Equipment Technician (Mechanical) (2 Positions)

The California State University; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 62,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

San José State University’s Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering seeks an Equipment Technician III - Mechanical to maintain and upgrade lab equipment across electromechanical and material testing labs. You will support faculty and student projects and train students in safe fabrication practices.

The role ensures safe operation of department labs, collaborates with other technicians, and helps redesign instructional spaces to meet department needs.

Qualifications

• Three years of journey-level or skilled experience maintaining and repairing scientific/technical equipment in the assigned specialty.
• Apprenticeship or military specialization substitutions may apply as noted in the job description.
• A FCC license is required for some positions.

Responsibilities

• Maintains and upgrades equipment and instrumentation in laboratories for assigned departments.
• Performs fault diagnostics and repairs on complex research and teaching equipment.
• Designs and fabricates parts for student and faculty projects.
• Trains students in safe fabrication practices.
• Ensures safe operation of labs, club spaces and machine shops.
• Inventories supplies and orders parts, tools, and instruments.

Skills

Machine shop fabrication

Troubleshooting repair

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Independent work

AI & learning

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CAD/CAM

3D printing

Job description

Job Summary

San José State University’s Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering is an innovative, collaborative, and supportive environment that empowers employees to achieve professional and personal goals while contributing to the university’s student-centered mission. A member of the 23‑campus California State university system, San José State University (SJSU) is situated in the entrepreneurial heart of Silicon Valley. The College of Engineering at San Jose State University comprises ten departments and independent programs which employs nearly 400 faculty and staff to support more than 7,000 local and international students. Committed to excellence and service, the expert staff of the College of Engineering frequently work with multiple external stakeholders and partners from across campus and other institutions.

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Student Success, with Work Lead direction from the Engineering Building & Safety Lead or the Engineering Central Shops Department Lead, the Equipment Technician designs and maintains equipment within the college, with a particular focus on departments to which assigned. The Equipment Technician assists with faculty and student projects, trains students to use safe practices, monitors safety practices in student work spaces in the departments to which assigned, and applies corrective actions as needed.

This position advances strategic initiatives and ensures day‑to‑day business functions are aligned with the core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintains and upgrades equipment and instrumentation in laboratories for the assigned departments, such as electromechanical, material property test, and machine shop equipment.
• Performs fault diagnostics accompanied by highly skilled repair of complex and custom research and teaching equipment.
• Designs and fabricates parts for student and faculty projects.
• Supports redesign of instructional spaces to meet department needs.
• Provides assistance with equipment maintenance and upgrades in other departments in the College of Engineering.
• Ensures safe operation of department labs, club spaces, and machine shops in the assigned departments.
• Trains students in safe fabrication practices.
• Inventories supplies and materials for labs and shops in the assigned departments. Orders parts, tools, and instruments.
• Supervises student assistants.
• Participates as a member of College’s technician team. Interfaces collaboratively and effectively with other College technicians; assists other departments with technical issues when needed.
• Programs and maintains omnilocks for the college.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated skill in basic machine shop fabrication practices and tools such as mill, lathe, CNC, drill press, arc welder, CAD/CAM, 3D printing, and others.
• Ability to troubleshoot and repair, install and replace, modify and maintain equipment and associated instrumentation down to the module level. Examples include pumps, engines, various sensors and gages, ovens, material property testing equipment, wind tunnels, electromechanical devices, and machine shop equipment such as drill presses and lathes. Additional consideration will be given to those candidates with knowledge of data acquisition systems, instrumentation and controls, and those who can weld.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with diverse groups of people including department chairs and faculty, students, other college technicians, facilities and operations, and vendors.
• Ability to identify and initiate tasks, to prioritize tasks, and to work independently.
• Ability and desire to learn new technical skills both on‑the‑job and through pertinent training. This may include the ability to learn, adapt to, and apply artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

Required Qualifications

• Equivalent to three years of progressively responsible journey‑level or skilled experience in the maintenance, repair and operation of scientific or technical equipment in the specialty area to which assigned, including one year involving design modifications and fabrication of complex and highly technical equipment or equivalent to two years of semi‑skilled experience maintaining and repairing scientific or technical equipment or related equipment experience as part of instructional support activities may be substituted for one year of the required experience or equivalent to two years of trade school or technical arts training with specialization in the type of equipment repair to which assigned. Completion of an apprenticeship program or completion of a full military specialization in the required type of equipment maintenance and repair may be substituted for one year of the required experience. A Federal Communications Commission license is required for some positions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in technology or closely related field, or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a technical environment
• Experience with welding and/or supervision of students or junior employees

Compensation

Classification: Equipment Technician III - Mechanical

Anticipated Hiring Range: $5,157/month - $5,583/month (Step 1 – Step 5)

CSU Salary Range: $5,157/month - $7,513/month (Step 1 – Step 20)

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, sex stereotype, and veteran status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff, as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self‑disclose. San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.