Instructional Support Engineer

Purdue University; West Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Purdue University’s School of Mechanical Engineering in West Lafayette is seeking an Instructional Support Engineer to maintain and repair instructional lab equipment, develop documentation, and provide technical guidance for undergraduate labs across multiple campuses. The role drives laboratory modernization and safety initiatives, coordinating with IT and facilities teams.

The position supports the Malott Innovation and Prototyping Suite, manages access systems, and collaborates with faculty

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field.
• Three (3) years of related experience.
• Programming skills using microcontrollers.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day support for equipment and instructional apparatus used in Mechanical Engineering laboratories, coordinating with faculty and TAs to ensure labs are properly equipped, calibrated, and ready to support course schedules.
• Serve as a primary resource for instructional lab operations, including equipment functionality, lab setup, maintenance, troubleshooting, and engineered solutions to equipment failures.
• Provide strategic guidance in developing new laboratory experiments and apparatus, including consultation and support for Indianapolis labs.
• Develop and maintain documentation for the specification, design, fabrication, operation, testing, calibration, maintenance, and repair of instructional equipment.
• Develop, implement, and maintain laboratory safety policies and procedures; train users on safe use of equipment and facilities; review student projects for safety concerns.
• Oversee the Malott Innovation and Prototyping Suite, including maintaining tools, tracking tooling, supporting student projects, and training student employees.
• Manage the safe operation of the paint booth facility, including training, PPE requirements, maintenance, and repairs.
• Create and maintain CAD files, drawings, space maps, and signage for ME facilities; perform field verification and space planning.
• Coordinate building keys and access, maintain records, and manage rekeying when needed.
• Coordinate with Purdue IT on computers, printers, software, networking; assist users with tickets; support equipment moves and lifecycle planning.

Skills

Equipment troubleshooting

Safety communication

Field measurement

Space planning

Documentation

Root cause analysis

Laboratory safety

Cross-functional coordination

Prototyping support

IT coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science/engineering/tech field

Tools

CAD software

Job description

Job Title: Instructional Support Engineer

City: West Lafayette

Job Description:

Job Summary

The Instructional Support Engineer works within the Electronics Shop group at Purdue West Lafayette and serves as a consultant, providing direct support to faculty, staff, and students in Mechanical Engineering’s formal instructional laboratories. This position supports more than nine undergraduate courses across eight instructional labs, as well as three computer labs and Mechanical Engineering printer services. Day-to-day responsibilities include maintaining and repairing instructional lab equipment and ensuring facilities and equipment are ready for each lab session. Much of the equipment consists of custom-designed instrumentation that is not commercially available, requiring the Instructional Support Engineer to develop documentation related to the specification, design, fabrication, testing, calibration, and repair of equipment. The position performs root cause analysis and develops engineered solutions to complex equipment issues to help ensure students can successfully complete lab assignments and achieve curricular goals. This position also provides strategic guidance in the development of new laboratory experiments and apparatus to further modernize the school’s undergraduate program and provides consultation and support for Mechanical Engineering instructional labs in Indianapolis. In addition, the position provides primary support and oversight for the Malott Innovation and Prototyping Suite, including tools, equipment, specialized facilities, and student project needs. Additional responsibilities include managing building keys and card access, creating and maintaining space-use drawings and building signage, and coordinating with Purdue IT on computers, printers, copiers, software installations, networking issues, equipment moves, and other technology needs within Mechanical Engineering.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide day-to-day support for equipment and instructional apparatus used in Mechanical Engineering laboratories, coordinating with faculty and teaching assistants to ensure labs are properly equipped, calibrated, and ready to support course schedules.
• Serve as a primary resource for instructional lab operations, including equipment functionality, lab setup, maintenance, repair, troubleshooting, and engineered solutions to equipment failures.
• Provide strategic guidance in developing new laboratory experiments and apparatus, including consultation and support for Mechanical Engineering instructional laboratories in Indianapolis.
• Develop and maintain documentation for the specification, design, fabrication, operation, testing, calibration, maintenance, and repair of instructional equipment.
• Develop, implement, and maintain laboratory safety policies and procedures; train faculty, teaching assistants, student employees, students, and other users on the safe and proper use of equipment and facilities; and review student projects for potential safety concerns.
• Provide primary support and oversight for the Malott Innovation and Prototyping Suite, including maintaining tools and equipment, purchasing and tracking tooling, supporting student projects, and overseeing and training student employees and facility users.
• Manage the safe operation of the paint booth facility, including user training, PPE and operating requirements, troubleshooting, maintenance, testing, and repairs.
• Create and maintain CAD files, scale drawings, space-assignment maps, furniture layouts, and signage for Mechanical Engineering facilities, including field verification and space planning as needed.
• Manage Mechanical Engineering building keys and card access, including granting and revoking access, maintaining access records, managing lost keys, ordering keys, and recommending rekeying when appropriate.
• Coordinate with Purdue IT on computer, printer, copier, software, hardware, and networking needs; assist users with technology questions and ticketing; and support equipment moves, supplies, maintenance, purchasing, installation, and lifecycle planning.

About Us

The School ofMechanical Engineering atPurdueUniversityhas a mission to change the world for the better, one student at a time. We began in 1882 as experts in locomotives (thus the name"Boilermakers!") and now in the 21st century, we continue to move the world forward by combining the latest technologies with the strongest of fundamentals.

About 2,600 undergraduate students are part of thePurdueMEfamily in West Lafayette, Indiana. As one of the broadest engineering disciplines, our students and faculty have the widest variety of interests and expertise. We maintain high standards, whether in the classroom, the laboratory, or the workplace. PurdueMEis one of the top ten schools in the country, as ranked by US News & World Report.

For more information about our department, please visit: https://engineering.purdue.edu/ME

What We’re Looking For

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field.
• Three (3) years of related experience.
• Programming skills using microcontrollers.

Preferred:

• Background in electronics design, fabrication, and troubleshooting.
• Experience in making and mechanical assembly.

Skills needed:

• Ability to interact effectively with faculty, staff, and students.
• Ability to communicate information critical to safety and process.
• Knowledge of CAD systems and architectural drawings.
• Ability to create and verify scale drawings of physical spaces using field measurements.
• Ability to support furniture layout and space-use planning.
• Ability to develop and maintain technical, process, safety, and equipment documentation.
• Ability to analyze equipment failures and develop engineered solutions.
• Ability to coordinate work across instructional, facilities, technology, and safety-related functions.
• Ability to work with specialized laboratory, prototyping, and instructional equipment.

Who We Are

Purdue is a community built on collaboration, with global perspectives, Boilermaker pride and endless opportunity to live, learn and grow. Join us and contribute to our culture.

Additional Information

Career Stream

Compensation Information:
Professional 3
Pay Band S070
Job Code #20003178

EOE

Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access university