Instrument Maker
Carnegie Institution for Science, a prestigious 100+ year old non-profit scientific research institution located in Washington, DC, is seeking a talented and experienced individual to fill the post of Instrument Maker. A minimum 5 years of experience as instrument maker/machinist is required.
This three-person machine shop supports the state-of-the-art science of scientific staff members and their research groups to help design, create and modify in house design instrumentation and equipment. Our shop employs CNC Mills, CNC Lathes, a new Wire EDM system, Surface and Edge grinders, and multiple small and medium mills and lathes. A large fraction of the work involves machining of instruments and parts used in high-pressure, high-temperature research activities. In support of these experiments we machine hardened steel, tungsten carbide, and both soft and hard ceramics.
Position Requirements:
- Highly experienced and versatile in the use of conventional and CNC equipment such as lathes, vertical mills, cylindrical / surface grinders and wire EDM machines.
- Capable to set-up, program and operate such equipment for the fabrication, modification and or repair of highly technical scientific instrumentation and equipment.
- Verify the dimensions of parts and components using measuring instruments.
- Ability to work with various types of metals, nonferrous materials, ceramics and plastics.
- Test instrumentation to determine conformance to specifications.
- Ability to interact with scientific staff to determine compliance with jobs submitted to the machine shop and to communicate any requirements or problems faced with the development, improvement, and repair.
- Ability to teach our junior machinist.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
Extensive machining experience and knowledge /ability to operate various types of sophisticated production machinery; ability to communicate effectively, both written and oral. We seek a highly-motivated individual who is capable of exhibiting good judgment and work independently on scheduled projects, seeing them through to completion. Prior experience in a research environment is a plus.
Preferred Attributes:
Strong interpersonal and communication skills to interact effectively and maintain a good working relationship with a diverse group of individuals at all levels of the organization.
This full-time, salaried, exempt position will be based at the Carnegie Institution’s Broad Branch Road campus in Washington, DC. As a privately endowed institution, Carnegie Science enjoys institutional support together with external funding to conduct world-leading research in areas of earth, planetary and materials sciences. The BBR campus currently has 27 staff scientists andmore than 40 research scientists and postdoctoral fellows. Interested applicants should submit a résumé/CV, contact information for three references, and a cover letter stating your interest in the position.
Only complete applications submitted via the Carnegie website will be considered.
The Carnegie Institution of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability, or other protected group status.