Job Details

Technical Specialist: Department of Nuclear Engineering - UTK

Position Number: 6208395
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Position Type: Engineering - Other Engineering

Technical Specialist: Department of Nuclear Engineering - UTK
Knoxville, TN, United States

Job Identification: 2864
Job Category: Research
Posting Date: 05/06/2025
Job Schedule: Full Time
Locations: 863 Neyland Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996, US (On-site)

Job Description
Established in 1957, the department of Nuclear Engineering in the Tickle College of Engineering was the first and continues to be one of the most prestigious in the United States. Our graduate program is consistently ranked as one of the top in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

Our Nuclear Engineering department is seeking a Technical Specialist to oversee the day to day operation of the department's machine shop and provides support to the department research and instructional labs by troubleshooting and repairing equipment and assisting faculty and students with research equipment and experiments as well as new lab set up.

This position will provide lab support and will have safety and compliance responsibilities, including providing guidance to faculty and interface with University organizations on safety, training, OSHA requirements, Radiation safety, etc., ensuring compliance with proper safety procedures, protocols, and record keeping requirement, and ensuring proper disposal of laboratory materials and hazardous waste while working with EHS and Radiation Safety.

Responsibilities

Coordinates installation, inspections, and repairs of equipment for use in research and teaching labs
Responsible for planned maintenance and routine calibration of instruments and equipment in all labs
Fabricates, installs, operates, maintains, inspects, and repairs specialized equipment per regulations, codes, and professional practices.
Troubleshoots and diagnoses a broad range of scientific instrumentation and equipment
Performs high level, warranty and non-warranty, repairs of research equipment
Provides technical instruction to students and faculty on safety within the machine shop
Provides support to faculty and students with research equipment experiments
Moves equipment or coordinates with Facilities Services to have it safely moved between labs
Consults with researchers on projects using specialized equipment or research/laboratory techniques. Provide all necessary support for faculty, staff, visitors, and other personnel for all facility needs.

Operations:

Assist with lab setup for the departments teaching labs
Assist researchers in collecting data using nuclear instrumentation
Provides technical assistance, instruction, and consultation for the resolution of problems
Responsible for coordinating equipment use within the department and its centers
Maintains research supply inventories and use of departmental equipment
Acts as a designated operator for equipment in the FNS and ARC facilities

Safety and Compliance:

Provide guidance to faculty and interface with University organizations on safety, training, OSHA requirements, Radiation safety, etc.
Ensures compliance with proper safety procedures, protocols, and record keeping requirements
Ensures proper disposal of laboratory materials and hazardous waste while working with EHS and Radiation Safety

Needed competencies include:

Ability to communicate both verbally and written for coordination with supervisor, colleagues, and students.
Knowledge of safe work practices and protocols.
Working knowledge of various lab and computer equipment.
Knowledge of research and laboratory techniques.
Ability to meet the physical requirements of the job: standing, walking, squatting, bending, lifting.
Ability to provide competent level of diagnosis and repair of various lab equipment.

Qualifications
Minimum/Required Qualifications:

Requires a high school diploma and three years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Knowledge of radiation detectors, nuclear instrumentation, component level repairs.
Ability to use and maintain machinery commonly found in a machine shop (lathe, mill, drill press, ect.)
The ability to safely use a fork lift

Preferred Qualifications:

2 years experience with nuclear instrumentation
2 years experience with machine shop equipment
Knowledge of component level repairs

Work Location

University of Tennessee - Knoxville, TN Campus
This is an on-site position

Compensation and Benefits

UT market range: MR08 non-exempt
Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here

Application process:

All applicants must upload the following attachments to be considered for this position:

Resume
Cover letter
Names & contact information for at least three professional references.

Review of all applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

About Us
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees-the Volunteers-who uphold the university's tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee's flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy's largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as "Best Employer for New Graduates," "One of America's Best Large Employers," and "Best Workplace for Women," and has been designated as "Best Place for Working Parents" by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!

To apply, visit https://fa-ewlq-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/2864/?mode=location