Laboratory Technician for School of Engineering

About the role

The Laboratory Technician supports the smooth operation of teaching and research laboratories in the School of Engineering. Working closely with faculty, graduate research assistants and teaching assistants, the role involves fabricating equipment, maintaining instruments, and ensuring a safe laboratory environment.

Key responsibilities

• Fabricate and assemble complex test fixtures and equipment using sketches, schematics and functional drawings.
• Operate and maintain a range of laboratory instruments such as hydraulic testing machines, spectrophotometers, automatic pipettors, analytical balances, muffle furnaces, incubators, centrifuges and autoclaves.
• Provide procurement support, coordinate equipment purchases, installations and minor capital projects, and manage inventory of consumables.
• Train users on safe operation of lab equipment, document procedures and maintain lab manuals.
• Ensure compliance with university safety guidelines, WHMIS and GHS, and monitor lab safety during activities.

Required profile

• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision while maintaining precision and timeliness.
• Strong understanding of university safety policies, purchasing procedures and equipment maintenance schedules.
• Experience collaborating with faculty, students and technical staff in an academic laboratory setting.

Required skills

• Hydraulic testing machine operation
• Spectrophotometer use
• Automatic pipetter operation
• Analytical balance handling
• Muffle furnace operation
• Incubator and centrifuge use
• Autoclave operation
• Equipment fabrication and assembly
• Laboratory safety compliance (WHMIS, GHS)