About this role
Number of Vacancies: 1
Area of Consideration: Open to the Public
Employment Status: Full-Time, Temporary
Pay Plan, Series & Grade: DS0058/8
Salary Range: $60,292.56-$64,437.08
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
Location: 4200 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
GENERAL SUMMARY OF DUTIES SPECIFIC TO THE GRANT
The successful candidate will serve as a Laboratory Engineer for the Center for Nanotechnology Research and Education (CNRE) and will work primarily in person from CNRE laboratory facilities at the University of the District of Columbia. The Laboratory Engineer will support operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, user training, research, teaching, prototyping, and safe utilization of CNRE's nanotechnology and materials-research infrastructure. Major responsibilities include maintaining cleanroom and micro/nanofabrication equipment, vacuum and deposition systems, characterization equipment, laboratory utility systems, and supporting equipment used by CNRE faculty, students, research staff, collaborators, and educational programs. The position will also perform experiments in coordination with CNRE faculty, assist with research prototyping and innovation-development activities, facilitate student and user training, maintain equipment records and inventories, and contribute to economical and sustainable operation of the Center. Fresh PhD graduates in materials science, nanotechnology, engineering, applied physics, or closely related disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Brief Description of Duties
The University of the District of Columbia is seeking a Laboratory Engineer to support research, education, innovation, and workforce-development activities conducted within CNRE. The incumbent will be responsible for maintaining CNRE laboratories in a functional, safe, organized, and research-ready condition. The Laboratory Engineer will work with sophisticated research instrumentation and laboratory infrastructure and will develop sufficient expertise to independently perform routine equipment operation, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, minor repairs, user training, and laboratory support activities. The Laboratory Engineer will work closely with CNRE faculty, students, researchers, the CNRE Grant Coordinator, and other technical personnel. The CNRE Lab Engineer and the DoD Quantum Device Research Lab Engineer may participate in parallel and complementary activities , particularly where equipment and laboratory resources are shared. However, the CNRE Lab Engineer's primary responsibility and accountability will remain with the CNRE grant and its research, education, outreach, and sustainability objectives. The position requires primarily in-person laboratory work . Reasonable flexibility in working hours may be considered to support work-life balance, provided such arrangements do not interfere with laboratory operations, scheduled research activities, teaching, workshops, safety requirements, or accomplishment of grant objectives.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and perform appropriate minor repairs on photolithography and related micro/nanofabrication equipment .
- Support operation and maintenance of CNRE cleanroom facilities and maintain appropriate cleanroom practices, safety protocols, and user procedures.
- Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and perform minor repairs on sputtering systems, vacuum deposition equipment, vacuum pumps, gauges, gas-delivery components, and associated vacuum systems .
- Operate and maintain laboratory utility equipment including:
air compressors;
- nitrogen generators;
- chillers and cooling-water systems;
- vacuum infrastructure;
- associated regulators, pumps, tubing, filters, and supporting equipment.
- Perform routine preventive maintenance and identify conditions requiring specialized vendor or facilities support.
- Understand equipment electrical requirements including voltage, current, power ratings, circuit loading, and safe connection requirements , and work with appropriate UDC personnel when dedicated circuits or electrical modifications are required.
- Help prevent unsafe equipment connections, overloaded electrical outlets, and other laboratory electrical hazards.
- Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and support research instrumentation including, as applicable:
Raman spectroscopy;
- scanning electron microscopy (SEM);
- atomic force microscopy (AFM);
- optical microscopy;
- thin-film characterization systems;
- electrical and nanoscale measurement equipment;
- temperature-dependent and low-temperature measurement equipment.
- Develop familiarity with LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or comparable instrument-control environments and assist with integration of multiple instruments where needed for research experiments.
- Develop new instrument-control routines or modify existing routines within the incumbent's technical capabilities.
- Learn to operate newly acquired equipment following vendor training, manuals, SOPs, and appropriate technical instruction.
- Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, equipment quick-start guides, safety instructions, troubleshooting guides, and user-training materials .
- Train students, faculty, staff, and approved external users in safe and responsible operation of laboratory equipment.
- Assist in establishing user qualification requirements before independent access to designated equipment.
- Maintain equipment training records and authorized-user records where applicable.
- Manage and monitor equipment scheduling to promote efficient utilization and minimize scheduling conflicts.
- Maintain accurate laboratory inventories including:
research equipment;
- accessories;
- consumables;
- spare parts;
- tools;
- gases;
- laboratory supplies.
- Maintain equipment maintenance logs, usage records, service histories, and documentation of equipment problems and corrective actions.
- Coordinate with vendors and University personnel for specialized repairs, installations, calibrations, and preventive maintenance beyond the incumbent's authorized technical capability.
- Perform research experiments in consultation with CNRE faculty to support approved grant research objectives.
- Assist faculty, researchers, and students with development and testing of experimental setups.
- Support fabrication and characterization of materials, nanoscale structures, devices, and research prototypes.
- Support development of proof-of-concept prototypes and CNRE innovations when consistent with assigned grant objectives.
- Assist in troubleshooting research experiments and improving repeatability and reliability of laboratory procedures.
- Support hands-on laboratory activities associated with CNRE courses, workshops, demonstrations, summer programs, and outreach activities.
