Part-Time Research Technician- CREST #738633613

Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, Inc; Pomona (CA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises Employment Services seeks a Research Technician to support the CREST-RASM lab’s smart manufacturing research. The role involves installing and calibrating sensors, integrating with PLCs, and ensuring reliable data flow for digital twin development and AR/VR training platforms.

You will assist in developing data pipelines, troubleshoot PLC/HMI systems, and document calibration data and safety procedures while supervising student researchers in a collaborative lab

Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Electrical and/or Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Hands-on experience with sensor installation, wiring, and calibration.
• Working knowledge of PLC programming (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (Modbus, IO-Link, OPC UA, etc.).
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, and maintain industrial sensors across multiple manufacturing stations.
• Integrate sensors with PLCs ensuring reliable data flow into lab infrastructure.
• Develop data acquisition pipelines to support AI-driven analytics.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software issues involving PLCs, HMIs, and protocols.
• Document procedures, calibration data, and lab safety compliance.

Skills

Sensor installation

PLC programming

Data acquisition

Troubleshooting

Lab supervision

Education

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Electrical and/or Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

Tools

Siemens PLC

Allen-Bradley PLC

HMI

Modbus/OPC UA IO-Link

Job description

Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises Employment Services ANNOUNCEMENT OF POSITION VACANCY SUMMARY: NSF CREST Center for Research Advancement in Smart Manufacturing (CREST-RASM) seeks a highly motivated Research Technician to support the Industrial and Manufacturing Vy d Tim Li Smart Manufacturing Lab. This position is central to the installation, calibration, and integration of advanced sensors and their interfaces with Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and data acquisition. The technician will work closely with faculty, students, and external collaborators to ensure sensor integration and reliable data acquisition for digital twin development, AR/VR training platforms, robotic manipulation research, and IIoT cybersecurity studies.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL GET TO DO (this is just a small sampling of work variety):

• Install, configure, and maintain industrial sensors (e.g., temperature, pressure, vibration, motion, optical, and force sensors) across multiple manufacturing stations.
• Integrate sensors with PLCs, ensuring accurate and reliable data flow into the lab's digital infrastructure.
• Assist in developing data acquisition pipelines to support AI-driven analytics.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software issues involving PLCs, Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), and industrial communication protocols.
• Support experimental setups for research subprojects
• Document procedures, calibration data, and lab safety compliance related to equipment operation.
• Provide supervision, training and technical support to student researchers using lab equipment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Electrical and/or Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Hands-on experience with sensor installation, wiring, and calibration.
• Working knowledge of PLC programming (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (Modbus, IO-Link, OPC UA, etc.).
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior working Experience at Cal Poly Pomona
• Familiarity with real-time data acquisition.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with interdisciplinary research teams.

ABOUT US :

As the largest employer of students on the Cal Poly Pomona campus, the Enterprises offers valuable work experience and hands-on training to approximately 1,500 Cal Poly Pomona students each year. The Enterprises offers positions in various fields; whether it is in the area of technology, science, retail, culinary arts, hospitality1500 management, leadership or research grants, these student employees participate in Cal Poly Pomona's learn-by-doing philosophy and acquire practical skills in their designated field of study. The Enterprises also contributes operating support to nearly 1,100 Enterprises and scholarship programs every year, including Bronco Athletics and the Norman J. Priest Scholarship. In addition, the Enterprises administers grants and contracts, contributes to campus security, and supports several university publications. The Enterprises contributes over $1 million annually to Cal Poly Pomona.

CSU along with Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises strongly recommend faculty, staff, and students who are accessing campus facilities to be immunized against COVID-19 or declare an exemption from doing so. The systemwide policy can be found at COVID-19 Vaccination Interim Policy and any questions may be sent to [e-mail] . Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises, Inc. may provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodation with the employer.