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Position Details

Position Information

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26203

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Dilpreet Bajwa

Department Head

(406) 994-6783

[email protected]

Classification Title Managing Director

Working Title Makerspace Lab Director

Brief Position Overview

The Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department is seeking a lab technician and manager to direct the Makerspace located in Norm Asbjornson Hall. The Makerspace supports students by providing a space where they can build, test and prototype designs. The Makerspace is also a primary lab supporting several NACOE courses. The director will have primary facility responsibility and will: manage and supervise operations; advise and assist with student projects; coordinate with faculty from across the campus on facility use; plan and conduct equipment maintenance; provide future vision and planning to include writing equipment and capability proposals; conduct student worker hiring, training, scheduling, mentoring and supervision; plan and participate in many outreach venues.

Position Number 4C1139

Department Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

Division College of Engineering

Appointment Type Professional

Contract Term Fiscal Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

FLSA Exempt

Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible Eligible

Salary Staring at $60,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.

Contract Type LOA

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type Open

Position Details

General Statement

Mechanical & Industrial Engineering (M&IE) is the largest engineering academic department on the MSU Bozeman campus with ~1,421 undergraduate and graduate student enrollment. It offers four undergraduate programs which include Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, and Financial Engineering. The department also offers M.S. degrees in Industrial & Management Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, and the PhD in Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Also offered are several minors which include: Aerospace, Mechatronics, Materials, Building Energy Systems, Engineering Management and Financial Engineering. The department maintains a robust research component, with a growing number of graduate students.

Duties and Responsibilities

+ Develop a strategic vision for future lab capabilities and create corresponding funding proposals to support that vision.

+ Generate revenue by promoting and marketing the lab for campus and community use.

+ Travel to events to promote MSU’s Makerspace capabilities.

+ Oversee the hiring, scheduling, training, mentoring, and management of a student staff of 4–6 individuals each semester.

+ Ensure the lab operates safely and efficiently during open hours and while hosting classes.

+ Establish and enforce equipment usage and safety procedures.

+ Coordinate outreach activities held in the Makerspace or involving Makerspace equipment.

+ Organize workshops that support curriculum needs or are requested by new users.

+ Continue developing on-campus workshops and provide mentorship to the many students utilizing the space.

+ Maintain lab equipment, manage inventory and purchases of consumable items, and oversee the lab budget.

+ Schedule space usage for classes (both within the College of Engineering and across campus), student clubs, and individual students.

+ Maintain the Makerspace website (www.montana.edu/makerspace) and social media presence in accordance with MSU standards.

+ Provide backup technician support for other departmental labs as needed.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

+ Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology and significant years of experience in a related field.

+ Experience in design and manufacturing, engineering or a related technical field.

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

+ Master’s degree in Engineering and two years of experience in a related field.

+ Prior experience in industrial education through teaching design, manufacturing or other related fields.

+ Experience directing or coordinating activities in a lab with a broad user base.

The Successful Candidate Will

+ Possess the ability to effectively communicate and maintain positive professional working relationships with faculty, students, and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds.

+ Possess the ability to establish working relationships across a broad range of design-build projects.

+ Possess the ability to effectively communicate with members of the community during outreach events and about the use of the Makerspace.

+ Possess the ability to implement lab activities that support course outcomes.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

This position has supervisory duties? Yes

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search.

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on December 8, 2025; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.