CoE Innovation Labs Student Assistant (iLabs)

OSU Oregon State University; Corvallis (OR); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Oregon State University is seeking Innovation Labs Students to support the College of Engineering shop operations on a part‑time basis. Tasks include operating and maintaining machines, diagnosing problems with staff, and applying engineering solutions to improve safety and efficiency.

You will advise iLabs users, assist full‑time machinists with prototyping, and help redesign shop layouts. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited program and meet OSU's enrollment requirements.

Qualifications

• Must be academically enrolled in a high school, community college, or university and pursuing a program or course of study.
• Must meet Academic Standing Requirements; students on academic suspension are not eligible for employment.
• Must meet the applicable minimal enrollment standard.
• High School student: Regularly enrolled in a high school or participating in a home‑schooling program.
• Undergraduate and post‑baccalaureate student: 6 credit hours per term.
• Undergraduate international student: 12 credit hours per term*.
• Graduate student officially admitted to Graduate School: 5 credit hours per term.
• Graduate international student officially admitted to Graduate School: 9 credit hours per term*.
• International students may be allowed to carry fewer hours than specified above and still be considered “full‑time” by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A reduced course load is approved by the Office of International Services (OIS), and must be provided to the Student Employment Center.
• Required Demonstrated ability to safely work in a shop environment or similarly hazardous workspace.
• Experience or significant interest in manual and computer‑driven manufacturing processes.
• Experience or significant interest in designing products and/or engineering solutions.
• This position is designated as a critical or security‑sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Criminal History Check and be determined to be position qualified as per OSU Standard 576‑055‑0000 et seq. Incumbents are required to self‑report convictions and those in Youth Programs may have additional Criminal History Checks every 2 years.

Responsibilities

• Operate, calibrate, and maintain machines, equipment, and tools.
• Consult with full time staff to diagnose existing problems, and assist in the generation of new solutions as appropriate.
• Under the guidance and advice of full‑time staff, develop and apply creative engineering solutions intended to facilitate improved shop operations and maintain a safe, functional working environment.
• Advise iLabs users, build connections with peers and other user groups, and improve user experience through the application of thoughtful advice.
• Direct users toward appropriate solution(s) while maintaining a respectful and empowering environment.
• Support full‑time Machinists with research prototyping and production jobs, implementing strategies and techniques developed via trainings and co‑work with other staff.
• Cooperate with full‑time staff and other student workers to develop and implement shop layout and organizational solutions.
• Assist with relocation of large machines, equipment, and materials, both manually and with mechanical assistance.
• Perform duties and tasks in support of the College of Engineering and its facilities, under guidance from iLabs and/or College of Engineering Facilities staff.

Skills

CNC machining

CAD software

Lathes & mills

Woodworking & metalworking

Shop safety awareness

Education

Enrollment in college/university

Academic standing compliance

Tools

CNC machines

CAD software

Job description

Job Description

This recruitment will be used to fill 4 part-time (a maximum of 24 hours per week) Innovation Labs Students for the College of Engineering at Oregon State University (OSU).

Position Duties

• Operate, calibrate, and maintain machines, equipment, and tools.
• Consult with full time staff to diagnose existing problems, and assist in the generation of new solutions as appropriate.
• Under the guidance and advice of full‑time staff, develop and apply creative engineering solutions intended to facilitate improved shop operations and maintain a safe, functional working environment.
• Advise iLabs users, build connections with peers and other user groups, and improve user experience through the application of thoughtful advice.
• Direct users toward appropriate solution(s) while maintaining a respectful and empowering environment.
• Support full‑time Machinists with research prototyping and production jobs, implementing strategies and techniques developed via trainings and co‑work with other staff.
• Cooperate with full‑time staff and other student workers to develop and implement shop layout and organizational solutions.
• Assist with relocation of large machines, equipment, and materials, both manually and with mechanical assistance.
• Perform duties and tasks in support of the College of Engineering and its facilities, under guidance from iLabs and/or College of Engineering Facilities staff.

Transferable Skill Development

OSU is committed to ensuring students are prepared for success after graduation through intentional skill development as student employees. The competencies students develop while working at OSU are defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) as the essential skills employers seek in their hires. In this position, students learn and build vital career‑readiness skills in the primary areas below: Communication, Critical Thinking, Teamwork, Technology, Leadership, Professionalism.

