Electromagnetics Shop Engineer

Job Summary:

Oversee and provide professional engineering expertise in a core facility in process design, training, quality assurance, and developmental activities.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

As part of the Harvard Quantum Initiative staff team, the Electromagnetics Shop Engineer will provide technical oversight, instruction, and management of a new electromagnetics facility. They will hold primary responsibility for all aspects of the electromagnetics shop, overseeing day-to-day operations and providing long-range strategic planning. The Electromagnetics Shop Engineer is responsible for setting up and equipping the shop, developing shop processes, training researchers, including graduate and undergraduate students, and collaborating with researchers to design and build optical systems.

• Provide guidance to researchers, including faculty, postdocs, and graduate and undergraduate students on the design and build of optical systems, managing simultaneous complex designs.

• Evaluate, procure, install, maintain, monitor, and participate in the selection of state-of the art optical instrumentation equipment; other specialized instrumentation, and/or mechanical, electrical, or plumbing (MEP) systems needed to support instrumentation.

• Coordinate with vendors, as needed, for equipment inspection, repair, and service contracts.

• Provide technical oversight and training to researchers to advance knowledge of the equipment, instruments/systems, and lab-specific safety protocols and best practices. Monitor laboratory safety compliance and ensure compliance with University policies, procedures, and applicable legal rules and regulations.

• Collaborate with staff to develop processes and facility workflows; Prepare training manuals including standard operating procedures and related documents. Act as institutional memory for optical design methodologies at the Harvard Quantum Initiative, including robust documentation for all methods and processes.

• Collaborate with related departments (SEAS, Physics, CCB) as well as Electronics Shop, Machine Shop, and other core facilities and serve as a consultant/subject matter expert.

• Provide financial management and input for long-range strategic planning, coordinating with the HQI Executive Director and Director of Programs to manage equipment budgets and future requests.

• Encouraged to participate in proposal development and may be eligible for Principal Investigator rights

• Encouraged to co-author scientific papers and other publications

Working Conditions:

• May be exposed to toxic, radioactive, or carcinogenic materials including compressed gases, acids, solvents, vacuum pump oils, and other chemicals

• May be required to work in a cleanroom, chemical, or measurement laboratory environments

Physical Requirements:

• Lifting (up to approximately 50 pounds), bending, and other physical exertion including repetitive motions

• Standing and/or sitting for extended periods