LABORATORY TECHNICIAN (ENG-CIVIL)

About the Department The Department of Civil Engineering at McMaster University has earned international reputation in both research and teaching. It has ranked in the world’s top 40 civil engineering departments in the 2021 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. The Civil Engineering Department at McMaster is a dynamic, fast paced, and evolving environment and is looking for a candidate who is enthusiastic, engaging, and excited about change. The Applied Dynamics Laboratory is a world-class facility that focuses on the building and testing of construction materials, large scale structures, and structural components (steel, concrete, timber, masonry). The ideal candidate would contribute to these construction and testing activities by bringing their hands-on experience with hand/power tools, machining, welding, electronics, control systems, instrumentation, hydraulics, and/or surveying equipment. About the Position Under the direction of the Applied Dynamics Laboratory Supervisor, the Applied Dynamics Laboratory Technician is responsible for supporting the various operations of the Applied Dynamics Laboratory, with a focus on both undergraduate teaching laboratories and a major graduate research lab. The successful candidate will also be responsible for providing operational support for the experimental facilities (including testing equipment, instruments, and data acquisition systems) employed in the department's research labs with all safety regulations in the undergraduate and graduate laboratories being followed. This individual may assist with leading undergraduate laboratory components. We are seeking an organized and creative problem-solver with a proven ability to multi-task. Job Summary Responsible for providing technical support within a laboratory environment. Assist lab instructors by designing, preparing, conducting, and demonstrating experiments. Purpose & Key Functions Collaborate with the instructor to decide on the learning concept and determine how the experiment will be designed to align with and reinforce the defined concept. Design and build new laboratory experiments, and review and modify existing laboratory experiments. Interact with students and researchers to design and fabricate various apparatus for lab studies. Set up and conduct both standardized and non-standardized experiments. Assess and mitigate the physical risks associated with the set-up and demonstration of experiments. Utilize various software packages and established techniques to analyze data and interpret results. Observe details and maintain accurate records of experiments and results. Assess the need for and provide recommendations for the acquisition of laboratory equipment, tools, and supplies. Create spreadsheets and databases to input, store, and retrieve information. Provide technical support and assistance to students and instructors. Demonstrate the proper use of laboratory equipment to all users in the laboratory. Write procedures for testing methods to be used in laboratory manuals. Update and maintain detailed records of laboratory preparations, procedures, and results. Develop and implement standard operating procedures for equipment and experiments. Log incident reports. Ensure that all individuals adhere to established safety policies and have completed the required laboratory safety training. Exchange technical and scientific information with colleagues, faculty, and students. Attend and participate in regular meetings with teaching assistants to ensure lab experiments are understood and conducted accordingly. Complete initial laboratory set-up in accordance with laboratory schedules and requirements. Prepare a variety of materials such as chemicals, solutions, sterile media, staining reagents, and any other materials required for the laboratory. Calibrate and maintain scientific equipment including diagnosing and repairing equipment problems. Coordinate major repairs with vendors and outside contractors. Plan, schedule, and coordinate the availability of laboratory equipment and resources. Responsible for the daily maintenance of the laboratory including the set-up, take down, and clean up after each experiment. Remove waste in accordance with applicable waste handling guidelines. Update and maintain inventory control of laboratory equipment, supplies, and materials. Negotiate a variety of contracts and pricing with outside agencies and vendors. Source pricing information and order materials and equipment required for the laboratory. Operate nonstandard equipment, test systems, and devices such as servo-controlled actuator driven systems. Utilize software to complete drawings for machined components required for equipment, and to produce CNC code. Operate a variety of power tools such as lathes, milling machines, surface grinders, 3-D printers, welders and other power equipment. Supervision Ensure adherence to quality standards and procedures for short-term staff and volunteers Provide orientation and show procedures to others. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study. Requires 3 years of relevant experience. Assets Experience working in a post-secondary environment is considered a strong asset. Additional Information The following qualifications are considered essential requirements for the role: Hands-on experience with spectrophotometers, dissolved oxygen meters, pH meters, and conductivity meters, jar testing apparatus, settling columns, filtration columns, chemostat reactors, sequencing batch reactors, biological oxygen demand incubators, oven, and muffle furnaces Teaching and mentoring experience CPR, First Aid, and other health/safety-related training Experience overseeing health and safety requirements in a laboratory setting The role will require the successful candidate to demonstrate the: Ability to lift and carry 25kg Ability to work at 10m heights Ability to stand for long periods of time The successful candidate must also have and demonstrate: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Excellent organizational and time management skills to handle a high volume of work Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities, processes, or environments Excellent attention to detail while producing thorough and accurate work Proven ability to work independently and collaborate in a dynamic team environment Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills A high degree of professionalism and integrity Proficiency with Office 365 (SharePoint, Forms, OneDrive, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook) This is a primarily onsite position. Flexibility is required to work occasional evenings, weekends and extended hours to meet the demands of the position. How To Apply To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Provide technical support for undergraduate and graduate laboratories by designing, preparing, and conducting experiments. Maintain laboratory equipment, ensure safety compliance, and assist students and instructors with technical operations.

Requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 3 years of relevant experience. Candidates must have hands-on experience with specific laboratory instrumentation and the physical ability to lift 25kg and work at heights.

• Problem solvingPreferred
• Data analysisPreferred

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Laboratory Management
• Experimental Design
• Data Analysis
• Equipment Calibration
• Health and Safety Compliance
• Machining
• Welding
• CNC Programming
• Instrumentation
• Technical Writing
• Problem Solving
• Office 365
• Teaching and Mentoring
• Hydraulics
• Surveying Equipment
• Electronics

• Engineering
• Science & Research
• Education
• Construction
• Trades

Minimum education

Bachelor’s degree

Minimum experience

2+ years

Apply by

Sep 24, 2026

Posting language

English

Working hours

40 hours per week

Seniority

Associate