Department: Oregon Fabrication and Design
Rank: Research Assistant
Annual Basis: 12 Month
May 11, 2026 (updated); position open until filled
With your online application, you will also be asked to enter the names and contact information of three professional references; candidates will be notified prior to contacting references.
Please upload a resume describing how you meet the minimum requirements, professional competencies, and any preferred qualifications.
The position is based out of Eugene, Oregon, on campus.
Oregon Fabrication and Design (OFAD), is a research core facility located on the UO main campus, with facilities in Pacific Hall and the Knight Campus. For over 30 years, OFAD has supported publicly and privately funded research by providing expert prototyping, technical consultation, precision fabrication, and instrument repair. Equipped with advanced manufacturing tools, the shop fosters a culture of craftsmanship and continuous learning, where machinists, engineers, and researchers collaborate to refine their skills, explore new techniques, and turn ideas into high-quality scientific instruments. Dedicated to both innovation and professional growth, OFAD serves as a vital resource for higher education research labs and private sector partners throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
The OFAD instrument shop provides professional instrument construction for research endeavors at UO. This position interacts with faculty, staff, postdocs, graduate students, and other research professionals both within and outside of the University. The Instrument Machinist in the shop provides design consultation services and operates a variety of standard and specialized equipment to create and assemble instruments for research use. This position performs manual machining, CNC programming, CNC turning, CNC milling, waterjet cutting, laser cutting/etching, sheet metal fabrication, plastic fabrication, additive manufacturing, and other related duties as assigned. The person in this position will need to understand the scientific purpose of the materials they are manufacturing and work closely with the researcher to build custom parts, often from scratch, with frequent modifications.
The instrument machinist (IM) provides their technical skills, inventiveness, spatial reasoning, and creative abilities to the design, engineering, prototyping, and fabrication of research instrumentation for the advancement of research excellence on the University of Oregon campus. The IM provides their expertise to principal investigators and graduate students within the campus community to develop custom equipment requirements for proposed or ongoing grant submissions. The IM assists in the diagnosis and repair of existing research apparatus by researching, troubleshooting, and designing repairs. The IM occasionally assists and trains graduate students and undergrads associated with department labs in the use of diagnostic and fabrication equipment housed in the UO's research instrumentation shops.
- Two years experience in machine shop practice
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical science or engineering plus two years of experience with machining, OR Associate’s Degree in a technology field plus at least three years of experience related to machining or fabrication; OR equivalent combination of training and experience.
Studies have shown that individuals are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.
- Knowledge and skill to operate both common and specialized equipment in the fabrication shops, including lathes, mills, grinders, soldering machines, saws, welders, and drill presses.
- Ability to read and interpret complex design specifications (including CAD files, oral and written instructions, and incomplete/rough design plans), along with planning and implementing a variety of design, construction, fabrication, and assembly processes.
- Problem-solving skills, including the repair, maintenance, fabrication of parts, and proper calibration of standard machines and equipment.
- Ability to exercise sound judgement and work independently when necessary
- Knowledge of and ability to comply with all applicable safety codes and guidelines, including the ability to take precautions that assure the safety of themselves and others.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to interpret and address customer needs and work in a team environment.
- Experience in a university setting or in creating instruments for experimental and research use.
- Software experience with the following: Autodesk and Fusion, Solidworks, Mastercam, Microsoft Office, Preform
- Hardware experience with: Manual and CNC Lathes and Mills (3-5 axis), Laser cutter, Waterjet, Saws (Vertical and Drop), Welding (MIG/TIG/Laser), Additive manufacturing (FormLabs)
- Bachelors degree in engineering, physics or other scientific discipline.
All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit our website.
The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please email us or call 541-346-5112.
UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy (including pregnancy-related conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, familial status, citizenship, service in the uniformed services (as defined in federal and state law), veteran status, expunged juvenile record, and/or the use of leave protected by state or federal law in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed here.
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