| Department: |
Chemical Engineering |
Effective Date: |
January, 2014 |
| Grade: |
USG 10
35 hr/wk
|
Reports to: |
Director, Technical Operations-Chemical Engineering |
General Accountability
This position supports all Researchers and Undergraduate Lab instructors in the department to assist and facilitate the transformation of abstract scientific concepts into tangible research or teaching equipment. Further, it will use good judgment in balancing initiative, focus, decisiveness, prioritization and tact. Will maintain the confidence and respect of those responsible for related facilities and functions in academic and/or academic support units. Requires only general direction.
Nature and Scope
This position participates in all research and laboratory teaching equipment design and fabrication projects in the Department requiring this service. It includes the design and fabrication of equipment or accessories related to pressurized gas flow, fluid chemical flow, chemical reactions and any other aspect of Chem Eng research. The position frequently contributes expertise to other departments and occasionally to other faculties.
Statistical Data
The Department of Chemical Engineering has a complement of 35 tenured, and probationary faculty, 11 technical staff, 6 administrative staff, and numerous adjunct faculty, visiting scholars, and post-doctoral fellows. The Department of Chemical Engineering over the next one to two years is expected to grow to a complement of 37 tenured, and probationary faculty, 12 technical staff, and 7 administrative staff.
Specific Accountabilities
1. Position Requirements:
- Must have a strong chemical and engineering background, with a minimum of a Master’s degree of Engineering, and 10 years experience in chemical or chemical engineering lab processes.
- Has expert-level understanding of the design/engineering process as it pertains to experimental process/product development
- Has expert knowledge on the strengths and properties of engineering materials
- Has high-level problem-solving skills in resolving issues resulting from complex interactions between materials of construction, conditions of operation, materials consumed, and materials produced in experimental apparatus.
- Has full knowledge of operation and servicing DI water treatment equipment including but not limited to carbon filters, RO membranes, mixed-bed demineralizers, cartridge filters, and all related controls equipment.
- Has full knowledge and capability for dispensing Liquid Nitrogen in a safe and efficient manner, supporting the researchers in Chemical Engineering.
- Has excellent machine-tool skills including, but not limited to, lathe, mill, saw, grinding, polishing and welding work.
- Has a deep knowledge of typically-used mechanical parts such as valves, fasteners, meters, tubing, piping, etc for process equipment.
- Maintains a good understanding of all aspects of researcher “safety”, related to each experimental setup being designed – and supports the “Safety First” concept.
- Is required to function as a department “First Aider”.
2.Liaison:
- Involves the Technical Operations Director and Safety Coordinator as needed for higher-risk projects, to ensure adequate Hazard Analysis is performed.
- Communicates product and technology requirements to vendors and outside contractors.
- Supports the implementation of “Request Tracker” program for project requests.
- Provides status-updates to all stakeholders on an agreed periodic basis.
3.Teamwork:
- Collaborates with other Tech Team members as needed as well as other technical specialists on cross-disciplinary projects.
4.Project Management:
- Provides technical direction in defining the scope and tasks of projects, allocating resource requirements, providing cost estimates, completion dates and determining any external subcontractor involvements, if required.Assumes leadership roles in projects proposing research in new technological areas and will work with ChE and client management to plan and carry out their deployment, as required.
- Has excellent time-management and communication skills.
5.Leadership:
- Provides expert-level technical guidance in the field of equipment design, material selection and technical integration and safety aspects of operation.May also direct the day-to-day activities of any assigned subordinates
- This position influences the spending decisions of many department researchers in relation to experimental research projects.
Working Conditions
- A combination of office time and lab/workshop time is required, in an approximate 20% - 80% split.
- As a “hands-on” position, it will require various times to be spent within the research labs, with varying degrees of research risk and environments, requiring the appropriate PPE to be worn, commensurate with the associated hazards and risks.
