be to support the operations of the STS Machine Shop. 

Required Qualifications:

•    One year of experience as an Engineering Technician 2 OR four years of experience as an engineering technician OR equivalent education/ experience.
•    Strong education and/or experience as a machinist, including computer numerical control (CNC) machining.
•    Ability to use typical machine shop equipment such as lathes, milling machines, drill presses, welding and soldering equipment, and common hand and power tools.
•    Demonstrated commitment to work effectively with a diverse group of students, faculty, and staff.
•    Ability to work independently under general supervision.
•    Strong record of effective teamwork and collaboration.
•    Strong problem solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

•    Demonstrated ability with electro-mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electronic systems.
•    Proficiency with Windows OS and Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.
•    Excellent verbal and written communications skills.