- Prepare laboratory equipment and experimental stations before instructional activities and restore laboratories following completion.
- Enforce CNRE policies regarding safe, responsible, authorized, and appropriate use of laboratory resources.
- Immediately report significant safety hazards, equipment failures, facility deficiencies, or inappropriate equipment use to CNRE leadership.
- Contribute to CNRE financial sustainability by identifying practical opportunities to reduce operating costs without compromising research quality or safety.
- Where practical, develop economical in-house solutions for fixtures, sample holders, experimental components, maintenance practices, equipment upgrades, and laboratory organization.
- Promote efficient use of consumables, gases, utilities, equipment service contracts, and laboratory resources.
- Work collaboratively and professionally with faculty, students, research staff, coordinators, University personnel, and external collaborators.
Minimum Job Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in materials science, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, nanotechnology, applied physics, chemistry, or a closely related STEM discipline .
- Master's degree or PhD in a relevant discipline is preferred.
- Fresh PhD graduates in materials science, nanotechnology, engineering, applied physics, or related fields are eligible and encouraged to apply.
- Academic or professional experience with experimental research instrumentation.
- Familiarity with one or more of the following is highly desirable:
cleanroom operations;
- photolithography;
- thin-film deposition;
- sputtering;
- vacuum systems;
- SEM;
- AFM;
- Raman spectroscopy;
- electrical characterization;
- nanoscale materials or devices.
- Ability and willingness to learn new research equipment through manuals, vendor training, hands-on instruction, and independent technical study.
- Basic understanding of vacuum systems and laboratory utilities.
- Basic understanding of laboratory electrical safety and equipment power requirements.
- Familiarity with LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or comparable programming/instrument-control software is preferred.
- Demonstrated hands-on problem-solving and troubleshooting ability.
- Ability to distinguish between routine/minor troubleshooting that can safely be performed internally and repairs requiring specialized technical service.
- Strong organizational and documentation skills.
- Ability to develop clear operating and training materials.
- Ability to train students and researchers patiently and effectively.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently while maintaining appropriate communication with CNRE leadership.
- Demonstrated ability to work professionally, respectfully, and collaboratively with individuals from different technical and professional backgrounds.
- Strong interpersonal competencies, including self-awareness, constructive communication, teamwork, professional judgment, and conflict management.
- Commitment to maintaining a safe, orderly, productive, and collegial research environment.
OTHER DUTIES SPECIFIC TO THE GRANT
- Assist with installation and commissioning of newly acquired research equipment.
- Support laboratory reconfiguration and optimization of equipment placement.
- Assist with preparation of equipment specifications and technical information for procurement.
- Assist with vendor quotations and technical comparison of equipment when requested.
- Support development of research prototypes, experimental fixtures, sample holders, and customized measurement systems.
- Assist faculty and students with experimental data collection when requested.
- Support preparation of technical documentation for grant reports, publications, presentations, equipment-utilization reports, and facility descriptions.
- Assist with laboratory tours and demonstrations for visitors, workshops, students, collaborators, and funding agencies.
- Participate in laboratory safety inspections and corrective actions.
- Perform other laboratory-related duties assigned by CNRE leadership consistent with the objectives of the sponsored project.
Information to Applicant
Condition of Employment: Temporary employment may be ended at anytime with or without cause.
Collective Bargaining Unit (Non-Union): This position is not in the collective bargaining unit.
Employment Benefits: Selectee will be eligible for health insurance and annual (vacation) and sick leave only. Part-time selectee will be eligible for annual (vacation) and sick leave on a pro-rated basis.
E q ual Opportunity Employer: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, or political affiliation.
Notice of Non-Discrimination: In accordance with the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, D.C. Official Code, Section 2-1401.01 et. seq., (Act) the University of the District of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is also prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.
Veterans Preference: Applicants claiming veteran's preference must submit official proof at the time of application.
Visa Sponsorship: At this time, the University of the District of Columbia does not provide sponsorship for visas (e.g. H-1B). This job is also ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Drug-Free Workplace: Pursuant to the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, the individual selected to fill this position will, as a condition of employment, be required to notify his/her immediate supervisor, in writing, not later than five (5) days after conviction of any criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace.
Background Investigation: Employment with the University of the District of Columbia is contingent upon a satisfactory background investigation. The determination of a "satisfactory background investigation" is made at the sole discretion of the University of the District of Columbia. The University may refuse to hire a finalist, rescind an offer of employment to a finalist or review and may terminate the employment of a current employee based on the results of a background investigation.
Disposition of Resume: Resumes received outside the area of consideration and/or after the closing date will not be given consideration. You must resubmit your resume to receive consideration for any subsequent advertised position vacancies. For the purpose of employment, resumes are not considered job applications. Therefore, if selected for employment a UDC application will be required.
Job Offers: Official Job Offers are made by the University of the District of Columbia, Office of Talent Management only.
Contact Information: All inquiries related to employment and job applications should be directed to UDC Office of Talent Management at (202) 274-5380.
The University of the District of Columbia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. Minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For a full version of the University’s EO Policy Statement, please visit: https://www.udc.edu/human-resources/equal-opportunity/ .