Engineering & Design Lab Manager

Job Description

Job Description

FTE: 1.0 FTE

Appointment Year: School Year

Exempt/Non/Exempt: Exempt

Position Summary

Lakeside School seeks an exceptional Engineering & Design Lab Manager to help launch and steward a new engineering and design lab that will serve as a hub for hands-on learning, design, prototyping, and fabrication. This is a foundational role for a builder: someone who combines deep technical expertise with excellent judgment, organization, and collaboration skills, and who is energized by the opportunity to help create a program from the ground up.

Reporting to the Upper School Director and working in close partnership with the science faculty and academic dean spanning across disciplines, the Engineering Lab Manager will oversee the day-to-day operation of the lab and provide the technical leadership that complements teachers’ pedagogical expertise. This person will manage equipment, systems, workflows, budgets, and safety protocols; train students and adults in proper and safe use of tools and machines; and help establish a culture in which creativity, craftsmanship, responsibility, and care for community go hand in hand.

The ideal candidate brings significant experience in fabrication, prototyping, electronics, and digital design; understands how to support teaching and learning in a school-like environment; and is excited to contribute to Lakeside’s mission of developing creative minds, ethical spirits, and a vibrant, inclusive community.

Responsibilities

• Help design, launch, and continuously improve Lakeside’s engineering and design lab program, systems, and operating procedures.
• Oversee the daily operation of the lab, including access, scheduling, setup, workflows, materials management, and readiness of spaces and equipment.
• Develop clear procedures, documentation, and norms for lab use that support both efficient operations and excellent student experiences.
• Partner with faculty across multiple disciplines to support projects, courses, independent work, and interdisciplinary initiatives in the lab.
• Contribute technical insight to decisions about equipment, layout, workflows, supplies, and future program growth.

• Build and sustain a strong, proactive culture of safety for students and employees.
• Develop, implement, and maintain safety policies, onboarding protocols, training systems, supervision expectations, signage, and documentation for lab spaces and equipment.
• Train students, faculty, and staff in the proper and safe use of tools, machines, and materials. Including establishing authorization or certification processes for use of equipment lab equipment.

• Maintain, troubleshoot, calibrate, and steward a wide range of equipment used in engineering and design work.
• Support use of fabrication and prototyping tools, including hand and power tools, drill press, band saw, CNC equipment, laser cutters, electronics tools, soldering stations, and 3D printers.
• Support digital design and fabrication workflows, including CAD, file preparation, and production processes.
• Recommend repair, replacement, and upgrade plans for equipment and infrastructure.
• Track budgets, expenditures, purchasing, and inventory for equipment, supplies, and consumables.
• Develop systems for ordering, receiving, organizing, and maintaining materials and tools.
• Keep accurate records related to maintenance, purchasing, training, lab usage, and safety.
• Use data and sound judgment to help prioritize purchases and align resources with program goals.

• Collaborate closely with teachers in multiple departments to support student learning, project design, and effective use of the lab in courses.
• Provide technical coaching to students and adults while reinforcing good habits of planning, craftsmanship, troubleshooting, and safe practice.
• Support an inclusive environment in which students with different prior experiences and backgrounds feel welcomed, capable, and challenged.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Significant hands-on experience in an engineering lab, makerspace, fabrication shop, design lab, prototype shop, or similar environment in a high school, college/university, industry, or training setting.
• Demonstrated expertise with a range of fabrication and prototyping tools and equipment, including many of the following: hand and power tools, drill press, band saw, CNC machine, laser cutter, soldering and electronics tools, and 3D printers.
• Experience supporting digital design and fabrication workflows, including CAD and computer-based production processes.
• Strong knowledge of shop and lab safety practices, risk assessment, supervision, and safety systems as well as demonstrated experience training others in the proper and safe use of equipment and tools.
• Excellent organizational and operational skills, including budget tracking, purchasing, inventory, and documentation.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with teachers, students, and staff.
• Interest in working with adolescents and in contributing to a school community centered on learning, inclusion, and growth.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, design, industrial technology, fabrication, a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience in a school, university, youth program, or educational makerspace environment.
• Experience building new systems, workflows, or programs from the ground up.
• Experience with electronics prototyping, embedded systems, Arduino or similar platforms, and/or PCB-related workflows.
• Experience maintaining or repairing makerspace / shop equipment.
• Familiarity with training systems that certify users for progressive access to machines and tools.

• Technically skilled and deeply safety-minded
• Calm, organized, and dependable
• Collaborative and low-ego
• Clear communicator and effective trainer
• Practical problem solver with strong judgment
• Excited by building something new
• Committed to inclusive excellence and to supporting young people with warmth, firmness, and respect

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $74,921 - $132,636 per the school’s faculty salary scale, based upon experience and education. Lakeside School is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding candidates and provides a competitive compensation package. Lakeside School offers a competitive compensation package and a comprehensive set of benefits, including:

• Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance (based on FTE)
• Dependent medical and vision subsidy
• Retirement with generous employer contribution
• Life/disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible spending accounts
• Free lunch
• Free parking
• Bus/bike benefits
• Housing assistance program
• Reduced facility rentals
• Employee Discount Program
• Computer loan program
• Paid holidays and vacation
• Use of school library and gymnasium
• Mentoring
• Professional Development

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and at least 3 references via Lakeside’s online application system. The position will remain open until filled.

Working at Lakeside

Lakeside School is committed to sustaining a community in which individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds teach, learn, and thrive together. To learn more about working at Lakeside—including professional development, mentoring, benefits, and opportunities for involvement—please visit the Careers page on the Lakeside School website.