Technician

Job Summary

The Laboratory Technician's primary responsibility is to support the smooth operation of the School of Engineering teaching and research laboratories. This position will work with faculty members and will train graduate research assistants and teaching assistants. This position will also carry out complex, precise tasks requiring comprehensive technical knowledge and skills. The incumbent will be responsible for fabricating and/or assembling complex equipment and test fixtures, as well as prepare test samples as needed for use in teaching and research facilities. The candidate must also demonstrate proper and safe use of instrumentation, machinery, and laboratory equipment. This position will procure, install, and maintain equipment and maintain lab manuals. The incumbent will understand university safety guidelines, purchasing and receiving procedures.

Organizational Status
The incumbent will report to the School of Engineering Laboratory Manager. This position interacts directly with undergraduate and graduate students and faculty members. This position must interact on a regular basis with the School of Engineering Machine Shop and other technical staff within the School of Engineering. This position must also interact with technical support and sales staff at the various companies that supply equipment and consumables.

Work Performed

Provides research support by:

Working closely with researchers and research assistants to ensure projects, laboratories and research schedules are met and that all safety aspects are implemented;

Building or fabricating test fixtures as needed using sketches, schematics, functional drawings and/or as per researcher's instructions;

Working with hydraulic testing machines to test full size civil columns and beams to failure;

Working with a strong floor, strong wall and post tensioning equipment to secure items for testing;

Working with chemistry related tools such as spectrophotometer, automatic pipetter, analytical balance, muffle furnace, incubator, centrifuge, autoclave etc.;

Working with researchers to develop new laboratory experiments and improving existing laboratory experiments;

Assisting with adapting, modifying and maintaining equipment and providing troubleshooting support to researchers and research assistants;

Developing solutions to technical problems and applying or recommending corrective or alternative methods;

Assembling and testing research equipment prior to use to verify proper operational status;

Adapting, modifying, servicing and maintaining test equipment per established maintenance schedules and manufacturers specifications;

Arranging for and overseeing the repair of instruments that need service calls;

Support student clubs with manufacturing of parts and assisting in procuring materials.

Trains users in new techniques and provides support by:

Understanding equipment functions and training users in the safe operation of research and undergraduate teaching lab equipment. Instruction may be in the context of one-on-one training sessions or small groups;

Communicating and ensuring adherence to safe operating procedures;

Documenting training procedures and compiling equipment use manuals.

Provides procurement support to researchers by:

Coordinating major equipment purchases for researchers, working with various vendors, arranging competitive quotes;

Ordering replacement parts as well as receiving equipment and supplies, and then dispersing and assembling equipment;

Sourcing supplies and new equipment and critically evaluating equipment costs for recommendation to purchase;

Purchasing consumable materials and coordinating sample deliveries to other testing facilities;

Responsible for credit card purchases and reconciliation;

Ordering replacement parts and maintaining a minimal stock of expendable items;

Maintaining an inventory of research equipment and consumable supplies.

Coordinating equipment installation with researchers by:

Coordinating purchases according to School of Engineering procedures and University policies, ensuring documentation is complete;

Coordinating research lab renovations and minor capital projects;

Coordinating IT Services and Facilities participation in major and minor equipment installations and subsequent renovations;

Initiating work orders or any other communication necessary in response to any problems or issues that arise in the above.

Supports the undergraduate teaching labs by:

Setting up undergraduate teaching lab equipment and test setups utilizing lab manuals and approved school procedures;

Working in the chemistry undergrad lab handling glassware;

Assisting teaching assistants and students with the operation of lab equipment;

Servicing and maintaining test equipment as per established maintenance schedules and manufacturers specifications;

Assembling and testing lab equipment prior to use in lab to verify proper operational status;

Maintaining and repairing equipment if necessary.

Provides a safe laboratory and educational environment by:

Verifying that tools and lab equipment have the proper safety guidelines in place prior to use;

Keeping first aid kits properly stocked and reorder supplies when stock is expended or expired;

Maintaining SDS (Safety Data Sheets) and safety manuals as inventory is entered into each lab;

Providing support on the use of safety equipment for the School;

Understanding and implementing safety guidelines as provided by the university health and safety office;

Understanding and following the requirements as provided by WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) and GHS (Globally Harmonized System);

Monitoring lab safety during labs and correcting issues as they occur.

Provides support to the School of Engineering by:

Participating in School meetings and events;

Representing the School of Engineering on the safety committee, undertaking safety related tasks and duties.

Provides other related duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Judgment requires a thorough understanding of the policies and procedures as prescribed by the University, the Faculty of Applied Science and the School of Engineering. The incumbent will be required to work independently with minimal supervision and is expected to perform duties in a precise and timely manner. Many research programs depend on the operation of this facility. Poor decisions regarding safety procedures and/or poor maintenance of the facilities could prove a risk to users. Errors in this context could result in personal injuries, expensive repairs and unavailability of equipment needed for teaching and research. Improper time management could lead to delays in providing lab results or access to users thus negatively affecting outcomes. Student and lab safety is paramount. Failure to follow safety guidelines could result in personal injury or loss of equipment. Poorly maintained equipment could cause injury to students or be detrimental to the outcome of experiments causing loss of time and valuable research information.

Supervision Received
This position receives minimal supervision. The employee is expected to initiate tasks and to complete them autonomously. This position will receive broad direction from the School of Engineering Laboratory Manager and may receive direction from professors who they are assisting. The incumbent will be expected to execute their assigned tasks independently.

Supervision Given
The incumbent will assist in the supervision and training of colleague employees, graduate students and teaching assistants to support research, student projects and undergraduate teaching labs. Approximately 20-30 students (Teaching Assistants and Graduate Students) will be trained on experiments and on various pieces of equipment. It is estimated that this position will spend up to 50% of their time training or supervising students.

Qualifications
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.

Postsecondary degree in civil or mechanical engineering.

Over 2 years' experience in private sector or educational laboratory environment is required, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Ability to carry out complex tasks with little supervision.

Demonstrated ability to take initiative, exercise good judgment and resolve technical problems.

Demonstrated ability to prioritize work, multi-task and work under pressure to meet deadlines.

Effective oral and written communication, interpersonal, customer service, and organizational skills.

Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills and knowledge of safety issues.

Excellent computer skills using Microsoft Office products and the ability to learn new systems as they come on line.

Ability to comprehend and interpret University policies, procedures, manuals, handbooks and reports.

Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail. First Aid and WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous

Materials Information System) certification is an asset.

Ability to work independently or within a team

with minimal supervision is expected.