PHYSICS/MACHINE SHOP TECHNICIAN II

Central Michigan University; Mount Pleasant, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Michigan University seeks a Physics/Machine Shop Technician II to set up and disassemble instructional laboratories, repair and maintain equipment, and manage departmental inventory. You will fabricate and modify equipment using machine and wood shop techniques, applying CNC machining and CAD skills to support teaching and research.

Location: Mount Pleasant, MI; schedule 8am–5pm with occasional nights/weekends.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Associate degree in mechanical engineering, machine tool technology, precision machining, industrial technology, or the physical sciences with relevant machine shop experience.
• At least two years of increasingly responsible work experience involving repair and preventive maintenance of equipment.
• Ability to recognize and assemble instructional laboratory equipment.
• Ability to operate standard machine tools such as drills, lathes, mills; knowledge of CNC machining and CAD experience.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for maintenance, repair and fabrication of parts for equipment in Physics and other departments in the College of Science and Engineering.
• Responsible for supervision and maintenance of department supply and equipment inventory, shop and machine tools facilities.
• Responsible for ordering supplies for Physics Department and performing cost comparison.
• Responsible for department gas supply inventory. Responsible for up-keep and security of physics lab equipment and supplies, and salvage of obsolete equipment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Machine shop knowledge

CNC machining

CAD experience

Equipment repair

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Associate degree in mechanical engineering or related field

Tools

Drill press

Lathe

Milling machine

Shop tools

Job description

Special Instructions

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards. You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position. Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee. This position will remain open until filled. The university reserves the right to close the recruitment process once a sufficient applicant pool has been identified. For best consideration, please submit application materials on or before August 31st, 2026.

Position Information

Position Information

Posting Number

Posting Number S-3941

Position Number

Position Number 03150

Type of Recruitment

Type of Recruitment External

Position Title

Position Title PHYSICS/MACHINE SHOP TECHNICIAN II

Position Summary

Responsible for setting up and disassembling instructional laboratories, repairs and maintains laboratory equipment, controls departmental supply and equipment inventory, uses machine and wood shop techniques to fabricate and/or modify instructional and research equipment.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Associates degree or equivalent in mechanical engineering, machine tool technology, precision machining, industrial technology, or the physical sciences with relevant machine shop experience, or the equivalent in science or shop experience. At least two years of increasingly responsible work experience involving repair and preventive maintenance of equipment of a qualifying nature. Ability to recognize and assemble instructional laboratory equipment. Ability to operate standard machine tools such as drills, lathes, mills. Knowledge of CNC machining and CAD experience. Demonstrated positive interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and project a positive image.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated ability to supervise. Experience working as part of a team to design and fabricate specialized components for research projects.

Duties & Responsibilities

Responsible for maintenance, repair and fabrication of parts for equipment in Physics and other departments in the College of Science and Engineering. Responsible for supervision and maintenance of department supply and equipment inventory, shop and machine tools facilities. Responsible for ordering supplies for Physics Department and performing cost comparison. Responsible for department gas supply inventory. Responsible for up-keep and security of physics lab equipment and supplies, and salvage of obsolete equipment. Other duties as assigned.

Supervision Exercised

None.

Message to Applicants

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards. You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position. Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee. This position will remain open until filled. The university reserves the right to close the recruitment process once a sufficient applicant pool has been identified. For best consideration, please submit application materials on or before August 31st, 2026.

Employee Group

Employee Group Supervisory Technical

Staff Pay Level 4

Pay Range

Pay Range Minimum Rate: $23.50 per hour, estimated range: $23.50 per hour - $28.00 per hour

Division

Division Academic Affairs

Department

Department Physics

Position Status

Position Status Regular

Position End Date

Employment Status

Employment Status Full-Time

FTE

FTE 1.00

Position Type

Position Type 12 month

Weekly Work Schedule

Weekly Work Schedule 8am - 5pm, Mon - Fri, occasional nights/weekends as needed

Location

Location Mount Pleasant, MI

About the Department

The Physics Department offers Physics and Astronomy/Astrophysics Bachelors Degrees, as well Master’s Degrees in Physics, and Doctorate degrees in Physics and Science of Advanced Materials. Over 500 students take physics courses each academic year. Our classes included a range of lectures and laboratory experiences at the introductory and advanced level that require specialized demonstration and experimental equipment. There are currently nine tenured faculty members and three fixed term faculty members who teach and perform research. Research in fields ranging from material science, nuclear physics, and astronomy require support to maintain, design and fabricate novel equipment that will be used in labs at CMU and at university and national labs around the country.

About CMU

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives. We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence. CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more. Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17. CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant. Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight.

If you wish to see “Know Your Rights ” posters, please click here .

CMU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 not to discriminate in such a matter.

Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be made to CMU’s Title IX Coordinator, the US Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary, or both.

CMU’s Title IX Coordinator can be reached at:
Phone: [phone]
Office: 103 E. Preston St.
Bovee University Center, suite 306
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
Email: [e-mail]

Posting Ends

Open Until Filled Yes

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you first learn of this job opportunity? Please list the specific advertising source or indicate if it was word of mouth. (Open Ended Question)
• * Are you currently an internal employee of CMU according to the university's definition?
  • Yes
  • No
• * If yes, to which employee group do you belong? (If not applicable, select "Not Applicable").
  • Not Applicable
  • Administrative Office Assistant
  • Dispatcher
  • Lieutenant
  • Medical Faculty
  • P&A, SO or Faculty
  • Police
  • Public Broadcasting
  • Sergeant
  • Service Maintenance
  • Supervisory/Technical
• * Do you have a bachelor's or associate's degree or equivalent in mechanical engineering, machine tool technology, precision machining, industrial technology, or the physical sciences with relevant machine shop experience, or the equivalent in science or shop experience?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have at least two years of increasingly responsible work experience involving repair and preventive maintenance of equipment of a qualifying nature?
  • Yes
  • No

Optional & Required Documents

• Required Documents
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Optional Documents
• List of References

Staff postings - Human Resources | Contact HR | [phone]| 109 Rowe

Faculty postings - Faculty Personnel Services | Contact FPS | [phone] | 308 Warriner

CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight.

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