Laboratory Engineer, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Laboratory Engineer, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Primary Purpose: Responsible to independently apply a high level of professional expertise in the design and delivery of the Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics portion of the Mechanical Engineering undergraduate laboratory program, and to provide advanced technical support to research activities and department needs in this and related areas. Responsible to incorporate evolving industry practice in Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics undergraduate laboratories and to remain current on the most advanced research techniques in their area.

Nature of Work: This position reports directly to the Department Head and takes direction from faculty members who specialise in heat transfer.

The person in this position manages the laboratory space and consumables budget for the heat transfer area. This position involves direct instruction of undergraduate students, training of graduate students, and collaboration with faculty on a wide range of activities associated with the research enterprise. A substantial amount of highly-specialised equipment is supported by the position. The incumbent will also contribute to capital equipment planning and will serve on the Department Safety Committee. A major responsibility of the position is to monitor safety issues including, but not limited to, the development of standard operating procedures, recommending and developing specialised training for teaching and research personnel, controlling access to hazardous areas, ensuring secure and safe storage of hazardous substances, and facilitating proper waste disposal.

Typical Duties/Accountabilities:

• Responsible for the development and maintenance of the highest level of laboratory safety standards in the Heat Transfer area. This includes activities such as Development and implementation of standard operating procedures; Recommending/developing specialized safety training for teaching and research personnel; Ensuring the highest level of compliance with all environmental, health and safety regulatory requirements; Ensuring secure storage and disposal of hazardous substances; assessing and mitigating risks associated with operation of laboratories; and participating in the Department Safety Committee.
• Responsible for assigned laboratory modules which contribute to undergraduate and graduate programs development and delivery. This includes activities such as instructing and/or supervising the instruction of the undergraduate and graduate heat transfer laboratory programs; assisting in the development, planning and documentation of new and existing undergraduate and graduate laboratories; setting up undergraduate and graduate laboratory equipment; training and supervising graduate student Laboratory Demonstrators; and participating in the administration of the mechanical engineering undergraduate laboratory program.
• Support experimental and numerical research in the Heat Transfer area. This includes activities such as supporting research through competent operation and further development of laboratory infrastructure; providing direct, specialised technical assistance to graduate students on their research projects; and enabling the development of research capability by acquiring and implementing advanced technical expertise.
• Responsible for procurement and maintenance of infrastructure in the Heat Transfer research area. This includes activities such as achieving a high standard of maintenance for all facilities; ensuring appropriate calibration standards are maintained for all critical instrumentation; and preparing and submitting funding applications for equipment renewal opportunities such as the department’s capital equipment allocation, Engineering Advancement Trust Fund, and research grant applications.
• Provide general and technical department support as required. This includes activities such as ensuring funds used are within budget allocation levels, are effectively stewarded and used in the operation and maintenance of teaching and research laboratories; ensuring both university and college policies and procedures related to key accountabilities are adhered to; contributing to general programing development and supervision of shared department resources. providing service and advice to industry, students, and design groups; and promoting the success of the department by responding to special needs.

Qualifications

Education:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering is required. A Mechanical Engineering degree is highly desirable.
• Formal training and/or demonstrated experience in the operation of specialised equipment, facilities and engineering tools (, computer models and software) used in the heat transfer area would be an advantage.
• Advanced degree(s) in a relevant field would be an advantage.

Licenses: Registration as a Professional Engineer ( with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS), or an equivalent Canadian body, is required for this position.

As a minimum, new hires must be immediately eligible to register with APEGS as an Engineer-in-Training and must become fully registered within four years.

Experience: A minimum of two years of relevant experience is required. A demonstrated commitment to safety protocols in past roles is required. Experience in instructing students is strongly preferred. Aptitude and experience working with instruments common in the field (temperature measurement, humidity measurement, heat exchangers, combustion/fire science measurements etc.) would be highly regarded. General knowledge of instrumentation and data acquisition systems would be an advantage. Experience with LabView programming, other programming languages, and building energy modelling software would be considered a strong advantage.

Skills: Desirable skills include the ability to work within a team, creative thinking, problem solving and troubleshooting skills; effective interpersonal skills; good verbal and written communication skills; and the proven ability to work on multiple projects with competing demands to meet deadlines. Must have the physical ability to perform moderate to heavy physical labour.

This position is in scope of ASPA.