Req #: 242746 Department: APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY Appointing Department Web Address: https://seeyourselfapl.uw.edu/ Posting Date: 01/24/2025 Closing Info: Open Until Filled Salary: $6,000 - $7,500 per month Shift: First Shift Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230119\_a11y.pdf) As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. See Yourself at APL (https://seeyourselfapl.uw.edu/) as a member of the Ocean Engineering Department! We are seeking a full-time Fabrication Engineer (Machinist) to join the team. This position has a salary range of $72,000 to $90,000 annualized ($6,000 - $7,500 monthly), along with great employment benefits and competitive total compensation incentives. **The Team:** The Ocean Engineering (OE) Department designs, builds, tests, and deploys custom equipment for oceanographic research, marine renewable energy, marine robotics, subsea acoustic instrumentation, and other basic and applied science efforts. The OE department is a long-standing resource for scientists, R&D organizations, and the U.S. Navy by delivering technology and expertise from the design phase through at-sea deployment of custom, one-of-a-kind scientific instruments and systems. As a member of the OE Department your work will be deployed above and below the world's oceans, glaciers, and other harsh, remote environments across the globe. **Fabrication Engineer (Machinist) Responsibilities:** The Fabrication Engineer (Machinist) in the Applied Physics Laboratory’s Ocean Engineering Department will be responsible for mechanical engineering design interpretation and analysis/troubleshooting, production planning, construction/fabrication/assembly, testing of specialized mechanical parts, systems, and novel adaptations required for oceanographic, marine renewable energy and acoustic research. Tasks will be varied and may range from equipment requested for the development of structural frames and pressure vessels to electronics chassis and hydraulic systems for extremely specialized and unique research devices. Special emphasis will be placed on the production of electro-mechanical systems for long-term operation in the ocean. Device fabrication decisions are complex due to the complexity of device design and scientific research objectives and involve non-technical factors such as budget and project timelines and milestones. The research projects this position supports are to solve fundamental and applied ocean engineering problems of significance to Federal, State, local, and private industry sponsors. The various types of research and engineering that this position will operate within include ocean engineering, oceanography, ocean acoustics, marine renewable energy, and marine robotics. This role independently advises PIs and engineers, using their expertise and experience to contribute valuable input into the design, fabrication, production methods and processes, and material selection of one-of-a-kind scientific research instruments. Additionally, this position contributes to the development of research phases through subject matter expertise, problem identification, and strategy review, participating in research approaches, and navigating design challenges. **Mechanical Fabrication, Machining and Assembly:** • Works with scientists and engineers to meet grant and contract objectives by interpreting and analyzing/troubleshooting mechanical device designs. Advises PIs and engineers, using their expertise and experience to contribute valuable input into design, fabrication, production methods and processes, and material selection. • Contributes to the development of research phases through subject matter expertise, problem identification, and strategy review, and participates in research approach and navigates design challenges. • Provides engineering solutions to various challenges posed by field programs that often require rapid, novel solutions that make use of readily available resources. • Maintains research equipment/instrument design and fabrication documentation. As needed, performs stress analysis using both structural analysis software and empirical equations. • Applies expertise in fabrication design to interpret computer-aided-design (CAD) drawings provided by senior engineers to fabricate, machine, weld, assemble, and/or integrate hardware for one-of-a-kind scientific research instruments. • Programs precision computer numerical control (CNC) machining tools to fabricate and produce hardware. • Operates CNC and manual machines in the fabrication and production of hardware. • Ensures the hardware produced meets all requirements and tolerances specified by engineers. • Clearly documents and communicates any design changes to engineers with respect to hardware as a result of the production process. • Troubleshoots and resolves problems with designs, equipment, materials, and methods; and makes recommendations. • Specifies, sources and procures parts, materials, and services (e.g., water-jetting, galvanizing) to accomplish fabrication objectives. **Safety, Shop Operations and Maintenance:** • Maintains operational condition of equipment by regularly cleaning, calibrating, modifying, diagnosing problems, and repairing. • Develops and manages inventory of materials, equipment, and tools in support of shop operations. • Adheres to OE and APL Machine Shop documentation standards. • Maintains State and UW safety standards in the workspaces and Labs. • May be asked for design, material, or fabrication method input on custom parts for scientific instruments. • May provide direction and/or training to other APL machinists, technicians, and students on methods and procedures. • May schedule and document the work of team members. • May analyze work products of other APL machinists and develop conclusions and recommendations. • Performs other related duties as required. **Requirements:** Bachelor’s in Engineering or related field AND 3 years of related experience. • Demonstrated experience with CNC programming and operation, manual machining, and welding. • Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds in materials repeatedly. • Able to work independently, and as part of a research team, interacting cooperatively with people from diverse backgrounds, academic levels, and nationalities. • Effective interpersonal and communication skills. • Intermediate experience with Microsoft Office Software (Word, Excel, etc.). _Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration._ **While not required, you’ll stand out if you have:** • Experience working in a machine shop for an oceanographic research lab at an R1 University. • Experience with Camworks or Solidworks software. **About APL:** The Applied Physics Laboratory is a research unit at the University of Washington. Our research expertise is in ocean physics and engineering, ocean and medical acoustics and imaging, polar science, environmental remote sensing, and signal processing. We conduct research and development that is sponsored by a variety of federal and state agencies and take great pride in our long-standing status as a US Navy-designated University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). Our work takes place not only on the University of Washington campus and medical centers, but in field locations around the world – at sea, in the air, and on polar ice caps. We apply rigorous scientific inquiry and engineering excellence in pursuit of solutions to important problems for the good of our region, nation, and world. **DEI:** Diversity is a core value at the University of Washington and the Applied Physics Laboratory shares this commitment. We are focused on building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable research environment for all students, staff, and collaborators. We believe every member of our team enriches our community by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and discover, design, and deliver solutions. **Application Process:** The application process may include the completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter, and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed. University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.