Senior Development Engineer

RSCH AND DEV ENGR 4 TX (004899)

UCPath Position ID: 40184229

Position Description History/Status

For Reference ONLY - PeopleAdmin JA Number:

1113876

Approved Date:

3/6/2026 9:49:00 PM

Date Last Edited:

3/6/2026 9:48:54 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

3/2/2023

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

1300O

Organization:

LETTERS AND SCIENCE

Division Code:

1340D

Division:

L&S PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Department:

098000 - CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

40184229

Position Description ID

166059

UC Payroll Title:

RSCH AND DEV ENGR 4 TX (004899)

Personnel Program

Management and Senior Professional (MSP)

Salary Grade:

STEPS

Job Code FLSA:

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:

40043386

Reports to Payroll Title:

RSCH AND DEV ENGR MGR 1

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40831819

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 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry provides shared instrumentation to all departmental researchers through the Molecular Instrumentation Center (MIC). One of the main components of this facility is the Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, which is currently comprised of five liquid sample nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers, one solid-state NMR spectrometer, and one electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer. This equipment is utilized by hundreds of individual users from many different faculty research groups. The wide range of research problems and diverse backgrounds of the user community requires careful attention to issues of high throughput, efficient training, and implementation of systems for productive shared usage. Under the general direction of the Director of MIC, the Senior Development Engineer (or NMR Staff Scientist) provides all aspects of technical support for the application of magnetic resonance techniques to the solution of a wide range of research problems in chemistry, biochemistry, engineering and materials science.   Other duties include: maintain, troubleshoot, and repair equipment in the NMR laboratory; carry out NMR measurements on samples provided by researchers when appropriate; train users on the correct procedures and methods of operation of equipment and data processing; and enforce safety rules in the laboratory.The ideal candidate would have demonstrated technical skills in modern magnetic resonance; a commitment to the implementation of modern instrumentation into undergraduate and graduate instruction; excellent interpersonal skills to interact with graduate and undergraduate students, staff, faculty, and visitors; knowledge of safe handling and disposal of hazardous chemicals and safe laboratory practices

Design Experimental Methods

Design experimental methods for the application of modern magnetic resonance methods (NMR and EPR) to a large variety of chemical, biochemical, and materials problems. 1. Consult with the individual researchers and, when needed, with faculty supervisors to ascertain the nature of the problems to be solved. 2. Implement new methods to approach the problem based on publications in the magnetic resonance literature. 3. Test new methods with known compounds to be assured of reliable results.

20%

Training of Users

Train users with various backgrounds to operate the NMR and EPR spectrometers and to process the data as effectively as possible. 1. Write concise direction for operation, data workup, and experimental details for all equipment in the laboratories to be made available to users and potential users of the facility  2. Develop and continuously update appropriate in-laboratory instructions to clarify operational procedures.  3 Provide information and advice to potential users of the facility  4 Train and supervise appropriate students and other researchers in the use of the equipment and interpretation of the results

30%

Equipment Operation and Management

Maintain, troubleshoot, and repair the hardware and software of existing magnetic resonance spectrometers and future spectrometers to be acquired. Arrange for outside vendors or campus shops to provide maintenance and upgrades, as required. 1. Provide required regular maintenance, such as addition of cryogenic fluids, checking sensitivity, pulse times, shim stability, and other performance criteria.  2. Troubleshoot and repair instrument failures. 3. Design and develop original hardware improvements not available from the instrument manufacturers to maximize research efforts.

35%

Provide Laboratory Management Support

Provide assistance with laboratory management support, which includes the following:  1) Help with preparation and submission of recharge information on a monthly basis for processing by business office personnel.   2) Maintain database of user information.  3) Provide support for projection and determination of recharge rates to recover consumable costs. 4) Provide support for the design, specification, procurement and modification of space.  5) Provide support for the implementation and improvement of laboratory security measures and user access authorization.  6) Provide support for compliance with all State and UCLA mandated safety and environmental requirements.   7) Provide support for maintenance of the MIC web site for information that is beneficial to users of the facility.

10%

Improvement of Available Instrumentation

Provide support for actively improving the available instrumentation and ancillary equipment required for effective application of magnetic resonance methods to research problems at UCLA. 1) Participate in the preparation of grant proposals to obtain funding for additional equipment.  2) Participate in the preparation of reports to granting agencies for equipment obtained on grants. 3) Participate in the management of all aspects of installation of new equipment.

5%

•

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 related area and / or equivalent experience / training

Required

Demonstrated broad knowledge of magnetic resonance principles and practice.

Required

Ability to teach magnetic resonance principles and experimental details to researchers with a broad range of scientific backgrounds.

Required

Broad knowledge of research and development in chemical, biochemical, and material science, especially with respect to the application of magnetic resonance studies in these fields.

Required

Demonstrated skill in troubleshooting hardware and software problems encountered with magnetic resonance spectrometers.

Required

Demonstrated skill in computer programming and testing.

Required

Demonstrated skill in mechanical and electronic design of chemical instrumentation.

Required

Skill in prioritizing tasks in an environment where a large variety of research is conducted using shared equipment.

Required

Excellent interpersonal skills to interact with students, staff, faculty, and visitors.

Required

Ability to speak on a one-to-one basis using appropriate vocabulary and grammar to obtain and clearly convey information, and explain complex scientific and technical issues.

Required

Skill in writing concise, logical, grammatically correct documents, instruction manuals, descriptions of the facilities and technical capabilities of the equipment.

Required

Ability to work independently, follow through on assignments with the minimal direction and identify potentially more effective methods of operation.

Required

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:

Young Hall

Standing/Walking

X

Sitting

X

Bending/Stooping

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

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.