About the role
Job Description
The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials in the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech is seeking a skilled Department Technician to provide technical and operational support for the department’s teaching, research, and laboratory activities. The position will be responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, operating, and supporting a diverse range of laboratory, research, testing, and manufacturing equipment, while also assisting faculty, staff, and students with the development and implementation of experimental and testing setups.
The Department operates a broad range of facilities and equipment supporting wood and structural materials testing, packaging and unit load testing, wood and packaging manufacturing, environmental conditioning, and chemistry and materials research. Equipment includes servo-hydraulic and electromechanical testing systems, vibration and shock testing equipment, environmental chambers, computerized cutting and manufacturing equipment, data acquisition and control systems, and specialized laboratory instrumentation.
This position requires a hands-on, solutions-oriented individual who can independently assess technical needs, identify appropriate approaches and components, troubleshoot equipment and systems, and work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, university personnel, and external service providers. The technician will play an important role in maintaining the department’s technical infrastructure and ensuring that its facilities and equipment effectively support teaching, research, and departmental operations.
Duties of the position will include:
- Maintain, operate, troubleshoot, and support a broad range of laboratory, testing, and research equipment within the department, including environmental chambers, hydraulic and electromechanical testing systems, vibration and shock testing equipment, computerized cutting tables, and specialized equipment used in chemistry and materials laboratories.
- Implement preventative maintenance for equipment at the Brooks Forest Products Center.
- Assist with scheduling teaching and research equipment within the Brooks Forest Products Center.
- Conduct setup of testing fixtures and test setups to support teaching and research.
- Provide technical support for department-wide research, teaching, experiential learning and student project needs.
- Coordinate with company technicians, Virginia Tech facilities and other staff for calibration, maintenance, repair and new equipment installations.
- Participate in the development and implementation of safety protocols with the responsible investigators and laboratory personnel.
- Working with faculty, develop standard operating procedures for testing and research equipment.
Required Qualifications
- Mechatronics, electro-mechanical technician or similar qualifications.
- Ability to effectively communicate and work with faculty, staff, students and vendors.
- Experience working in an industrial, laboratory or research setting.
- Proven ability to multitask and prioritize departmental needs.
- Ability to interpret and write standard operating procedures and test setup protocol.
- Ability to drive a forklift.
- Ability to complete assignments independently or as part of a team.
- Experience with Microsoft office software and basic computer skills
- Safe driving record
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in conducting standard test procedures for structural materials and unit loads.
- Ability to operate and maintain servo-hydraulic, pneumatic and programmable logic controller (PLC) equipment.
- Experience with the use of thermocouples, potentiometers, LVDTs and accelerometers.
- Experience in programming data acquisition equipment and programing in LABVIEW or similar software.
- Experience in using materials handling equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks.
- Experience with maintenance of conditioning/environmental chambers and freezers.
Pay Band
3
Overtime Status
Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Regular
Salary Information
$60,000-$75,000
Hours per week
40
Review Date
November 1, 2026
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
Review of applications will begin November 1, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is January 4, 2027.
Applicants must submit:
- A cover letter describing their interest in the position (up to one page)
- A curriculum vitae
- Names and contact information for three professional references
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Trish Colley at colleyp@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.