Instructional Labs Technician

RSCH AND DEV ENGR 1 TX (004756)

UCPath Position ID: 41237256

Position Description History/Status

For Reference ONLY - PeopleAdmin JA Number:

1139570

Approved Date:

5/12/2026 6:54:45 PM

Date Last Edited:

5/12/2026 6:54:35 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

2/15/2024

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

1300O

Organization:

LETTERS AND SCIENCE

Division Code:

1340D

Division:

L&S PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Department:

100000 - PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

41237256

Position Description ID

171567

UC Payroll Title:

RSCH AND DEV ENGR 1 TX (004756)

Personnel Program

Professional and Support Staff (PSS)

Salary Grade:

STEPS

Job Code FLSA:

Non-Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

TX: Technical

Employee Relations Code:

E: All Others - Not Confidential

Employee Class (Appt Type):

2 - Staff: Career

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

40062215

Reports to Payroll Title:

RSCH AND DEV ENGR 3

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40056567

Department Head Payroll Title:

ADMIN MGR 2

GENERAL SUPERVISION - Indicates that the incumbent develops procedures for performance of variety of duties; or performs complex duties within established policy guidelines.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Instructional Labs Technician (ILT) provides support for research, design, development, maintenance, assembly, testing, and repair activities in physics and/or astronomy undergraduate instructional labs and classrooms. Key responsibilities include professionally managed applications of experimental physics concepts to the preparation and set up of classroom experiments/demonstrations, technical support for lab equipment used in classrooms, parts/equipment research, and contributions to design projects as required.  Maintains lab equipment and spaces, performs equipment and apparatus component diagnostics, maintains parts inventory and supplies, monitors operational procedures, and/or performs analysis of associated data products, while assisting team members with general support requests in multiple facilities as directed.  Research and development support includes testing/validation of apparatus and/or equipment, maintaining documentation and instructional resources, as well as professional interactions with instructors, teaching assistants, faculty/staff, shop/facilities personnel, and commercial vendors.

The ILT applies problem-solving and data analysis skills to assist with assessments of experiment status/performance, determines technical requirements, conducts regular equipment checks and/or technical troubleshooting in labs and/or classrooms, generates reports, and researches recommendations for improving procedures, performance, and resources. Additional responsibilities include leading training meetings for new users, instructors, and/or teaching assistants, assisting with planning of upcoming experiments, equipment transport, and supervising the work of teaching assistants, and/or student workers, as directed. Research duties include assisting with development of new classroom demonstrations, tests of new parts/equipment configurations, and collaboration with instructors, students, and/or staff to meet the goals of curriculum and resource development projects. The ILT takes a lead role in testing/implementing new hardware designs/components, and communicates recommendations based on research findings, and/or data products, to supervisor.  Collaborate with and support the Instructional Labs Group by assisting with other instructional labs facilities and classroom requests as needed.

The group manages and coordinates support for physics and astronomy instructional labs, courses, and associated facilities.

Laboratory & Classroom Support

1. Assist with setup of equipment & experiments in support of instruction in assigned classrooms.

2. Contribute to design & development projects, materials research, parts specifications, and timelines for implementation, as directed, to meet department needs.

3. Maintain, test, organize, and repair lab & demonstration equipment.

4. Apply working knowledge of physics concepts & experiments to assess requirements & technical support needs to improve performance of experiments/classroom demonstrations.

5. Assist with maintaining resources, documentation, inventory, and making reports

to supervisor.

6. Apply problem-solving skills to respond to real-time support requests in assigned

classrooms.

7. Analyze technical requirements & make recommendations to supervisor and/or team members.

80%

Consultation & General Support

1. Meet with instructors, teaching assistants, and/or students, as directed, to provide technical support for equipment used in classroom demonstrations, including safety procedures, as needed.

2. Monitor procedures for experiments and provide training for analysis methods.

3. Assist with general support and/or maintenance requests in additional facilities

and/or classrooms as needed.

4. Communicate and collaborate with instructors, staff, and/or students as directed to

meet instructional labs goals.

5. Assist with supervision of teaching assistants and/or student workers as directed.

20%

•

Performs other duties as assigned.

•

Complies with all policies and standards.

•

Complies with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Principles of Community.

•

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree

in physics or astronomy and/or equivalent experience and training

Required

Teaching laboratory

experience or an equivalent combination of experience in a higher education setting.

Required

1. Ability to follow oral and written instructions, both individually and as a member of a team, to prioritize and follow through on assignments as directed.

Required

2. Ability to perform basic analysis of the results of experiments and classroom demonstrations, and/or perform testing/validation/repairs of lab equipment.

Required

3. Interpersonal skills to communicate effectively and collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and

vendors as needed.

Required

4. Ability to write clear, concise, and grammatically correct laboratory documentation, technical reports, develop technical drawings, and develop other general support resources.

Required

5. Working knowledge of scientific data collection & analysis software, common programming languages (e.g., Python) and associated collaboration tools (e.g., Google, Microsoft Office).

Required

6. Willingness to learn new technical and/or lab support skills.

Required

7. Experience with data acquisition hardware, interfaces, display methods, and/or scientific software used in instructional labs settings.

Required

8. Ability to apply working knowledge of undergraduate-level physics to assist with assessing equipment needs and/or contributing towards projects involving design, documentation, and development of apparatus(es) and/or components.

Required

9. Ability to read/interpret schematics and/or equipment documentation and assist in researching and/or evaluating equipment based on experiment-specific requirements.

Required

10. Ability to respond promptly and to prioritize support requests, including hardware/software troubleshooting, scheduling equipment needs, plan maintenance, and/or general infrastructure support projects in assigned spaces.

Required

11. Skill in using common lab and/or basic shop tools, such as soldering iron, signal generators, analyzers, multimeters, power supplies, drills, and hand tools.

Preferred

12. Experience constructing and debugging electronic circuits.

Preferred

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

A222 Knudsen

Standing/Walking

X

X

Sitting

X

Bending/Stooping

X

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

Other Physical Requirements

If "Physical requirements other" was selected above, please explain (e.g., ability to differentiate color):

Occasional use of ladders and stairs based on operational needs

Chemicals, dust, gases, or fumes

X

Loud noise levels

X

Marked changes in humidity or temperature

X

Microwave/Radiation

X

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

Exposures other

X

Sustained attention and concentration

X

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

X

Communication skills

X

X

Numerical skills

X

X

Mental demands other

X

X

Classification 3:  Position in which exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues is not part of the position description. The normal routine task involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues and the employee can decline to perform tasks which involve a perceived risk without retribution.