RSCH AND DEV ENGR 3 TX - 141319

UC San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego is seeking a laboratory equipment engineer to support the Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory (IEBL). The role focuses on acquiring and setting up cleanroom equipment, maintaining instrumentation, and ensuring GMP-compliant operations for device fabrication and neurotechnology research.

You will interact with vendors, coordinate maintenance, and assist in preparing experiments, data, and audits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Bioengineering or related field.
• 5+ years of equipment management and process development experience in micro/nanofabrication.
• Experience designing, testing and maintaining micro/nano fabrication equipment (photolithography, deposition, etching, metrology).
• Familiarity with GMP, regulatory readiness, and cleanroom protocols.

Responsibilities

• Assist with daily lab operations and vendor coordination for cleanroom equipment.
• Perform routine maintenance and coordinate external service for fabrication instruments.
• Prepare for GMP audits and maintain GMP-related documentation and records.
• Support safety procedures, inspections, and equipment upgrades or improvements.
• Provide user training and technical guidance to researchers and students.

Skills

Equipment management

Process development

Micro/nano fabrication

Photolithography

Metrology tools

Documentation & GMP

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering/Physics

Job description

This is a 100% Limited position for 5 months, with the possibility of extension or conversion to career status.

Job posting will remain open until a suitable candidate has been identified.

DESCRIPTION

Under minimal supervision, the incumbent uses professional engineering concepts to assist the Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory (IEBL) members in the daily operation of the laboratory. He/She will be the primary contact with vendors to acquire and set up cleanroom equipment and assist in their qualification, calibration and continued maintenance. Performs routine maintenance procedures for instrumentation for the fabrication of devices and electrophysiological arrays used in electronic and clinical translational efforts in the lab.

Assists with maintaining all State, County and Campus required Safety procedures and practices. Prepares lab for all safety inspections. Develops standard operating procedures and proposes engineering plans and specifications for equipment and instruments with limited scope and complexity. Follows standard practices and procedures in analyzing situations or data that takes time to ascertain answers from variable data points. Duties include ability to conduct routine maintenance and to coordinate routine repair which include contacting and scheduling outside vendors to service, of device fabrication equipment, site-preparation for new equipment, purchasing, receiving, storing, and distribution of cleanroom and laboratory supplies for students and researchers.

Assists in the physical preparation of experiments for all research and teaching purposes in the IEBL laboratory rooms. Maintains inter office files and data related to the IEBL as required to maintain good manufacturing practice (GMP) and prepares for third party audits for implementing GMP. Assists with the maintenance of financial and administrative, computer-based files and databases. Provides general office assistance to support operation of the IEBL.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Bioengineering or a closely related field. A Master's or Ph.D. is often expected for seasoned equipment engineering work in a research-intensive GMP environment.

Technical experience:

• 5+ years of experience in equipment management and process development for micro/nanofabrication, preferably in a cleanroom environment.
• Hands-on experience designing, testing and maintaining specialized and novel micro/nano fabrication equipment, e.g., photolithography, thin film deposition, dry etching, metrology tools.
• Experience developing instrumentation to full capability and implementing equipment upgrades / laboratory improvements.
• Familiarity with micro/nano-device fabrication and characterization workflows used for implantable/neurotechnology devices.

GMP / Quality systems:

• Working knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice principles, GMP documentation, batch records, SOPs, and preparation for third-party audits.
• Experience maintaining interoffice files and data to support GMP compliance and regulatory readiness for FDA-bound devices.
• Understanding of cleanroom protocols, contamination control and ISO class 5/6 environments. The UC San Diego GMP facility that houses implantable device manufacturing is a ~2,200 sq ft cleanroom with class 100 ISO 5 and class 1,000 ISO 6 zones

User support & training:

• Demonstrated ability to provide professional engineering service to diverse academic and industry users, including direct user assistance for design/experiments and troubleshooting.
• Experience training new users in safe and proper operation of complex equipment, minimizing user errors and equipment damage.
• Ability to provide direction and guidance to lower-level R&D Engineers and student helpers.Administrative / operational
• Experience with financial and administrative computer-based files and databases.
• Strong documentation, communication and organizational skills for multi-disciplinary projects.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.
• Must be willing and able to work with hazardous materials such as toxic or corrosive gases, liquids, and solids.
• This is a 100% Limited position for 5 months, with the possibility of extension or conversion to career status.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: Unclassified - No data available (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: Unclassified - No data available

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).