The Fabrication Lab Specialist reports to the Dean’s Office directly and works closely with other departmental lab managers and safety officers within the college and university. The position is responsible for managing college-level directives and disseminating information to/collaborating with departmental lab managers. Key areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to: mentoring students and junior faculty members; assist with solutions to complex problems, open collaboration from faculty of all departments; maintain lab equipment and keep the lab environments clean and safe for accreditation purposes and student safety; ensure any that equipment repairs occur in a timely manner as needed; supervises work-study students, graduate assistants. Other duties may be assigned by supervisor and/or college leadership based on the overall needs of the college.
Fabricates and assembles components as specified; provides technical assistance, instruction, and consultation for the resolution of problems; and reads, interprets, and uses blueprints and schematics, instructions, manuals, or shop drawings to understand specifications of work.
Advises students and faculty on design projects, especially on product design, and recommends modifications and determines feasibility; selects materials and components needed for completion of designs, fabrications, and repairs; assists with training and provides technical guidance to students and faculty; provides final approvals regarding design projects being allowed to leave the college for delivery to external clients or for university sponsored competitions.
Well-versed in sound engineering and design practices to ensure all design projects are fabricated to a satisfactory standard; introduces the students to equipment, provides training and safety instructions and quickly assesses the student's competency with each piece of equipment being used; and discusses material selection with students, as well as other important design factors such as best methods of fastening and jointing as well.
Fabricates, installs, operates, maintains, inspects, and repairs equipment per regulations, codes, and professional practices; and maintains equipment in compliance with safety regulations.
The ideal candidate will possess the following:
Review of applications will begin on May 20, 2025 and continue until the position is filled. Applications received by this date will receive priority consideration.
Minimum Qualifications: Vocational or technical training in Precision Machining with 3 years of experience; background in engineering/manufacturing industry; and background in fabrication of system-oriented projects.
Preferred Qualifications: Associate’s degree or the equivalent combination of experience and industry training acceptable (5 years); and prototyping shop experience in an engineering environment.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is in the heart of one of Tennessee’s largest and most dynamic cities. As a national model for metropolitan universities, UTC collaborates with its many regional partners to offer an experiential learning environment with outstanding teaching scholars in 128 undergraduate degree programs and 55 graduate programs—at both the master's and doctoral levels. UTC and Chattanooga—nationally recognized for its downtown redevelopment and wealth of outdoor recreation—are inextricably linked, and the University is central to the workforce and economic development efforts of the region and the state.
Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Engineering and Computer Science; Health, Education and Professional Studies; and the Honors College are home to an array of award-winning programs from Nursing to Computer Science, Entrepreneurship to Veteran Student Support. Innovation is a strategic focus, and UTC research and development in smart city technology is an industry leader. UTC is the first and only university in the country with access to a managed, commercial quantum computing network, and we are introducing an artificial intelligence initiative involving entities across campus and engaging partners throughout the region.
UTC is a driving force for achieving excellence, and our mission is to actively engage students, faculty and staff; embrace diversity and inclusion; inspire positive change; and enrich and sustain our community.
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