Engineering Laboratory Manager

Engineering Admin Office

Job Description

The School of Engineering at the University of Missouri - Saint Louis (UMSL), invites applications for an Engineering Laboratory Manager. The Engineering lab manager supports teaching and research laboratories across Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering programs, and the Design Studio. This position is responsible for daily lab operations, equipment maintenance, safety compliance, and technical support for faculty and students. This position supports the school's emphasis on experiential learning and skilled industry-ready engineering workforce. It contributes to ABET accreditation by ensuring laboratories meet criteria related to safety, equipment modernization, continuous improvement, and the facilitation of student learning outcomes. The role includes maintaining existing facilities, assisting in the development of new laboratory capabilities, class projects, design competitions, senior design projects, and ensuring a safe, efficient, and well-organized laboratory environment.

The successful candidate will work closely with faculty, students, industry partners, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), IT, and Facilities to support instructional and research activities while maintaining laboratory infrastructure and equipment. This position reports to the Founding Director of the School of Engineering.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain, operate, troubleshoot, and document laboratory equipment; keep maintenance logs, conduct preventive maintenance, and coordinate repairs.
• Comprehensive management of the software lifecycles specifically for teaching and research applications-within a School of Engineering, requiring close collaboration with UMSL IT division.
• Support setup, execution, and teardown of instructional and research experiments.
• Assist in the development and construction of new laboratory facilities and experimental setups.
• Train faculty and students on proper equipment use and laboratory procedures.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and work instructions, support compliance with OSHA, ASTM, and institutional safety standards.
• Coordinate with EHS to implement safety protocols and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Manage procurement of laboratory supplies and equipment, including vendor communication, purchase orders, and inventory control.
• Support lab infrastructure needs in coordination with IT and Facilities.
• Supervise student assistants as assigned.
• Maintain organized records related to equipment, safety, and purchasing.

Major Equipment Supported (Representative, Not Exhaustive)

Mechanical Engineering

• Universal testing machines, hardness and impact testers
• Pumps, flow rigs, heat transfer and thermal systems

Civil Engineering

• Structural testing systems
• Concrete, soil, and materials testing equipment
• Hydraulic benches, open-channel flumes
• Geotechnical testing apparatus

Electrical Engineering

• Oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies
• Signal generators, spectrum analyzers
• PLC trainers, embedded/FPGA platforms
• Data acquisition systems and sensors

Design Studio (shared facility for civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering projects)

• CNC machines, lathes, milling machines, drill presses, welding machines,
• 3D Printers, laser engraver

Working Conditions

Work is performed in laboratory environments involving mechanical equipment, CNC machinery, high-temperature and high-pressure systems, electrical systems, and occasional handling of hazardous materials. Proper PPE and safety training are required.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University will not sponsor applicants for this position for employment visas.Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University will not sponsor applicants for this position for employment visas.

40 hours/week. Monday thru Friday

An Associate's degree or an equivalent combination of education and at least 1 year of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

* Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.

* 5+ years demonstrated hands-on experience with laboratory equipment and fabrication tools.

* Knowledge of laboratory safety practices and OSHA standards.

* Ability to support multiple projects independently and prioritize tasks effectively.

* Strong organizational, documentation, and communication skills.

* Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

* Demonstrated hands-on experience operating CNC machines, manual lathes, and milling equipment in a laboratory or fabrication environment.

* Ability to work effectively with various faculty, staff, and students.

* Experience working with concrete

* Certified machinist or vocational training in a mechanical field.

* Certified electrician or vocational training in a electrical field.

* Experience with AutoCAD or similar CAD tools.

* Experience with Geometrical Dimensioning and Tolerance (GD&T)

* Familiarity with ASTM standards and experimental procedures.

* Experience with CNC machining, mill/lathe work, and TIG welding

* Experience handling hazardous materials and maintaining laboratory compliance.

$18.87 - $26.87

• Application materials include a cover letter and resume. Finalists will be asked to provide references at a later date.
• Applicants must combine all application materials into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as a resume attachment to the UMSL Careers: https://www.umsl.edu/services/hrs/careers/index.html
• Limit document name to 50 characters. Maximum size limit is 11MB. Do not include special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.). For questions about the application process, please email employment@umsl.edu. If you are experiencing technical problems, please email umpshrsupport@umsystem.edu.
• Please submit a cover letter addressing your qualifications for the Engineering Laboratory Manager position, a current resume and contact information for three professional references. References will be contacted only at the finalist stage. Review of applications will begin on April 15, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.

About the School

School of Engineering at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) provides rigorous, relevant and affordable engineering education to a talented population of students to address the need for skilled engineering workforce in the region, state and beyond. The UMSL School of Engineering will house degree programs in mechanical, electrical and civil engineering. Additional bachelor's degrees, as well as graduate degrees, will be added as the school grows. The school is committed to accessibility and flexibility ensuring that students can pursue their educational goals in a manner that meet their needs. Faculty will conduct scholarships to expand the bounds of engineering knowledge. This facility is being funded by a $15-million grant from the State of Missouri and is expected to be completed in Fall 2026. The school admitted its first cohort of traditional undergraduate students in Fall 2025.

About UMSL

Established in 1963 and having just celebrated its 60th anniversary, the University of Missouri-St. Louis is the region's premier public university in eastern Missouri and comes with a storied history. UMSL is a metropolitan, public research and teaching institution consistently recognized for its strong academic programs across disciplines and is considered a primary driver of the St. Louis economy. Supported by nearly 700 faculty across nine schools and colleges, UMSL offers an array of degree options including doctoral and graduate degree programs, numerous bachelor and certificate programs, and is home to the only professional optometry school in Missouri.

With an ambitious goal to become the nation's premier metropolitan public research university, UMSL is a Tier 1 public research institution that prides itself on creating greater access to higher education and is an institution on the move. In three years, the university has risen 69 spots in the U.S. News & World Report rankings and now is now ranked No. 107 among all public universities in the nation. UMSL scored even higher on the 2023 list of "Top Performers on Social Mobility" and ranks No. 1 in Missouri and No. 75 nationally, an improvement of 25 places from last year's rankings.

UMSL is also proud to be ranked for the first time by U.S. News among the nation's Best Colleges for Veterans.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please email the Office of Human Resources at umslhr@umsl.edu.