Robotics Laboratory Manager

Overview

The School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) at Princeton University seeks a Robotics Laboratory Manager who brings experience and a high level of motivation and resourcefulness to oversee a newly built, 10,000 square-foot Robotics facility in the Engineering Quadrangle. The lab manager will play a critical role in supporting the launch and development of a new research initiative in Robotics for SEAS and will help facilitate an agenda that emphasizes multi-disciplinary collaborative research on safe, resilient, and scalable robotics in the service of humanity. The lab manager will help outfit and maintain the space with equipment, materials, training, and programming to build and sustain a robust multi-disciplinary research effort in the field of Robotics. The manager will work closely with faculty members of the Robotics Steering Committee to operationalize the space for innovative collaborative research, and will engage with undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, and faculty who participate in the research.

Responsibilities
The Manager's primary responsibilities are:

• Participating in strategic planning and oversight of the Princeton Robotics Laboratory.
• Working closely with the Laboratory's faculty to coordinate research operations, and supporting the Laboratory's research projects and collaborative community.

Detailed responsiblities include:

• Managing maker-space areas, which include a machine room with 3D printer, laser cutter and more and a prototyping room with tools and materials for building mechanical and electronic components.
• Managing smart, sensor-equipped areas, which include ground-based and aerial robotic arenas with Vicon motion capture system, as well as a living laboratory space.
• Planning, organizing, and maintaining Laboratory infrastructure, including ordering, installing, and upgrading hardware and software, organizing and managing materials and supplies.
• Developing, documenting, and managing Laboratory safety requirements and protocols, including those related to experiments with human participants.
• Training users on Laboratory equipment and protocols.
• Creating scheduling for users on Laboratory equipment and spaces.
• Communicating with vendors for equipment maintenance, training, and software updates.
• Developing a comprehensive training schedule for new users and communicating training updates and other best practices to existing users.
• Planning, organizing, and implementing Laboratory programs to foster a collaborative community.
• Creating and fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, and creativity.
• Establishing an environment that encourages learning and growth across users of different technical and educational backgrounds.
• Making staff hiring recommendations .
• Training student managers/aides.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of five years of work experience
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills and a high degree of professionalism and initiative
• Ability to think creatively, work independently, and interact effectively with students, faculty, and staff
• Knowledge and experience in operating and maintaining robotic equipment and infrastructure, machines, and prototyping, including some of the following: mobile and stationary robotic platforms, sensors, actuators, Vicon motion capture, 3D printing, laser cutting, oscilloscopes, microprocessors, function generators, soldering stations, and other small machinery
• Knowledge and experience with software infrastructure, including some of the following: ROS, pybullet, Vicon's Nexus and Tracker software, Grab CAD and/or other CAD STL generation software
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to handle multiple varied and competing priorities and tasks
• Willingness to work flexible hours under rare circumstances such as before significant deadlines or important facility visits

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in an area of engineering, science, or technology related to Robotics
• Previous management experience, ideally in a robotics or other scientific or engineering lab, and ideally in an academic setting.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW

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