Scientific Machinist

Victoria, BC
On-site
Posted Oct 7, 2026
1 position

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Employment type: Full-time
Experience level: Mid-level · 2+ years
Minimum education: Professional degree
Posting language: English
Working hours: 40 hours per week
Seniority: Entry level

Job summary

Maintains and repairs teaching and research laboratory equipment, and designs, fabricates, and tests custom scientific equipment using manual and CNC machines. Operates and services shop equipment while guiding students and other users on projects and liaising with faculty, staff, and researchers.

Job details

The Faculty of Science Machine Shop provides support to the teaching and research programs within the departments of Physics & Astronomy, Chemistry, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Biology, and Biochemistry & Microbiology. As part of the lab team, this position maintains and repairs teaching and research laboratory equipment; designs and fabricates custom scientific equipment (using both manual and CNC machines) based on verbal descriptions, samples, prototypes, or drawings; tests finished products for performance and safety; operates a variety of machines to perform machining, welding, sheet metal, and woodworking tasks in a timely manner; and must regularly service, repair, clean and upgrade shop equipment. This position also provides supervision and assistance/guidance to students (graduate and undergraduate), and other shop users with their projects in the shop, andliaises with faculty, staff, researchers and students the Faculty of Science and within the university community. Skills Must be a highly creative, flexible individual with the ability to improve, adapt and/or design equipment, methods, and procedures in response to changing user demands. Requires an individual with initiative and vision who will continually work towards improving services for our instructors, students and researchers. Must have excellent communication skills are essential in order to work effectively with a wide variety of shop users including students (both undergraduate and graduate), researchers, staff, and faculty. The ability to work efficiently and accurately in spite of interruptions and tight deadlines is expected. Possess superior technical ability with a wide range of machining techniques Proficiency in SolidWorks, Mastercam, and operation of HASS CNC mill. Must have a thorough knowledge of established safety practices. Specialized Knowledge/Education Must be a fully trained machinist, Journeyman level. Experience Preference is given to skills developed in a professional environment though self-taught skill development is an added benefit that demonstrates a passion for the trade. Experience with welding (TIG, MIG, plasma-arc, oxy-acetylene, silver solder, stick welding and plastic welding), sheet metal fabrication, plastic fabrication (acryllics and other polymers), and finished woodworking are a preferred asset.

What you’ll do

Requirements

Requires a fully trained, journeyman-level machinist with strong technical ability across a wide range of machining techniques and proficiency in SolidWorks, Mastercam, and Haas CNC mill operation. Candidates should have excellent communication skills, creativity, flexibility, initiative, accuracy under deadlines, and thorough knowledge of safety practices; welding, fabrication, and woodworking experience is preferred.