Scientific Machinist

University of Victoria; Victoria; On-site; CAD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Victoria's Faculty of Science Machine Shop seeks a skilled machinist to maintain, repair and fabricate lab equipment for teaching and research across multiple departments. The role involves applying manual and CNC machining, welding, sheet metal, and woodworking to produce custom parts.

You will supervise graduate and undergraduate students, provide guidance on projects, and coordinate with faculty, staff and researchers to ensure safe, timely outcomes.

Qualifications

• Fully trained machinist with Journeyman level certification.
• Experience in welding, sheet metal, plastics and woodworking is a plus.
• Ability to design and fabricate equipment from descriptions, samples or drawings.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and repair teaching and research laboratory equipment.
• Design and fabricate custom scientific equipment using manual and CNC machines.
• Test finished products for performance and safety.
• Operate machines for machining, welding, sheet metal and woodworking tasks promptly.
• Provide supervision and guidance to students (grad and undergrad) and other shop users.
• Liaise with faculty, staff, researchers and students across the Faculty of Science and university community.

Skills

Creative and adaptable

Initiative and vision

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work under interruptions

Superior machining techniques

SolidWorks

Mastercam

HASS CNC mill

Safety practices

Education

Journeyman machinist

Tools

SolidWorks

Mastercam

HASS CNC mill

Job description

The Faculty of Science Machine Shop provides support to the teaching and research programs within the departments of Physics & Astronomy, Chemistry, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Biology, and Biochemistry & Microbiology.

As part of the lab team, this position maintains and repairs teaching and research laboratory equipment; designs and fabricates custom scientific equipment (using both manual and CNC machines) based on verbal descriptions, samples, prototypes, or drawings; tests finished products for performance and safety; operates a variety of machines to perform machining, welding, sheet metal, and woodworking tasks in a timely manner; and must regularly service, repair, clean and upgrade shop equipment. This position also provides supervision and assistance/guidance to students (graduate and undergraduate), and other shop users with their projects in the shop, and liaises with faculty, staff, researchers and students the Faculty of Science and within the university community.

Skills

• Must be a highly creative, flexible individual with the ability to improve, adapt and/or design equipment, methods, and procedures in response to changing user demands.
• Requires an individual with initiative and vision who will continually work towards improving services for our instructors, students and researchers.
• Must have excellent communication skills are essential in order to work effectively with a wide variety of shop users including students (both undergraduate and graduate), researchers, staff, and faculty.
• The ability to work efficiently and accurately in spite of interruptions and tight deadlines is expected.
• Possess superior technical ability with a wide range of machining techniques
• Proficiency in SolidWorks, Mastercam, and operation of HASS CNC mill.
• Must have a thorough knowledge of established safety practices.

Specialized Knowledge/Education

Must be a fully trained machinist, Journeyman level.

Experience

Preference is given to skills developed in a professional environment though self-taught skill development is an added benefit that demonstrates a passion for the trade.

Experience with welding (TIG, MIG, plasma-arc, oxy-acetylene, silver solder, stick welding and plastic welding), sheet metal fabrication, plastic fabrication (acryllics and other polymers), and finished woodworking are a preferred asset.