Material Practice Facilities Shop Tech - AAP

The Opportunity

The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) at Cornell University is seeking a skilled Rand Shops Technician to support the operation of its wood and metal shops and shared work space. Working as part of a two-technician team, this position combines hands-on technical expertise, shop operations, safety oversight, and student employee supervision to maintain a well-run environment where students, faculty, and staff can safely develop and pursue their work.

The position provides technical guidance across a broad range of wood and metal shop processes, helping users understand equipment capabilities, select appropriate approaches, and build the skills needed to work safely and independently. You will monitor shop activity, assess whether proposed work can be safely accommodated, troubleshoot operational and equipment issues, and respond to the changing needs of a busy shared facility.

This position is responsible for managing the Rand student monitor team, including hiring, training, scheduling, and assignments; approving timecards; and providing ongoing feedback and support to student employees who help operate the shops.

Safety is fundamental to the role. You will monitor shop activities and equipment use, provide required safety instruction, verify user competency, and intervene when conditions or practices present a risk. You will also help steward the equipment, tools, and facilities that support the shops, performing routine maintenance and repairs, identifying emerging needs, and contributing to improvements over time.

The Rand shops support a broad range of fabrication practices. The wood shop includes stationary and portable equipment for wood processing, including sawing, planing, jointing, routing, drilling, and sanding, along with a broad selection of hand tools. The metal shop includes equipment for cutting, grinding, sanding, sheet metal forming, MIG and TIG welding, and oxy-acetylene welding and cutting.

The role requires a strong working knowledge of wood and metal shop equipment and fabrication processes, but you do not need to arrive with expertise in every process or piece of equipment. The shops and their technical needs will continue to evolve, so curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to develop new skills are important to success.

The regular hours for this position are Monday through Friday, 11:30am to 8:00 p.m.

About AAP: The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning at Cornell University (Cornell AAP) includes the departments of Architecture, Art, City and Regional Planning, the Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate, jointly led by AAP and the SC Johnson College of Business, the multicollege Department of Design Tech, and the Cornell Mui Ho Center for Cities. The college spans three locations in Ithaca, New York City, and Rome, Italy, each with world-class facilities and cutting-edge technologies.

Cornell AAP is about acts of transformation. We are committed to reimagining and reshaping the world in new ways, every day. A vital college at one of the nation's foremost research universities, Cornell AAP brings faculty, staff, and students together from around the world to take up some of today's most urgent challenges and advance research, inquiry, and collaborative approaches to designing, making, and doing that make a more just and resilient future.

What We Need

• Associate degree and 2-4 years of relevant experience working with wood and metal shop equipment, tools, processes, and safety practices in a shop, studio, instructional, or similar environment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of wood and metal fabrication techniques and safe equipment operation.
• Ability to provide clear technical guidance and instruction to users with varying levels of experience.
• Sound judgment in assessing work and equipment use.
• Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to unsafe conditions and practices.
• Willingness and ability to learn new equipment, processes, and approaches as shop needs evolve.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively as part of a team.
• Commitment to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, equitable, and student-centered environment.
• Resume and cover letter required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an academic, instructional, university, community, or other shared-use shop environment.
• Experience supervising, training, scheduling, or coordinating student employees or staff.
• Experience with digital fabrication processes such as CNC machining, laser cutting, or 3D printing.
• Experience with CAD or vector-based software such as Rhino, AutoCAD, or Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Experience developing or improving shop procedures, training materials, documentation, or operational systems.

What Success Looks Like

Successful candidates are technically capable, approachable, and steady professionals who enjoy working with both people and equipment. They are comfortable sharing their knowledge, asking questions, and working with users who have different levels of experience. They can provide clear direction and constructive feedback while maintaining a welcoming environment and the standards necessary for safe shop operation. The role requires someone who can work independently while collaborating effectively with the other Rand technician and broader Material Practice team, including providing cross-area support when operational needs require.

Technical expertise develops over time, and you do not need to know every process, material, or piece of equipment when you arrive. We are looking for someone who is curious, adaptable, and willing to learn, with the judgment to recognize what they know, what they need to learn, and when to seek additional information or expertise. Most importantly, we are looking for someone who takes pride in creating a safe, functional, and supportive environment where students, faculty, and staff can learn, make, experiment, and work with increasing independence.

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

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