Scientific Engineering Specialist Jobs

Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Scientific Eng., Level A

Job Title

Scientific Engineering Specialist

Department

Research | Berlinguette Lab | Department of Chemistry | Faculty of Science

Compensation Range

$5,063.67 - $7,294.50 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

August 23, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

Aug 31, 2024

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

This position works collaboratively with a team of engineers and scientists to develop scientific equipment and hardware for projects within a UBC research group focused on building electrochemical reactors as well as self-driving laboratories for accelerated materials discovery.

Organizational Status

Professor Curtis Berlinguette (UBC Chemistry Department; UBC Chemical & Biological Engineering Department; Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute) leads a large, interdisciplinary team of 40 scientists and engineers that design and build advanced electrochemical reactors to power the planet. The Berlinguette Group also designs and builds self-driving laboratories for accelerated materials discovery.

Position reports directly to Prof. Berlinguette and a senior staff member. On a daily basis, this position will interact directly with graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and other technical team members at UBC. The candidate will also liaise significantly with technical staff both internal and external to the university in order to efficiently conduct their work

Work Performed

To create mechanical engineering solutions for diverse hardware needs of the Berlinguette Group which may includ

• Constructing and/or modifying mechanical components using manual and/or automated machine tools to support rapid prototyping and commissioning of robotic components and assemblies;
• Designing and assembling custom and semi-custom scientific equipment, and integrating equipment into automated platforms. Examples of equipment/components to be developed may include:
• Planning of robotic sample handling kinematics;
• An x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy instrument with an automated XY stage requiring custom fixturing to facilitate automated sample loading/unloading; and
• Electrochemical test cells with automated electrolyte mixing and flow rate control that are compatible with automated electrode loading/unloading by a robot; and
• Reviewing the requirements of the design concepts, generating the design concepts, and advising the project team to select the most promising concepts;
• Performing detailed mechanical subsystem design using 3D CAD software, including:
• Solid and liquid handling systems with custom tools and end-effectors to manipulate vials and dispensing units using a robot.
• Customizing and integrating original equipment manufacturer (OEM) scientific equipment into robotic platforms. Equipment requiring integration may include:
• Creating CAD files, schematics, and other documentation to support manufacturing/procurement;
• Providing advice related to the procurement of custom components and assemblies needed for the project;
• Developing graphic user interfaces (GUI) and basic communication in Python with instruments, custom systems or robots to enable user interaction during testing or commissioning;
• Analysing test results to diagnose subsystem failures and implement design improvements and/or robotic workflow changes to optimize overall mechanical reliability of the system;
• Adhering to project design standards; and
• Constructing, commissioning and testing of subsystems and equipment off and on a robotic platform, including test-script development in Python;
• Creating drawings and bills of materials to facilitate fabrication and procurement.
• Optimizing subsystem designs for reliability, speed and efficient use of space;
• Developing project documentation via professional reports containing design details, drawings and supporting information.
• An analytical balance and dosing system for chemical solution preparation requiring alignment components to dispense precise amounts of powder into vials.
• Gathering and understanding the functional requirements for each subsystem to be developed;

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Work is expected to be of professional quality to prevent delays to research. Consequences of error include increased project costs due to time wasted and potential risks to the personal health and safety of colleagues. Work will be reviewed at a high level by Prof. Berlinguette in addition to workplace safety teams.

Supervision Received

Works independently under general supervision of Prof. Berlinguette and a senior staff member. This role will involve working in close collaboration with our team of scientists, engineers, and software developers at UBC to generate solutions that meet all respective design criteria for various components.

Supervision Given

This position may provide supervision to coop students performing mechanical-engineering-related tasks.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrable ability to work toward milestones and manage deadlines.
• Undergraduate degree in Engineering or Applied Science. Minimum of one year of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Familiarity with mechanical manufacturing processes;
• Experience with mechanical design;
• Ability to communicate mechanical designs and requirements effectively to fabricators to facilitate rapid delivery of functional mechanical assemblies;
• Experience with hands-on mechanical fabrication, assembly and prototyping;
• Experience with at least one programming language (e.g., python, MATLAB, C++ etc.);
• Experience with Solidworks or similar CAD software;
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills; and

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with optimizing mechanical designs for speed and reliability;
• Experience with simulation-guided optimization of mechanical systems;
• Familiarity analysing data from analytical instruments or other types of sensors.
• Familiarity with robotics, CNC machines, microcontrollers or other computer-controlled equipment; and

The ideal candidate will thrive in an environment of collaboration, creativity, and responsibility.