City : Vancouver

Category : Full time

Industry : Educational Services

Employer : University of British Columbia

Job Category

Job Title

Department

Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary

This position designs, fabricates, installs, maintains, and repairs complex electrical, electronic, and mechanical systems supporting undergraduate and graduate teaching and research laboratories. The role requires advanced technical expertise to independently perform complex design, development, troubleshooting, calibration, and maintenance tasks. The incumbent provides consultative support on feasibility, safety, compliance, and technical alternatives, and supports custom experimental equipment and specialized instrumentation.

Organizational Status

The position supports multidisciplinary laboratories within the Civil, Materials, and Chemical & Biological Engineering departments. The incumbent works closely with faculty, research engineers, postdoctoral fellows, technicians, staff, and students, and reports to the Head Engineering Technician, Workshop Manager, and/or Department Head.

Work Performed

• Performs advanced, non-routine technical assignments independently or collaboratively under general direction.

• Designs, fabricates, assembles, installs, modifies, and operates complex experimental and specialized equipment, including electronic instrumentation, data acquisition systems, servo-controlled hydraulic and pneumatic systems, furnaces, precision sensors, computerized testing systems, PLC-based control systems, and variable frequency drives (VFDs), with emphasis on safe operation and maintainability.

• Develops, upgrades, and adapts high-precision devices, equipment, and controllers to meet evolving research and teaching requirements.

• Has knowledge of LabVIEW, C++, Visual Basic in order to operate and troubleshoot devices

• Diagnoses electrical, electronic, and mechanical faults; performs repairs, modifications, preventative maintenance, and calibration of laboratory equipment and instrumentation.

• Repairs and rebuilds heavy-duty mechanical systems (e.g., motors, pumps); designs and fabricates mechanical mounts and housings; and restores systems to safe, reliable operation.

• Provides consultative advice on feasibility, component selection, design alternatives, safety, and compliance with electrical codes and standards.

• Reviews designs and installations for compliance with safety standards; participates in laboratory safety audits and corrective actions.

• Operates electronic, mechanical, and machine shop tools in accordance with safety standards and electrical codes.

• Creates and maintains technical documentation, including specifications, operating manuals, CAD drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, calibration records, and maintenance documentation.

• Provides experimental testing support and trains faculty, staff, and students in the safe operation of complex and potentially hazardous equipment.

• Supports undergraduate and graduate laboratories, including mechanical testing systems, microscopes (including electron microscopes), and controller-based testing systems.

• Maintains departmental equipment inventories, evaluates new equipment, and keeps technical and maintenance records current.

• Assists with IT-related support, including hardware, software, networking, data acquisition systems, and coordination with central IT services.

• Maintains a safe, organized working environment and may participate in departmental or faculty safety committees.

• May be required to work at heights (e.g., using aerial lifts/manlifts) in accordance with training, safety procedures, and applicable regulations.

• May supervise and coordinate the work of technicians, staff, and students, including training and technical oversight.

• Performs other related duties consistent with the qualifications and requirements of the position.

Consequence of Error / Judgment

The position requires significant independent judgment in selecting methods, procedures, and technical solutions. Errors may result in safety hazards, damage to expensive equipment, disruption to teaching and research activities, data loss, and project delays.

Supervision Received

Works with minimal supervision, independently planning and coordinating daily activities. Guidance is available from senior technical staff or department leadership for complex or unusual issues.

Supervision Given

May supervise technicians, staff, and students by assigning work, reviewing accuracy and completeness, providing technical guidance, and training users in safe equipment operation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from a technical college or institute, or completion of a recognized apprenticeship.

• Minimum of five years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.

• Demonstrated commitment to enhancing awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline or completion of a two-year technical program (e.g., BCIT) with specialization in electronics, instrumentation, automation, or industrial control.

• Strong knowledge of electronic and mechanical systems, industrial electronics, instrumentation, motor control, and applicable safety standards and codes.

• Experience working safely with electrical systems in the 120V–600V range.

• Experience with servo-controlled hydraulic and pneumatic systems, pumps, vacuum systems, sensors, transducers, signal conditioning, strain gauges, and data acquisition systems.

• Experience designing and building electronic control and monitoring systems.

• Proficiency with CAD software and advanced electronic diagnostic equipment.

• Experience with laboratory software such as LabVIEW.

• Strong Windows PC operation and troubleshooting skills in laboratory environments, including support of PLC- and controller-based systems.

• Effective verbal and written communication skills, including training and instruction.

• Experience supporting complex experimental equipment in teaching and research environments.