Part-Time OriginLabs Technician and Lab Monitor

Penn State University; University Park (TX); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Penn State University’s OriginLabs seeks part-time Technicians and Lab Monitors to support prototyping and product development in the OriginLabs facilities at the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub, State College.

Roles run Fall 2026 with 6–15 hours per week on-site, subject to supervision by the Shop Manager. Responsibilities include safety monitoring, assisting customers with tools, and helping develop training materials.

Qualifications

• Must be safety-minded, highly organized and collaborative.
• Excellent communication and time management skills.
• Experience in fabrication environments preferred but not required.
• Willingness to learn new fabrication tools and processes.

Responsibilities

• Monitor shop and lab environments to ensure safety and compliance.
• Provide customers with technical assistance on tools and equipment.
• Assist in developing training materials (manuals, videos, etc.).
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to support community and student entrepreneurs.

Skills

Safety awareness

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Willingness to learn

Team collaboration

Tools

Microsoft Office

Photo editing

Video editing

Rhinoceros 3D

Fusion 360

SolidWorks

Job description

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

Job Description And Position Requirements

The Office of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization is seeking multiple OriginLabs Technicians and Lab Monitors to work approximately 6 - 15 hours per week helping to support prototyping and product development lab operations. A successful candidate will work in one or more of the OriginLabs’ fabrication environments, which include woodworking, metalworking, welding, digital fabrication (CNC, laser, vinyl cutter), electronics prototyping, and additive manufacturing (3D printing). Duties include but are not limited to monitoring various shop and lab environments to ensure safety and compliance; providing customers with technical assistance on various tools and equipment; delivering safety and operations training to new customers (under the guidance and supervision of the Shop Manager); assisting in the development of training and educational materials (manuals, documents, videos, etc.); and collaboration with a cross-disciplinary team to assist community and student entrepreneurs, faculty researchers, and others with fabrication-related challenges.

This position requires a safety-minded, highly organized, and collaborative listener with excellent communication, organizational, and time management skills who can manage concurrent assignments, meet deadlines, and respond to changing priorities. The ideal candidates will be students or community members with experience in fabrication environments, though prior knowledge and experience with the OriginLabs’ tools and equipment is not required. A successful candidate must be inquisitive, open, and excited by learning new technical skills and fabrication processes. Experience with the Microsoft suite of applications, photo/video editing software, and design tools such as the Adobe Creative Suite and 3D modeling software (Rhinoceros3D, Fusion360, SolidWorks, etc.) are a plus.

This is paid appointment for Fall 2026 and will run indefinitely, at the discretion of OriginLabs Director and Shop Manager, and is subject to termination at any time, with appropriate notice. Work will be conducted 100% in-person, on site at the OriginLabs, located in the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub in downtown State College.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.