BELS Teaching Lab Junior Engineer

University of California, Santa Cruz; California; Hybrid; USD 44,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Santa Cruz invites applications for the Baskin Engineering Lab Support Junior Engineer. The role supports more than 20 lab courses across multiple departments, directly impacting over 1,600 students each quarter. It oversees specialized equipment, test instruments, and software essential for hands-on learning.

The position includes lab supplies sourcing, inventory control, AV support for events, and coordination with teaching labs. Primary campus work with possible remote periods.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Basic knowledge of engineering principles and methods to perform entry-level professional engineering functions.
• Analytical skills and strong skills in attention to detail.
• Effective verbal communication skills.
• Effective written communication skills.
• Analytical and judgment skills to conduct analyses and develop appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to work in a collaborative manner.
• Experienced in operating lab benchtop test and measurement equipment, including multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators, power supplies, etc.
• Ability to solder circuit boards and components.
• Demonstrated proficiency in writing computer programs in at least one major programming language such as Java, C, C++, C#, or Python.

Responsibilities

• Source and purchase lab supplies, assemble technical kits for engineering courses, and distribute course supplies to students.
• Maintain inventory control for instructional equipment, components, and course kits.
• Respond to requests, maintain supplies, and conduct maintenance on specialized systems such as poster printers, 3D printers, laser cutters, circuit board milling/routing machines, and other systems yet to be determined, learning these systems thoroughly and developing and documenting procedures to maintain systems and respond to requests.
• Moves and secures equipment as needed, including fabricating and installing physical security devices such as cables and padlocks.
• Verifies operation and troubleshoots multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators, and other test equipment.
• Provides basic-level training on the use of multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators, and other test equipment to teaching assistants and undergraduate students.
• Identifies and implements improvements to BELS processes and service delivery, including designing and building solutions that increase the unit's capacity to support a growing range of instructional and technical services.
• Provides training to students on the safe use of fabrication lab equipment such as laser cutters, drill presses, and hand and power tools.
• Advises and provides design/fabrication services to research labs via recharge reimbursement, as time permits.

Skills

Programming languages

Analytical skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Collaborative work

Equipment operation

Soldering

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related area

Tools

CAD software

Job description

JOB POSTING

NO VISA SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION.

Applicants must have current work authorization when accepting a Baskin Engineering or affiliate staff position. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for staff.

THIS RECRUITMENT WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

About Uc Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

Department Overview

Originally founded in 1997, the Baskin School of Engineering is the first professional school at UC Santa Cruz. Over the past 20 years, Baskin Engineering has become a unique 21st-century school of engineering and technology, characterized by evolutionary growth fueled by ongoing research opportunities that open new areas of intellectual inquiry. Baskin Engineering has grown to include six academic departments, various research centers, and institutes, and it has ambitious plans for further programmatic growth. The focus of Baskin Engineering's educational programming is to instill strong basic knowledge for sound practice in science and ethical engineering for the well‑being of society, and its diverse curricula facilitate creative thinking and prepare students for productive and rewarding careers. Baskin Engineering is focused on building collaborative connections and expanding instruction and research activities for faculty and students at UC Santa Cruz, both at its Santa Cruz campus and at its campus in Silicon Valley, the international center of technological innovation.

Baskin Engineering champions new ideas and upholds the UCSC Principles of Community.

The Baskin Engineering Lab Support (BELS) group operates and supports all specialized teaching labs in the Baskin School of Engineering. BELS provides hardware engineering, embedded software engineering, and technical support services specifically related to instruction for Baskin Engineering. BELS schedules services and operates the specialized undergraduate engineering teaching labs, including a small fabrication space at Baskin Engineering. BELS instructional labs are primarily located in the Baskin Engineering and Engineering 2 buildings, but at times, BELS supports instruction at other main campus buildings and off-campus locations, such as Westside Research Park (WRP). BELS also provides technical advice, design, fabrication, poster printing, 3D printing services, laser cutting, circuit board fabrication, and equipment loans and rentals to undergraduate students, graduate students, researchers, and faculty, sometimes via recharge or miscellaneous fee reimbursement. Additionally, BELS operates the Baskin Engineering receiving services and provides support for audio‑visual equipment in the Baskin Engineering event spaces.

More information can be found at https://bels.engineering.ucsc.edu/

Job Summary

The BELS Teaching Lab Junior Engineer supports more than 20 lab courses across multiple departments and instructional spaces, directly impacting more than 1,600 students each quarter. The incumbent oversees specialized equipment, test and measurement instrumentation, and software essential for instructional purposes. These tools are crucial for hands‑on learning, the practical application of theoretical concepts, building core technical competencies, and enhancing the quality of education provided by Baskin Engineering.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $32.09 - $44.10/hour. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: TX Union

Job Code Classification: 004756 (RSCH AND DEV ENGR 1 TX)

Travel: Never or Rarely

Job Duties

50% - Instructional Lab Support

• Sources and purchases lab supplies, assembles technical kits for engineering courses, and distributes course supplies to students.
• Maintains inventory control for instructional equipment, components, and course kits.
• Responds to requests, maintains supplies, and conducts maintenance on specialized systems such as poster printers, 3D printers, laser cutters, circuit board milling/routing machines, and other systems yet to be determined, learning these systems thoroughly and developing and documenting procedures to maintain systems and respond to requests.
• Moves and secures equipment as needed, including fabricating and installing physical security devices such as cables and padlocks.
• Verifies operation and troubleshoots multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators, and other test equipment.
• Provides basic-level training on the use of multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators, and other test equipment to teaching assistants and undergraduate students.
• Identifies and implements improvements to BELS processes and service delivery, including designing and building solutions that increase the unit's capacity to support a growing range of instructional and technical services.
• Provides training to students on the safe use of fabrication lab equipment such as laser cutters, drill presses, and hand and power tools.
• Advises and provides design/fabrication services to research labs via recharge reimbursement, as time permits.

10% - Computer Support for Lab Workstations

• Installs and runs updates for specialized lab software.
• Creates master images for lab computers and distributes them accordingly.
• Troubleshoots software and hardware issues with lab computers.

20% - AV Support for Baskin Engineering Events Spaces

• Operates and troubleshoots installed AV systems.
• Provides all necessary support to users of Baskin Engineering event spaces for the operation of installed AV systems.

20% - Electronics Stockroom, Poster Printing & Receiving Backup

• Maintains and updates electronic stockroom inventory.
• Assists students and faculty with sourcing materials from the stockroom and suppliers.
• Operates the poster printing service and updates process instructions for poster printing.
• Assists Baskin Engineering receiving personnel with the receiving and shipping of materials as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Basic knowledge of engineering principles and methods to perform entry-level professional engineering functions.
• Analytical skills and strong skills in attention to detail.
• Effective verbal communication skills.
• Effective written communication skills.
• Analytical and judgment skills to conduct analyses and develop appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to work in a collaborative manner.
• Experienced in operating lab benchtop test and measurement equipment, including multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators, power supplies, etc.
• Ability to solder circuit boards and components.
• Demonstrated proficiency in writing computer programs in at least one major computer programming language such as Java, C, C++, C#, or Python.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience installing, configuring, upgrading, troubleshooting, and remediating issues on Windows systems.
• Ability to solder surface mount components.
• Experience using 2D or 3D CAD software.
• Experience programming microcontrollers or system-on-a-chip devices.
• Experience operating, troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining various AV hardware.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate will be required to work primarily on campus, with periods of remote work possible based on operational needs. If a hybrid work schedule is confirmed, the selected candidate must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and be able to fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as directed.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as directed.
• Ability to travel to multiple work locations on and off campus.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate