Department Technician

at  Dalhousie University

JOB SUMMARY

The Mechanical Engineering program at Dalhousie provides a well-balanced technical education and prepares graduates to practice in design, research, development, fabrication, testing, processing, construction, operation, planning, sales, and management. Reporting to the Department Engineer, the Department Technician provides essential support to the undergraduate, graduate, and research programs in Mechanical Engineering, as well as student teams in the Faculty of Engineering, through the implementation of specialized skills to solve complex design and machining problems.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Canadian Red Seal or Red Seal equivalent qualified machinist with approximately five to seven years’ of experience.
• Candidate must have excellent communication (oral and written) skills, a strong background in machining of complex parts as well as technical prototyping and working on mechanical equipment.
• Experience with use of a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine, and experience with welding.
• Experience working independently, as well as supervising and training others.
• Candidate must have a proven record of placing a strong importance on safety in the workplace.
• A valid Nova Scotia Driver’s License.

• Provide technical guidance such as material selection, manufacturing processes, and assembly procedure to student teams during the project ideation and design phases to ensure that they create adequate fabrication drawings.
• Participate as a member of the Design Project Review Committee to help evaluate the student design concepts and reports for readiness to build and provide direct feedback to the students on feasibility, fabrication approaches and safety.
• Act as primary technician for student teams as designated by the Committee and provide manufacturing services (machining, welding, sheet metal fabrication, plumbing, carpentry, etc.) or any other support that they may require to ensure project success.
• Provide oversight toward safety training to all students who are working in labs and shops to ensure that they work in a safe manner.
• Provide support for external contract research for both researchers in the department and across the Faculty of Engineering.
• Handling shipments and deliveries of sensitive or heavy equipment forklift and crane operation, maintain lab chemical inventory and safety data sheets, manage hazardous waste disposal, inspect eye wash stations and first aid kits, maintain an inventory of consumables, reconcile monthly purchasing card transactions.