QPG Nanofab Research Manager

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The QPG Nanofab Research Manager will oversee the operation of the QPG cleanroom facilities for the fabrication of quantum devices in the research group of Prof. Oskar Painter in the Applied Physics and Materials Science (APhMS) department. This position provides technical support to the students, postdocs, and external corporate users of the QPG cleanroom user facility, and supervises all maintenance of equipment and infrastructure.

• Oversees the activities of employees within QPG and initiates hiring, promotions, salary recommendations, and prepares performance appraisals.
• Communicates effectively with other departments, facilities personnel, contractors, and project managers to oversee planning, design, and implementation of lab construction, infrastructure improvement, and equipment installation.
• Ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements within the lab.
• Accountable for determining appropriate workflow and resources are assigned to meet project deadlines and deliverables.
• Applies extensive knowledge of technical concepts toward projects that are led by the manager or other research engineers to improve the research capabilities of the lab.
• Assesses risk and works with PI to determine new processes.
• Supervises the day-to-day operation of the QPG cleanroom.
• Maintains inventory of tools, materials, and supplies.
• Develops programs for preventive maintenance and repair of state-of-the-art equipment, involving the expertise of Caltech facilities and other 3rd party vendors to oversee and manage the operability and health of equipment vital to research needs.
• Helps organize and administer purchases of equipment and supplies for the QPG cleanroom.
  • Maintains and develops documentation of operating procedures for the QPG cleanroom, and organizes the QPG staff to train the QPG cleanroom users.
  • Works with PI to manage renovations of the QPG cleanroom lab spaces.
  • Maintains the operation of instruments and equipment and supervises vendors in the installation and repair of equipment.
  • Works with the PI to develop budgets for cleanroom operations.
• Reviews internal lab processes to determine their impact and continually adapts to improve lab functions.
  • Trains users and staff on proper operation of instruments.Orients new laboratory members to location of instruments and associated supplies.
  • Maintains lab safety, trains QPG cleanroom users in safety procedures, and communicates with campus safety office; documents and communicates laboratory and facility procedures.
  • Supports students, postdocs, QPG staff, and all external 3rd party corporate users of the cleanroom in the safe and effective use of new equipment and infrastructure.
  • Leads others by example to learn about new equipment and new machining techniques through participation in classes and academic conferences, and educates the research group about such topics.
  • Provides lab tours.
  • General support of all research efforts in the lab.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, sciences, or equivalent education and experience.
• 10+ years of experience.
• A high level of craftsmanship and a thorough knowledge of mechanical design, materials, tools, units, and basic measurement techniques.
• Attention to detail, excellent problem-solving, and debugging skills.
• Ability to learn quickly and transfer that knowledge to others through teaching/documentation.
• Ability to work independently, with very minimal supervision. A high level of responsibility and organization.
• Teamwork skills and an ability to collaborate with coworkers having diverse skills and backgrounds.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Must be on-site during peak hours (10am-4pm, Monday through Friday), and must be able to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Proficiency with the following software: Word, Excel, Gmail, and PowerPoint.

• Experience in using Solidworks for CAD a plus.
• Caltech experience.

• Resume