Technical Associate II

Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is seeking a Technical Associate II for the Biological Engineering Griffith lab and The SHED. This role focuses on supporting advanced fabrication and precision manufacturing projects, collaborating with engineers and researchers.

Candidates should hold a relevant Bachelor’s degree and have at least four years of specialized experience in hardware prototyping, fabrication methods, and relevant software tools. This position is for one year, with potential for extension based on funding availability.

Qualifications

• Minimum of four years of specialized laboratory or precision machine shop experience.
• Hands-on experience with precision fabrication and prototyping methods.
• Experience sourcing specialized tools and managing inventory.

Responsibilities

• Support advanced fabrication, prototyping, and precision manufacturing efforts.
• Work closely with engineering collaborators and technical staff on hardware platforms.
• Play a central role in physical manufacturing and microscopic inspection.

Skills

High-tolerance hardware prototyping

Precision fabrication

Collaboration in a multidisciplinary environment

Documentation and communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

CAD/CAM software (SOLIDWORKS, Fusion 360, Mastercam)

Fabrication equipment (mills, lathes, 3D printers)

Job description

TECHNICAL ASSOCIATE II, Biological Engineering (Griffith lab) and The SHED at MIT, to join the Hardware Innovation Team in a joint position supporting advanced fabrication, prototyping, and precision manufacturing efforts. Working closely with engineering collaborators, faculty, researchers, and technical staff, this individual will play a central role in the physical manufacturing, microscopic inspection, and high‑tolerance optimization of next‑generation hardware platforms.

Job Requirements

1. Required: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related technical field; a minimum of four years of specialized laboratory or precision machine shop experience focused on high‑tolerance hardware prototyping and manufacturing; hands‑on experience with precision fabrication and prototyping methods; experience using CAD/CAM software such as SOLIDWORKS, Fusion 360, or Mastercam to design components and generate precise toolpaths; experience sourcing specialized tools and materials from external vendors, managing inventory, and iterating on designs based on technical feedback; strong ability to maintain clear documentation, communicate technical information effectively, and work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment.
2. Preferred: Demonstrated experience operating, maintaining, and training others on fabrication equipment such as mills, lathes, wire EDM, laser cutters, water jet systems, and 3D printer suites; experience with multiple additive manufacturing modalities, including SLA, extrusion, PolyJet, metal printing, and biofabrication platforms; experience optimizing feed rates, spindle speeds, tool selection, and process parameters for precision fabrication; familiarity with micro‑scale manufacturing methods, including CNC micromilling of plastics and related workflows; experience supporting training, onboarding, or technical instruction for students, staff, or research personnel; familiarity with parametric design optimization and modeling of mechanical or thermal stresses in fabricated systems; or experience working in a university research environment or interdisciplinary hardware development setting.
3. This is a one‑year position with the possibility of an extension, subject to funding availability.