Instrument Maker - Aerospace Engineering

The Grainger College of Engineering

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Department of Aerospace Engineering in The Grainger College of Engineering seeks applicants for an Instrument Maker. The incumbent will be responsible for performing work at the experienced journeyman level in the fabrication, operation, and maintenance of general laboratory equipment and machine tools. In addition to the higher level of skill required for this position, the incumbent will be expected to take a greater leadership role pertaining to interactions with those seeking the services of the Machine Shop.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Machine Shop Duties
  • Performs work of the highest skill in making, fitting, and assembling components of laboratory equipment. This will include a close interaction with the customer. These interactions include, but not be limited to:
    • Reviewing drawings, finding errors and making the necessary corrections to those drawings, & making recommendations to the Supervisor of needed material and tooling to ensure the success of the project.
  • Uses basic and moderately complex machine tools with the highest journeyman degree of skill, including set-up for all machine operations. Machine tools include, but not be limited to:
    • Drill presses, lathes, horizontal and vertical milling machines, surface grinders, rotary tables, dividing heads, and such computer-numerical-controlled (CNC) machines as milling machines, lathes, and EDM.
  • Works from verbal requests to detailed drawings and completes necessary calculations involving normal shop mathematics. Duties include, but not be limited to:
    • Reviewing the sketches or drawings for errors and making the necessary corrections.
  • Performs work of tight tolerances with commercial surface finishes suitable for high vacuum or high-pressure seals.
  • Machines commercial alloys, plastics, and moderately difficult-to-machine materials effectively. Duties include, but not be limited to:
    • Making decisions as to the necessary tooling required to perform the machine operations effectively on these materials.
  • Performs work requiring the experienced use of such precision measuring devices as vernier and micrometer calipers, micrometers, dial gauges, and gauge blocks.
  • In the absence of the Supervisor and other more senior personnel, discuss alternate fabrication techniques with the goal of reducing unnecessary costly procedures, solve problems that arise after fabrication has begun, and make recommendations for procedures to ensure success in the earliest stages of project design.
• Crane Bay Duties
  • Performs work related to laboratory tests and laboratory equipment requiring knowledge of construction materials such as:
    • Concrete, lumber, and structural steel.
  • Performs heavy lifting, works at heights up to 65 feet, and operates industrial truck (forklift).
  • Operates Mechanical testing equipment independently and works directly with representative of outside industry to take data accurately according to testing requirements.
• Maintenance, Instructional, and Other Duties
  • Instructs or assists students and staff in proper use of tools and machinery. Examples include, but not be limited to:
    • The preparation and use of specimens and templates.
    • Instruction for such mechanics experiments as photoelasticity and brittle coatings.
  • Tests, operates, and repairs laboratory equipment in the area of employment pertaining to student instruction. These duties are required to be performed in a pre-emptive manner so that the instructional process is not interrupted. Duties include, but not be limited to:
    • Building, cleaning and maintaining mercury, bromoform, and other types of manometer.
    • Cleaning and maintaining water reservoirs and related flow apparatus, including flow-visualization experiments.
    • Inspection, maintenance, and repair of laboratory flow systems.
    • Installation of hard and soft tubing, fittings, valves and gages for air-flow and water-flow laboratory apparatus.
  • Employs welding, brazing, and hard & soft soldering techniques as necessary.
  • As required, assists in the training and supervision of employees of lower rank.
  • Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Any combination totaling four (4) years (48 months) from the categories below:
  • Successful completion of a machinist apprentice (or a closely related program) in an approved training program or in a training program established by an employer served by the State Universities Civil Service System.
  • Work experience comparable to that performed at the Senior Laboratory Mechanic level of this series or in other positions of comparable responsibility.
  • Coursework in welding, electrical, electronics, HVAC, industrial technology machining or manufacturing or a closely related field, as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:
    • 30 semester hours equal to one (1) year (12 months)
    • 60 semester hours (or an Associate's degree) equals to two (2) years (24 months)
  • Five (5) years (60 months) of work experience in the design and construction of complex laboratory apparatus/precision instruments (such as, but not limited to scale models of machine tools, special machinery, progressive dies, jigs, and fixtures).

Preferred Qualifications

Strong background in math, blueprint reading, with strong experience in: Computer AidedDrafting (CAD), 2 and 3 axis Computer Numeric Control (CNC) mill programming and operating, CNC Lathe programming and operating, wire EDM programming and operating.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• The Instrument Maker position possesses the highest degree of knowledge of machine tool operation in a research environment.
• Position involves the ability to apply that knowledge to the trade skills needed to complete the job requirements.
• The Instrument Maker possesses strong inter-personal communication skills, with the ability to communicate both verbally and in written form.

Environmental Demands

The Instrument Maker will be working in the Machine Shop and Crane Bay. The Machine Shop and Crane Bay environments are ones that require mental and emotional stability with good manual dexterity. It requires the Instrument Maker to spend the majority of their work shift: Moving items from one location to another and the incumbent moving from one location to another, as well as remaining stationary for an extended period of time. The Instrument Maker may involve moving tool weighing upwards of 75 pounds. To perform Instrument Maker responsibilities involves working at heights up to 65 feet.

Appointment Information
This is a 100% full-time Civil Service Instrument Maker position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 2/15/2023. Salary is commensurate with experience. The salary for this position is $45.88 per hour.

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on February 15, 2023. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact cgipso2@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID: 1015055
Job Category: Crafts & Trades
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu