Lab Machining Assistant

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Job Summary

Under direct supervision, provides support to the Jim Hall Design and Prototyping Lab supervisor in the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering.

The Jim Hall Design and Prototyping Lab is responsible for providing instructional and laboratory support to Caltech students. The facility provides supervision and instruction for undergraduates in at least four courses. The facility also provides supervision and instruction to graduate students in the design and construction of research apparatus, as well as support to numerous undergraduate and SURF students.

This is an Essential Reporting position. An employee designated as essential reporting has essential job skills that are needed for response and recovery and is expected to report to campus as soon as possible.

Essential Job Duties

• Maintain and oversee student’s safe operations by adhering to the safety procedures and regulations.
• Assist in teaching machining and prototyping classes.
• Oversee the shop when the lab supervisor in not present.
• Instruct students in the basic operations of all shop equipment.
• Work closely with the shop supervisor ensuring that all equipment operations and safety procedures are being followed by the users, this includes undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, staff, and faculty.
• Responsible for the daily maintenance, adjustments, cleanup, and startup of all machines, including but not limited to lathes, mills, band saws, laser cuter, 3D-printers, and waterjet machines.
• Design and/or fabricate various components, fixtures, tooling, apparatuses, etc. under the instruction of the lab supervisor.
• Perform shop inventory tasks.
• Account for and organize toolboxes, hand tools, etc.
• Assist shop supervisor in restocking of supplies such as drill bits, end mills, fasteners, etc.
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of five (5) years’ work experience in operating conventional milling machines, conventional lathes, band saws, 3D- printers, and laser cutters.
• Minimum of three (3) years’ work experience in operating waterjets, CNC lathes, and 4-axis CNC mills.
• Have a good understanding of SolidWorks and be proficient in CNC programs using HSMWorks.
• In-depth knowledge of metrology tools and possess the ability to instruct students in their uses and operation.
• Must be dependable and mechanically inclined with exceptional organizational skills.
• In-depth knowledge of safely operating shop equipment; mills, lathes, waterjet, etc.
• Must be able to work assigned work hours: Monday – Friday from 11:30am – 8:00pm.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Documents.
• Must have exceptional communication skills.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand.
• The employee frequently is required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• Twisting, kneeling, and squatting may be required.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 80 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.
• The employee must be able to frequently stand and bend for lengthy periods of time.

Work Conditions

• General shop conditions. Cement flooring, occasional oil spill onto the floor, high levels of noise produced by the equipment and machinery.
• May be required to wear hearing protection.
• Will be required to wear foot and eye protection.
• Fluorescent lighting.
• Easy access to bathrooms and water fountain.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• BS degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent work experience.
• 10+ years working in a prototyping facility that utilizes both conventional and CNC machinery.
• 5+ years using the following software: SolidWorks, MasterCam, and HSMWorks.
• Ability to read and understand engineering drawings, including geometric dimensioning and tolerances (GD&T).
• Understanding of ISO Fits & Tolerances charts and the ability to instruct them. 
• Possess a high level of interpersonal skills to effectively interact with faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students.
• In-depth knowledge of shop safety and the safe operations of all shop equipment and tools.
• Skilled in the various welding process: MIG, TIG, arc, and oxygen-acetylene welding.
• Knowledge of electric motors, motor controllers, microprocessors, various sensors, etc. for assisting students with their various robotic projects.
• Experienced in brazing, soft, and silver soldering process.
• Experienced in editing a Wikidot site.

Required Documents

• Resume