Engineering Student Machine Shop Instructor

Waterloo International; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 73,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Waterloo seeks a temporary, full-time Engineering Student Machine Shop Instructor to teach and mentor undergrad and grad students in machining and fabrication. The role primarily uses the Engineering Project Shop (E7) and the Engineering Student Machine Shop (E5) with potential Wood Shop duties in E5 to meet demand.

You will supervise all shop users, enforce safety regulations, maintain equipment and inventory, and provide feedback on student designs, ensuring safe and productive

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma and a Certificate of Qualification (Ontario preferred) in one of the trades.
• 7+ years of demonstrated experience in a broad spectrum of metalworking machinery and related trades.
• Extensive teaching and mentoring experience in a shop setting is required.
• Experience with CNC tools and MasterCam is an asset.
• Woodworking and CNC routers are assets.
• Basic MS Office skills.

Responsibilities

• Teach manufacturing techniques and demonstrate manufacturing skills.
• Instruct inexperienced students, individually or in small groups, in fundamental machining knowledge and fabrication techniques.
• Demonstrate the correct use of machine shop equipment and tools.
• Review student designs and provide safety, manufacturability, and tooling feedback prior to machining.
• Maintain machine shop equipment and inventory.
• Ensure safety compliance and PPE usage; monitor occupancy.
• Assist the manager with daily supervision of undergraduate co-op students.
• Provide assistance for instructors and staff during learning activities in the Engineering Design Clinic.

Skills

Teaching experience

Mentoring

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

High School Diploma

Ontario certificate of qualification

Tools

MasterCam

CNC routers

Job description

At the University of Waterloo, we create and promote a culture where everyone can reach their full potential. As an employee, you get support & opportunities that empower you to advance your career. Explore how we can bring big ideas to life, together. The University is a welcoming workplace for those of all abilities, interests, and expertise. As part of our workforce, you can do what you do best, every day. Learn more about our recruitment process.

Job Requisition ID: 2026-02440 Time Type: Full time Employee Group: Staff Job Category: Academic Delivery Support Employment Type: Temporary Department: Faculty of Engineering - Dean of Engineering Office - Sedra Student Design Centre Hiring Range: $72,523.53 - $90,654.42 Posting Information: This posting is for an existing vacancy. Term: 1 year This position is being offered as a temporary contract

Job Description: Primary Purpose The Engineering Student Machine Shop Instructor teaches the knowledge, demonstrates the skills, as well as approves and enables the activities required for undergraduate and graduate Engineering students and other approved individuals to safely use the equipment and resources of the Engineering Student Shops. The primary location of the job will be the Engineering Project Shop located in Engineering 7 and the Engineering Student Machine Shop located in Engineering 5. Depending on demand, the job may also be located in the Wood Shop in E5.

Key Accountabilities

• Teach manufacturing techniques and demonstrate manufacturing skills
• Teach inexperienced students, both individually and in a small group setting, fundamental machining knowledge and fabrication techniques
• Demonstrate the correct use of machine shop equipment and tools
• Give opportunities for practice and demonstrate techniques that enhance and develop students’ machining and fabrication skills
• Establish a mentoring relationship with students who use the shop frequently
• Approve student activities, monitor progress and provide feedback
• Respond to questions regarding proper and safe use of machine shop equipment
• Review student designs and drawings and provide feedback that includes safety considerations, manufacturability, skill level, and tooling and equipment requirements prior to giving permission for machining
• Approve equipment set up and monitor progress of machining, especially for new users
• Direct and control student activities, particularly when a machining or fabrication process must be modified or stopped immediately due to safety concerns
• Supervise all shop users
• Ensure that all shop users comply with all safety requirements, including maximum occupancy, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), securing loose clothing or long hair, etc.
• Enforce all safety regulations in regards to safe operation of all equipment as specified in the Safety Manual and the Standard Operation Procedures
• Assist the manager with the day to day supervision of undergraduate co-op students
• Provide assistance for instructors and staff as they host learning activities within the facilities of the Engineering Design Clinic
• Maintain machine shop equipment and inventory
• Ensure that all shop equipment is in safe working order, i.e. performing routine pre-use inspections, verifying safety features are in place and adjusted properly, and notifying the Manager of any deficiencies
• Perform regular scheduled maintenance and repairs of equipment as required
• Assist the Manager with monthly safety inspections
• Maintain inventory of tooling and shop supplies that are available to students
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Education High School Diploma and a Certificate of Qualification (Ontario preferred) in one of the following trades: General Machinist, Tool & Die Maker, Mould Maker
• 7+ years of demonstrated experience in a broad spectrum of metalworking machinery and a suite of skills applicable to the machining / fabricating trades
• Extensive teaching and mentoring experience of students and/or apprentices in a shop setting required
• Highly skilled in all machining and fabrication methods and techniques
• Experience in the tracking and maintaining of supply inventory
• Experience with maintaining and repairing tools and machinery
• Experience programming and operating CNC machine tools in combination with expertise using current versions of MasterCam is an asset
• Experience with wood working and CNC routers is an asset
• Basic MS Office skills
• Excellent communication skills to train and demonstrate machining skills to both individual or small groups
• Comfortable with providing constructive feedback to students
• Ability to maintain attention to detail in a fast paced, multitasking environment
• Ability to manage multiple, competing priorities
• Confident problem-solving abilities

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations. The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada. The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources [e-mail] or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.

At the University of Waterloo, we think differently, we act with purpose, and we work together. We advance learning and knowledge through teaching, research, and scholarship, nationally and internationally, in an environment of free expression and enquiry. We are a leading global research-intensive university, renowned for entrepreneurship and innovation, providing co-op and work-integrated learning at scale with impact. Learn more about Waterloo