Department: Volgenau School of Engineering

Web Announcement:

Laboratory and Machine Shop Manager

The George Mason University Department of Mechanical Engineering, within the Volgenau School of Engineering (VSE), seeks an energetic person to oversee day-to-day operations of the department's machine shop, educational and research laboratories, and the Micro Fabrication Facility (MFF) that includes the Clean Room and Characterization Lab. The Laboratory and Machine Shop Manager must be a safety conscious individual committed to working with students and faculty alike. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.

This position is full-time and is located at the Science and Technology Campus in Prince William, Virginia. The Science and Technology Campus is home to multiple educational and research laboratories for departments within the Volgenau School of Engineering. This campus consists of a newly designed Clean Room, by which the position will provide various operation support. In addition to managing and maintaining the Mechanical Engineering machine shop and laboratory spaces (the Senior Design space, the Scanning Electron Microscope, and the instructional lab in Bull Run Hall), the Laboratory and Machine Shop Manager will assist with the day-to-day operations of VSE's newly designed Micro Fabrication Facility (MFF).

Responsibilities:
Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Set-up and operation of one or more of the following varieties of machine tools: MIG and TIG welders, lathe, shears, brake press, routers, drill press, saws, additive manufacturing equipment, use of hand tools, and precision measuring instruments;
• Provide direct support to students and faculty;
• Provide guidance and oversight for laboratory and shop safety, coordinating safety activities with Mason's Environmental Health and Safety Office;
• Set priorities to balance educational and research shop needs;
• Track inventory;
• Purchase equipment and equipment maintenance in the machine shop and laboratory spaces;
• Serve as the primary staff support for VSE's Clean Room and adjoining Characterization Laboratory. These duties include promoting and enforcing all safety protocols, maintaining safety and tool training records, maintaining authorized chemical and gas usage, controlling lab access, and tasks related to scheduling support for contractors and users, purchasing, and maintenance; and
• Making standard shop calculations in the areas below:
  • Dimensions of work tools, feeds, and speeds;
  • Display setup;
  • Plan, layout, and interpret blueprints and sketches to engineering specifications; and
  • Determine sequence of operations, number of required cuts, and method of setup.
    
    

Required Qualifications:

• High school degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Demonstrated experience working in a machine shop environment;
• Demonstrated experience mentoring students on safety and operational protocols in a machine shop environment;
• Mathematical ability to perform and/or understand calculations used in fabrication, and the ability to read and interpret blueprints, specifications and technical data;
• Proficiently use computers and other systems like 3D printers, CNC machines, etc. to access, maintain, and manipulate data;
• Ability to work independently and in teams; and
• Ability to bend and lift in excess of 50 pounds.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate from a two-year technical trade program;
• Experience with CAD software and design tools;
• Experience with 3D printing;
• Experience managing a Clean Room;
• Knowledge of Clean Room safety protocols; and
• Experience supporting research and/or academic laboratories (e.g. scheduling equipment maintenance, purchasing, etc.).
  
  

Mason Engineering: The Future of Engineering is Here

The Volgenau School of Engineering at George Mason University is a fast-growing force for innovation in research and education. The school boasts more than 8,600 students in 37 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs, including several first-in-the-nation offerings. Of the 250 full-time faculty who comprise the School, 90 are tenured, 50 are tenure-track, 85 are instructional faculty, and 25 are research faculty. As part of a nationally ranked research university, its research teams expended more than $60 million in sponsored research awards last year and has projects with over $400 million in current and anticipated awards. Located in the heart of Northern Virginia's technology corridor, Mason Engineering stands out for its research in many leading areas including artificial intelligence, data analytics engineering, cybersecurity engineering, biomedical imaging and devices, community-based healthcare, autonomous systems, 5G communications, systems architectures, computational biomedicine, advanced materials and manufacturing, sustainable infrastructure, and more. The School highly encourages multidisciplinary research and provides faculty with opportunities to work with other disciplines.

George Mason University is the largest public research university in Virginia, with an enrollment of over 38,000 students studying in over 200 degree programs. Mason is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in a range of academic fields. It was classified as an R1 research institution in 2016 by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutes of Higher Education. Mason is located in the city of Fairfax in Northern Virginia at the doorstep of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, with unmatched geographical access to a number of federal agencies and national laboratories. Northern Virginia is also home to one of the largest concentrations of high-tech firms in the nation, providing excellent opportunities for interaction with industry. Fairfax is consistently rated as being among the best places to live in the country and has an outstanding local public school system.

In conjunction with Amazon's decision to establish a second headquarters in Northern Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced a multi-year plan to invest in the growth of degree programs in computing, and George Mason University has committed to accelerate its plans to grow its capacity in computing and high-tech fields. Among the exciting initiatives being undertaken by the university are the launch of the Institute for Digital InnovAtion, a university think tank and incubator to serve the digital economy, and the expansion of its Arlington Campus with a planned 400,000 square foot Digital InnovAtion Building. These initiatives reflect hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment by Mason that will rapidly elevate Mason's already leading national position in computing and related areas.

Salary: Commensurate with education and experience.

Location: Prince William, VA

Mason Ad Statement:

Great Careers Begin at Mason!

George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top U.S. News and World Report “Up and Coming” spot for national universities and is recognized for its global appeal and excellence in higher education.

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason’s diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!

George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must complete the online application at https://jobs.gmu.edu/ for position number 03064z; and attach a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information. Full consideration will apply to applicants who submit their completed application by April 8, 2021; however, review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Equity Statement:

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.