Makerspace Technician

Staff - Non Union

Job Category
Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants

Job Profile
Non Union Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 4

Job Title
Makerspace Technician

Department
Administrative Management | School of Biomedical Engineering | Faculty of Medicine

Compensation Range
$5,068.91 - $5,946.08 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date
May 19, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

May 15, 2025

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary

The School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is a partnership between the Faculties of Applied Science and Medicine, established in 2017. Currently, the School has 36 core and joint faculty located on campus and at healthcare research institutes, Over 400 undergraduate and undergraduate students, more than 20 administrative staff, and several research core service facilities. In 2024/2025, the SBME will move into a new building on campus, which will act as a hub for biomedical engineering activities at UBC and beyond. The School serves as a nucleus for education and training, research, and innovation in biomedical engineering, creating new knowledge, new academic and training programs, and fostering translation and innovation, aspiring to be a global leader in the field. Its vision is to transform health care outcomes through the unconstrained exploration of the best possible integrative solutions across engineering, medicine, and biology.

This position will support tasks for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year biomedical engineering design course and support academic labs and the design makerspace in Biomedical Engineering at UBC. The incumbent is expected to perform a variety of complex tasks, including those of a technical nature, in a dynamic work environment. The candidate must have the aptitude to maintain quality work at the highest level in a dynamic environment, prioritize safety, and work well both independently and collaboratively with others.

Organizational Status
This position reports to the Teaching Laboratory Manager of the School of Biomedical Engineering.
Work Performed

• Works in close collaboration with course instructors and lab manager in the design makerspace, dry labs, and specifically oversees the daily operations of the makerspace and its equipment/tools as a teaching space for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year engineering undergraduate design courses., such as laser jet and water jet cutters.
• Instructs and supervises students and Teaching Assistants on proper and safe use of equipment such as 3d printers, workshop power tools (such as bandsaw, drill press, angle grinder, mitre saw, etc), waterjet cutters, laserjet cutters, electrical tools (such as soldering, power supplies, wave generators, etc.), CNC machines (such as a benchtop mill), and any future purchases of equipment.
• Plans and researches for additions of new equipment and determines the applicability of new technology and systems for the design space, source and secure equipment and supplies, install equipment, as well as maintain and repair current equipment.
• Researches options and creates documentation and operating procedures used for existing and newly acquired tools/equipment such as maintenance and usage for current and/or new 3D printers, documentation of how to operate various prototyping tools, sets up and documents usage/safety procedures for newly acquired complex pieces of scientific equipment.
• Troubleshoots complex equipment and systems problems.
• Operates, maintains highly specialized equipment requiring extensive training.
• Trains students and Teaching Assistants on all tools, equipment, and systems in the Makerspace.
• Develops safety and access protocols and plans for the makerspace and maintains appropriate teaching lab inventory.
• Interfaces with UBC Building Operations, UBC Facilities and Planning, and UBC Safety and Risk Services to organize installations and to ensure safe and proper operation of equipment and protocols.
• Oversees and trains undergraduate and graduate students in the makerspace to ensure safety protocols are followed.
• Design consultation for students in undergraduate courses that may involve troubleshooting CAD models and simulations and electrical circuit design.
• Creates and conducts instructional studios for students on various prototyping techniques and equipment.
• Supervises co-op or Work Learn undergraduate students for projects in the makerspace
• Provides purchase and inventory recommendations for the design makerspace and labs.
• Performs other duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Exercises a considerable amount of judgment, responsibility, and initiative in determining work procedures and methods. Decisions made in this position are crucial to the operation of the laboratory. Any errors made and failure to follow procedures and direction could result in disruptions to course planning and/or safety concerns and will result in the delay of production of course or academic laboratory services.
Supervision Received
The incumbent works under minimum supervision, receiving specific instructions only on unusual problems or on matters which depart significantly from established policy and procedure.
Supervision Given
This position may supervise other employees upon occasion, such as work-learn or co-op students.
Minimum Qualifications
Completion of a university degree in a relevant discipline or technical program and a minimum four years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Some positions may require a graduate degree.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a design makerspace strongly preferred.
• Excellent knowledge of the fundamentals of engineering design is strongly preferred.
• Experience with workshops, mechanical tools, and 3D printing is strongly preferred.
• Experience with SolidWorks and/or AutoCAD is strongly preferred
• Experience with circuit design is strongly preferred
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to exercise initiative, judgment, discretion, and diplomacy.
• Ability to track many small tasks and make steady progress.
• Experience with MATLAB is an asset.
• Experience in an academic laboratory setting is an asset.
• Knowledge of Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is an asset.
• Ability to design and implement new systems/programs to optimize efficiency and workflows.