Robotics Facility Administrator

Sarah and John Graves Institute for Robotics & Autonomy

Laboratory Operations and Infrastructure

• Maintain robotics workspaces and testing areas
• Manage inventory of parts, sensors, actuators, batteries, tools, and consumables
• Order and receive equipment and track budgets for supplies
• Maintain equipment and station scheduling and checkout systems
• Organize storage and documentation systems
• Coordinate equipment repairs and vendor support
• Assist with facility improvements and laboratory organization
• Supporting technology demonstrations for sponsors and industry partners
• Ensure facility upkeep and cleanliness, including by working with facilities and other support services to those ends

Research and Experiment Support

• Prepare robots for experiments
• Set up test environments
• Maintain technical records and documentation supporting commercialization activities

Safety and Compliance

• Maintain laboratory safety protocols
• Train new users on equipment
• Develop instructional materials for user support
• Develop standard operating procedures
• Conduct safety inspections
• Ensure compliance with institutional and grant funding requirements
• Oversee chemical, battery, and electronic waste disposal

Technical Support for Research Projects

Mechanical Support

• Assemble robotic platforms
• Aid in the design and fabrication components
• Maintain machine shop tools
• Perform basic machining, drilling, cutting, and 3D printing
• Build experimental fixtures and test rigs
• Determine when to outsource design and fabrication and perform follow-through

Electrical Support

• Wire robotic systems
• Build cable harnesses
• Solder components
• Troubleshoot power systems
• Maintain laboratory electronics

Software Support

• Deploy robotics software
• Install operating systems and development environments
• Maintain ROS (Robot Operating System) infrastructure
• Assist with sensor integration
• Help configure data-collection systems

Technical Skills

• Mechanical assembly and fabrication
• CAD software (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Onshape)
• 3D printing
• CNC machining
• Embedded systems
• Electronics troubleshooting
• Soldering
• Linux, Python, ROS / ROS2
• Sensor integration
• Networking
• Data acquisition systems

Other Skills

• Laboratory record keeping
• Good Communication and organization
• Customer-service mindset