Summary

The System Engineer will oversee the Torrefaction and STRAP Facilities; manage projects and data; negotiate and requisite new equipment; participate in the planning, and development of new systems in this area; and provide support and training for students, staff, researchers, faculty, and users.

Both the Torrefaction and STRAP Facilities are pilot to industrial scale plants which include solid conveying equipment, reactors (thermal, dissolution, precipitation, filtration, and melting), extruders, PLC control, data processing, and other similar devices.

Responsibilities 

1. Oversees the Torrefaction and STRAP Facilities.
2. Manage projects and data.
3. Manage inventories of equipment, instruments, chemicals and supplies.
4. Provide instructions, training and technical support of facility equipment and systems to students (undergraduate, graduate), researchers, faculty, and users.
5. Oversees that all systems are operating under safety regulations. Participate in the development of safety procedures and training methods, including the creation of documentation; participate in facility safety inspections to identify potential hazards to personnel or university property; apply safety?related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.
6. Provide instruction and guidance in manufacturing and mechanical engineering practices.
7. Adhere to federal, state, and university regulations.
8. Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.
9. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, chemical engineering, control, or related engineering and science fields.

Required Experience

1. At least 3 years of experience in a technical field, such as mechanical design, control, manufacturing, or product testing.
2. Demonstrated experience in the design, assembly, control, and operation of mechanical systems.
3. Demonstrated experience in leading teams and overseeing large systems.
4. Working knowledge of computers and software in an office environment.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, or related engineering and science fields with an emphasis on design, control, and manufacturing processes.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

1. Demonstrated experience in managing and leading teams.
2. Experience in the operation and maintenance of: conveying systems of solid materials; conveying systems of liquids; high temperature equipment; pumps; high-pressure hydraulic systems.
3. Demonstrated ability to operate, maintain, repair, and calibrate engineering test equipment.
4. Ability to generate process flow diagrams, piping and instrument diagrams, logic diagrams, standard operation procedures, lock-out tag-out procedures, and job hazard analysis.
5. Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment.
6. Demonstrated knowledge of current industrial safety and OSHA standards.
7. Demonstrated knowledge of project management.
8. Demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple work projects and different types of activities.
9. Demonstrated ability to work with accuracy, precision, and attention to detail.
10. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate in both technical and non-technical terminology at a variety of skill levels.
11. Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills.
12. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries and work harmoniously with diverse groups of students, faculty, and staff.
13. Possession of a valid driver’s license and ability to meet Michigan Tech’s vehicle use requirements.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

1. Experience in PLC control.
2. Experience in the use of CAD/CAM software, such as NX and Solid Works.
3. Experience in the operation and maintenance of large and complex systems, with many motors, sensors, piping, closed-loop control, and the generation of three-dimensional prototypes from CAD models.
4. Demonstrated ability to deliver effective lectures to small- to medium-sized groups.
5. Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons from diverse backgrounds, creating a sense of belonging, and fostering a fair, objective, welcoming place to work for persons with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints.

Language, Mathematics and/or Reasoning Skills

1. Language Skills – Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and chemical safety data sheets. Ability to complete routine reports. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to students or other employees.
2. Reasoning Ability – Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of problems in various situations. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions in mathematical, diagram, written, or oral form.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, taste, and/or smell. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel an object, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
2. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move equipment and objects weighing more than 100 pounds and is expected to regularly move more than 10 pounds.
3. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close range, distance, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
4. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to work in high, precarious places while using proper safety equipment, is exposed to outdoor weather conditions, and vibration. The employee is frequently exposed to fumes and/or airborne particles, such as would be found in a welding shop. The employee is regularly required to work near moving mechanical parts.
5. The noise level in the work environment is typically moderate.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:

• Employee Safety Overview

• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training

• Annual Data Security Training 

• Annual Title IX Training

Required Departmental Training: 

• Training/instruction on all machines and instruments in the labs where employees will work.
• Specific training as required for working at the facility.

Background Check:

Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Other Conditions of Employment:

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

1

FLSA Status

Exempt

Appointment Term

12 months

Shift

Pay Rate/Salary

Negotiable Based on Experience & Qualifications

Title of Position Supervisor

Professor

Posting Type

Dependent on Funding

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

Additional Information