Sr Electronic Lab Technician

Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 83,096,832 - 117,477,595; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Wellness program

Retirement plan

Commuting benefits

Job summary

Northeastern University in Boston is seeking a Sr Electronic Lab Technician to provide hands-on support for teaching and research in the Chemical Engineering labs. You will assist faculty, researchers, and students with design, fabrication, equipment maintenance, and lab operations to ensure safe, reliable lab environments.

The role emphasizes 3D printing, CAD work (AutoCAD/SolidWorks), and data acquisition, with mentoring for Capstone and coursework projects.

Qualifications

• Trade school training and 5–8 years of experience.
• Effective communication for collaborating with researchers and students.
• Strong mechanical and fabrication skills.
• Commitment to maintaining a safe work environment.
• Proficiency in 3D printing and CAD software (SolidWorks and/or AutoCAD).
• Experience with Data Acquisition systems.
• Experience with MATLAB.
• Proficiency with MS Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Maintain, replace, or install teaching and research lab equipment and analytical instruments to ensure safety, reliability, and continuous operation.
• Perform or assist with scheduled preventive maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting.
• Provide safety oversight for electronic-based and mechanical-based projects, manage data acquisition systems, and troubleshoot issues.
• Diagnose, disassemble, and repair equipment in the teaching and research labs.
• Collaborate with departmental staff and other Northeastern University units to support fabrication, as needed.
• Serve as an active member of the Department Safety Committee.
• Locate and procure replacement equipment and parts for unrepairable or outdated equipment.
• Work with NU facilities to correct electrical, plumbing, and HVAC problems in labs.
• Maintain teaching laboratory inventory tracking and stock management.
• Maintain equipment maintenance logs and calibration records.

Skills

Mechanical skills

Fabrication skills

Communication

3D printing

Arduino

Raspberry Pi

Circuit design

Sensor selection

MATLAB

MS Office

Education

Trade school training

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Data Acquisition systems

Job description

Sr Electronic Lab Technician

About the Opportunity

Job Summary

The Sr. Electronic Lab Technician provides comprehensive technical and operational support for teaching, research, and student project activities within the Department of Chemical Engineering. This role supports faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scholars by delivering expertise in design, fabrication, equipment maintenance, and laboratory operations. The position ensures that laboratory infrastructure, equipment, and instructional environments function efficiently, safely, and reliably.

Key responsibilities include:

• Working safely with, in, and around lab equipment.
• Assembling and installing equipment or parts.
• Performing tasks and tests on equipment and instruments.
• Configuring, operating, and adjusting various analytical instruments.
• Conducting troubleshooting on electronic and mechanical equipment.
• Troubleshooting, modifying, and repairing lab equipment and instruments.
• Supporting and, when needed, overseeing the work of students in the Chemical Engineering Capstone Design courses.
• Providing assistance to students.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of mechanical/electrical testing equipment; ability to fabricate samples for testing; knowledge of safe lab operations; ability to work with the Department Safety Officer, purchasing, and NU facilities; proficiency in programming, including Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and basic circuit design and sensor selection. Candidates normally have vocational training/technical certification and 5‑8 years of experience.

• Trade school training and 5‑8 years of experience.
• Effective communication for collaborating with researchers and students.
• Strong mechanical and fabrication skills.
• Commitment to maintaining a safe work environment.
• Proficiency in 3D printing and associated CAD software (SolidWorks and/or AutoCAD).
• Experience with Data Acquisition systems.
• Experience with MATLAB.
• Proficiency with the MS Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Additional Requirements

• Work is performed in laboratory and classroom environments.
• Regular use of equipment, tools, and laboratory instruments.
• May require lifting, moving, and installing equipment and materials.
• Work required on campus, Monday to Friday.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Lab Maintenance & Operations

• Maintain, replace, or install teaching and research lab equipment and analytical instruments to ensure safety, reliability, and continuous operation.
• Perform or assist with scheduled preventive maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting.
• Provide safety oversight for electronic‑based and mechanical‑based projects, manage data acquisition systems, and troubleshoot issues.
• Diagnose, disassemble, and repair equipment in the teaching and research labs.
• Collaborate with departmental staff and other Northeastern University units to support fabrication, as needed.
• Serve as an active member of the Department Safety Committee.
• Locate and procure replacement equipment and parts for unrepairable or outdated equipment.
• Work with NU facilities to correct electrical, plumbing, and HVAC problems in labs.
• Maintain teaching laboratory inventory tracking and stock management.
• Maintain equipment maintenance logs and calibration records.

Fabrication & Programming Operations

• Use 3D printing and hand tools to support teaching lab operations.
• Support students with design using CAD software (AutoCAD & SolidWorks) to create drawings of parts, fixtures, and assemblies for research lab personnel, teaching lab students, ChemE Car members, and Capstone students.

Student Supervision, Technical Consultation, Training & Mentoring

• Consult and mentor on student projects in teaching labs regarding design, construction, testing, and troubleshooting of electronic and mechanical assemblies.
• Assist students by providing safety oversight for electric and electronic‑based projects, supporting hands‑on learning, and providing technical guidance to enhance project outcomes and research productivity.
• Consult on part design, manufacturability, tolerancing, material selection, and fabrication best practices.
• Train and supervise students in safe 3D printer and analytical instrument operations.

Procurement Support

• Source outside vendors for equipment and instrumentation if not fixable in-house.
• Order shop supplies, tooling, materials, and consumables.
• Coordinate acquisition of new equipment by obtaining quotes, advising on technical specifications, and supporting purchasing decisions.

Documents Required

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Position Type

Research.

Benefits

Northeastern University offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees, including medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness, retirement, and commuting & transportation benefits. More information is available at https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/.

Equal Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade / Pay Type

108H

Expected Hiring Range

$29.00 - $40.96