Material Practice Facilities Shop Tech - AAP

Zymtronix Catalytic Systems Inc; City of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 36,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care options

Tuition assistance

Total Rewards at Cornell

Job summary

Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) seeks a skilled Rand Shops Technician to support its wood and metal shops and shared workspace in Ithaca, NY. You will join a two-technician team providing guidance, safety oversight, and supervision of student employees.

You will monitor activities, troubleshoot issues, and contribute to evolving shop capabilities while fostering a welcoming, safety‑minded environment for students, faculty and staff.

Qualifications

• Associate degree and 2–4 years of relevant experience working with wood and metal shop equipment, tools, processes, and safety practices in a shop, studio, instructional, or similar environment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of wood and metal fabrication techniques and safe equipment operation.
• Ability to provide clear technical guidance and instruction to users with varying levels of experience.
• Sound judgment in assessing work and equipment use.
• Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to unsafe conditions and practices.
• Willingness and ability to learn new equipment, processes, and approaches as shop needs evolve.

Responsibilities

• Support operation of wood and metal shops and shared workspace with two-technician team.
• Monitor shop activity, assess safety and feasibility, troubleshoot equipment issues.
• Manage Rand student monitor team: hiring, training, scheduling, assignments, and timecards.
• Provide required safety instruction and verify user competency; intervene when needed.
• Maintain and steward equipment, tools, and facilities; perform routine maintenance and improvements.

Skills

Wood & metal shop equipment

Safety procedures

Student supervision

Technical guidance

Independent work

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Learning new equipment

Education

Associate degree

Tools

CNC machining

Laser cutting

3D printing

Rhino

AutoCAD

Adobe Creative Cloud

Job description

Material Practice Facilities Shop Tech - AAP

The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) at Cornell University is seeking a skilled Rand Shops Technician to support the operation of its wood and metal shops and shared work space. Working as part of a two‑technician team, this position combines hands‑on technical expertise, shop operations, safety oversight, and student employee supervision to maintain a well‑run environment where students, faculty, and staff can safely develop and pursue their work.

The position provides technical guidance across a broad range of wood and metal shop processes, helping users understand equipment capabilities, select appropriate approaches, and build the skills needed to work safely and independently. You will monitor shop activity, assess whether proposed work can be safely accommodated, troubleshoot operational and equipment issues, and respond to the changing needs of a busy shared facility.

This position is responsible for managing the Rand student monitor team, including hiring, training, scheduling, and assignments; approving timecards; and providing ongoing feedback and support to student employees who help operate the shops.

Safety is fundamental to the role. You will monitor shop activities and equipment use, provide required safety instruction, verify user competency, and intervene when conditions or practices present a risk. You will also help steward the equipment, tools, and facilities that support the shops, performing routine maintenance and repairs, identifying emerging needs, and contributing to improvements over time.

The Rand shops support a broad range of fabrication practices. The wood shop includes stationary and portable equipment for wood processing, including sawing, planing, jointing, routing, drilling, and sanding, along with a broad selection of hand tools. The metal shop includes equipment for cutting, grinding, sanding, sheet metal forming, MIG and TIG welding, and oxy‑acetylene welding and cutting.

The role requires a strong working knowledge of wood and metal shop equipment and fabrication processes, but you do not need to arrive with expertise in every process or piece of equipment. The shops and their technical needs will continue to evolve, so curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to develop new skills are important to success.

The regular hours for this position are Monday through Friday, 11:30am to 8:00 p.m.

About AAP: The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning at Cornell University (Cornell AAP) includes the departments of Architecture, Art, City and Regional Planning, the Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate, jointly led by AAP and the SC Johnson College of Business, the multicollege Department of Design Tech, and the Cornell Mui Ho Center for Cities. The college spans three locations in Ithaca, New York City, and Rome, Italy, each with world‑class facilities and cutting‑edge technologies.

Cornell AAP is about acts of transformation. We are committed to reimagining and reshaping the world in new ways, every day. A vital college at one of the nation’s foremost research universities, Cornell AAP brings faculty, staff, and students together from around the world to take up some of today’s most urgent challenges and advance research, inquiry, and collaborative approaches to designing, making, and doing that make a more just and resilient future.

What We Need

• Associate degree and 2–4 years of relevant experience working with wood and metal shop equipment, tools, processes, and safety practices in a shop, studio, instructional, or similar environment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of wood and metal fabrication techniques and safe equipment operation.
• Ability to provide clear technical guidance and instruction to users with varying levels of experience.
• Sound judgment in assessing work and equipment use.
• Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to unsafe conditions and practices.
• Willingness and ability to learn new equipment, processes, and approaches as shop needs evolve.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively as part of a team.
• Commitment to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, equitable, and student‑centered environment.
• Resume and cover letter required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an academic, instructional, university, community, or other shared‑use shop environment.
• Experience supervising, training, scheduling, or coordinating student employees or staff.
• Experience with digital fabrication processes such as CNC machining, laser cutting, or 3D printing.
• Experience with CAD or vector‑based software such as Rhino, AutoCAD, or Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Experience developing or improving shop procedures, training materials, documentation, or operational systems.

What Success Looks Like

Successful candidates are technically capable, approachable, and steady professionals who enjoy working with both people and equipment. They are comfortable sharing their knowledge, asking questions, and working with users who have different levels of experience. They can provide clear direction and constructive feedback while maintaining a welcoming environment and the standards necessary for safe shop operation. The role requires someone who can work independently while collaborating effectively with the other Rand technician and broader Material Practice team, including providing cross‑area support when operational needs require.

Technical expertise develops over time, and you do not need to know every process, material, or piece of equipment when you arrive. We are looking for someone who is curious, adaptable, and willing to learn, with the judgment to recognize what they know, what they need to learn, and when to seek additional information or expertise. Most importantly, we are looking for someone who takes pride in creating a safe, functional, and supportive environment where students, faculty, and staff can learn, make, experiment, and work with increasing independence.

Benefits

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to learn more about our benefits.
• Cornell’s impressive educational benefits include tuition‑free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children’s Tuition Assistance Program.
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

University Job Title: Technical Services Technician

Job Family: Academic Support

Level: D

Pay Rate Type: Hourly

Pay Range: $26.00 - $29.69

Remote Option Availability: Onsite

Company: Endowed

EEO Statement: Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world‑class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy‑related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

2026-09-12