RESEARCH ENGINEER (II) (ENG-ECE)

McMaster University; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

McMaster University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering invites applications for the Research Engineer (II) position to support the ORF-LIF project and establish a new RF-to-THz lab. The role involves installing and testing advanced instrumentation across DC to optical frequencies, maintaining documentation, and coordinating collaborations with researchers and industry partners.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on electronics, control systems, and instrumentation experience,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering in a relevant field of study.
• Requires a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with electronics testing and lab instrumentation is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, and assemble equipment and instruments.
• Conduct standardized research experiments using specialized equipment.
• Analyze and solve complex problems in research contracts and projects.
• Write technical reports and data analyses for journal publications and contract reports.
• Coordinate equipment use and lab access, and maintain the equipment in working order.

Skills

Electronics

Control systems

Instrumentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

Schedule Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30 pm, 35 hours/week

Education Level Bachelor's degree in Engineering in a relevant field of study

Career Level Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience

Ranked among the top engineering schools in Canada and worldwide, the Faculty of Engineering. has a reputation for innovative programs, cutting-edge research, leading faculty, and aspiring students. Engineering faculty, staff and students at McMaster pursue research and learning in more than 22 research centres, institutes and networks whose interdisciplinary pursuits cross-departmental and faculty boundaries. Outside the University, we regularly collaborate on research projects with partners in universities, the government and more than 100 companies in Canada and abroad.

About the Department

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering stands as one of the largest within the Faculty of Engineering, offering a comprehensive array of academic options. We provide 11-degree programs and are supported by 40 faculty members, each specializing in key areas such as biomedical technologies, communication technology, systems and networks, electrified and autonomous transportation, electromagnetic and photonics, integrated and embedded systems, microelectronics and VLSI, optimization, learning and control, power electronics and electric machines, and signal, image, and video processing. The department nurtures a vibrant community that supports over 200 graduate students and nearly 400 undergraduate students in their academic and professional pursuits.

About the Position

We are welcoming applications for the Short-Term (contract) position of Research Engineer (II). The Research Engineer will provide specialized research support to Prof. Natalia K. Nikolova (Electrical and Computer Engineering) and Prof. Jon Bradley (Engineering Physics) in establishing the new RF-to-THz lab in CEDT under the ORF-LIF project #43198.

The main duties of this role include installation and testing of state-of-the-art electronic test instrumentation (from DC, through millimeter-wave and THz, to optical frequencies) for device and material characterization as well as for sensing and imaging research. The Research Engineer will be responsible for the technical documentation and the electronic inventory of the facility’s instrumentation, for the coordination of equipment use and lab access, for establishing and coordination of collaboration with university researchers and with industry, for supporting researchers and graduate students in their experimental work in the lab, and for maintaining the equipment in working order. Work is to be performed independently and with team members.

Job Summary

Under general direction, responsible for providing specialized engineering support in a specific engineering field or discipline for research and contract projects.

Purpose & Key Functions

• Design, fabricate, and assemble equipment and instruments that require engineering techniques or modifications.
• Conduct standardized research experiments using specialized equipment and instruments.
• Analyze and solve new, unique, and complex problems as presented in research contracts and projects.
• Apply standardized engineering principles and methods from a specialized field or discipline to solve problems.
• Collect, evaluate, and analyze data.
• Write and adapt computer software required for, but not limited to, data collection, design, modelling, and mathematical and statistical analysis.
• Recommend and incorporate new approaches and methodologies into research.
• Write sections of scientific reports and papers for inclusion in journal publications and contract reports.
• Format and summarize data and write technical reports based on research findings.
• Develop and deliver technical presentations to engineering colleagues, industry, and contract agencies.
• Participate in the management of the research project or contract by defining and coordinating resource needs, determining priorities to achieve project goals, and setting schedules that will meet defined deadlines.
• Provide advice in a specialized field to colleagues, collaborators, and students.
• Exchanges technical and scientific information with others.
• Liaise with external clients and project partners.
• May be required to perform activities which require dexterity and precision including, but not limited to, the manual calibration of laboratory equipment, and assembly of circuit boards.
• Remain current with frequent advances in a technical field or scientific discipline.

Supervision

• Ensure adherence to quality standards and procedures for short-term staff and volunteers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering in a relevant field of study.
• Requires a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience.

Assets

• Prior experience working in a post-secondary environment is considered a strong asset.

Additional Information

This position will be responsible for the following duties, including but not limited to:

• Coordinating the procurement of equipment for the new facility, including comparative technical analysis of competitive bids, and coordinating demos and training sessions with vendors.
• Instrument installation and on-site testing.
• Collecting, writing, and updating technical documentation (safety instructions, manuals, training videos, industry standards and government regulatory guidelines)
• Maintaining and updating the electronic inventory of the facility’s instrumentation, its repairs and/or calibration schedules.
• Coordinating the equipment use and the lab access.
• Promoting and coordinating collaboration with university researchers and with industry
• Aiding the development of industrial and academic research collaboration through research grant proposals and contracts.
• Training researchers and graduate students on how to use the equipment and assisting them in their experimental set up and measurements.
• Maintaining all equipment in working order through coordinated engagement with suppliers and manufacturers.

The successful candidate must have and/or demonstrate:

• Exceptional management, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication (verbal and written) and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build relationships with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Resourcefulness and creativity when resolving issues and maintaining workflows.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and make technical decisions with minimal supervision.
• Hands-on experience with electronics, control systems, and/or instrumentation.
• Prior experience in one or several of the following fields: microwave and millimeter-wave engineering, radars, antenna engineering, opto-electronics, electronic test instrumentation, semiconductor device characterization, electromagnetic material characterization.
• A high degree of professionalism and integrity.

Flexibility is required to work occasional evenings, weekends and evening hours to meet the demands of the position.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

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At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to [e-mail] or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.

AI Statement

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