Qualifications

Full Employment Eligibility Requirements can be found here: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/student-employment-manual/500-employment-eligibility-requirements

• Must be academically enrolled in a high school, community college, or university and pursuing a program or course of study.
• Must meet Academic Standing Requirements; students on academic suspension are not eligible for employment.
• Must meet the applicable minimal enrollment standard.
• High School student: Regularly enrolled in a high school or participating in a home‑schooling program.
• Undergraduate and post‑baccalaureate student: 6 credit hours per term.
• Undergraduate international student: 12 credit hours per term*.
• Graduate student officially admitted to Graduate School: 5 credit hours per term.
• Graduate international student officially admitted to Graduate School: 9 credit hours per term*.
• International students may be allowed to carry fewer hours than specified above and still be considered “full‑time” by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A reduced course load is approved by the Office of International Services (OIS), and must be provided to the Student Employment Center.
• Required Demonstrated ability to safely work in a shop environment or similarly hazardous workspace.
• Experience or significant interest in manual and computer‑driven manufacturing processes.
• Experience or significant interest in designing products and/or engineering solutions.
• This position is designated as a critical or security‑sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Criminal History Check and be determined to be position qualified as per OSU Standard 576‑055‑0000 et seq. Incumbents are required to self‑report convictions and those in Youth Programs may have additional Criminal History Checks every 2 years.

Preferred:

• 1+ year of experience in CNC machining or CNC related coursework and/or work experience.
• 1+ year of experience in product design using CAD software, and/or experience programming CNC toolpaths using CAM software.
• 1+ year of experience with lathes, mills, or similar.
• Experience with woodworking and/or metalworking tools.

Working Conditions / Schedule

Work to be performed in Innovation Labs located in Rogers, Merryfield, and Graf Halls.

Salary

Salary Range: Anticipated Start Date: 2026‑09‑18 Anticipated End Date: Working for Oregon State University is so much more than a job! Oregon State University is a dynamic community of dreamers, doers, problem‑solvers and change‑makers. We don’t wait for challenges to present themselves — we seek them out and take them on. We welcome students, faculty and staff from every background and perspective into a community where everyone feels seen and heard. We have deep‑rooted mindfulness for the natural world and all who depend on it, and together, we apply knowledge, tools and skills to build a better future for all.

Facts

Top 1.4% university in the world
More research funding than all public universities in Oregon combined
1 of 3 land, sea, space, and sun grant universities in the United States
2 campuses, 11 colleges, 12 experiment stations, and Extension programs in all 36 counties
7 cultural resource centers that offer education, celebration and belonging for everyone
100+ undergraduate degree programs, 80+ graduate degrees plus hundreds of minor options and certificates
35k+ students including more than 2.3k international students and 10k students of color
217k+ alumni worldwide

Locations

Oregon State has a statewide presence with campuses in Corvallis and Bend, the OSU Portland Center and the Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Pacific Coast in Newport. Oregon State’s beautiful, historic, and state‑of‑the‑art main campus is located in one of America’s best college towns. Corvallis is located close to the Pacific Ocean, the Cascade mountains and Oregon wine country. Nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley, this beautiful city offers miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, a river perfect for boating or kayaking and an eclectic downtown featuring local cuisine, popular events and performances.

Total Rewards Package

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Basic Life. OSU pays 95% of premiums for you and your eligible dependents.
• Free confidential mental health and emotional support services, and counseling resources.
• Retirement savings paid by the university.
• A generous paid leave package, including holidays, vacation and sick leave.
• Tuition reduction benefits for you or your qualifying dependents at OSU or the additional six Oregon Public Universities.
• Robust Work Life programs including Dual Career assistance resources, flexible work arrangements, a Family Resource Center, Affinity Groups and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Optional lifestyle benefits such as pet, accident, and critical care insurance, giving you peace of mind and the support you need to thrive in all aspects of your life.
• Future and current OSU employees can use the Benefits Calculator to learn more about the full value of the benefits provided at OSU.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

At Oregon State University, no qualified person shall, solely by reason of disability, be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of, any program or activity operated by the University. If requested, OSU will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants in order to provide access to the application, interviewing and selection process. You are not required to note the presence of a disability on your application to receive an accommodation. Please request any reasonable accommodations for disability as early as possible in the application and search process. Requests may be directed to the hiring unit, or to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at [phone]. See Request an Accommodation Procedures for the OSU policy.

Oregon State University, in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, including Title IX and its regulations, does not unlawfully discriminate and prohibits discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, including in academic admissions and employment. The university prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin (including ancestry and ethnicity), citizenship, marital or family status, pregnancy or related conditions, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status / service in the uniformed service, or any other status protected by law or OSU policy. Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to OSU’s Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (link to https://ocrcas.ed.gov/contact-ocr), or both. OSU’s Title IX Coordinator is the Executive Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access (EOA). For information on OSU’s nondiscrimination policy and procedures, including how to report information about conduct that may constitute discrimination or make a complaint of sex discrimination under Title IX, contact EOA by phone: [phone], email: [e-mail], mail/location: 330 Snell Hall, Corvallis OR 97331, or visit EOA’s website: eoa.oregonstate.edu. Know Your Rights Oregon Family Leave Act: Department of Labor Family and Medical Leave Act: