Workshop and Lab Assistant
New York City, NY
Operations – Facilities /
Full-time /
On-site
OXMAN
OXMAN is a hybrid Design and R&D company that fuses design, technology, and biology to invent multi-scale products and environments. The fusion of disciplines within our work opens previously impossible opportunities within each domain—allowing design to inspire science and science to inspire design.
At OXMAN, we question dominant modes of design that have divorced us from Nature by prioritizing humanity above all else (human-centric design). Although it is design that has caused this rift, we believe that design also offers the greatest opportunity to heal it.
We propose a Nature-centric approach that delivers design solutions by, for, and with the natural world, while advancing humanity. In this pursuit, we reject all forms of segregation and instead call for a radical synergy between human-made and Nature-grown environments.
This approach demands that we design across scales for systems-level impact. We consider every designed construct a whole system of heterogeneous and complex interrelations—not isolated objects—that are intrinsically connected to their environments. In doing so, we open ourselves up to moving beyond mere maintenance toward the advancement of Nature.
Summary
OXMAN is seeking an entry level Workshop and Laboratory Assistant to join an all-star interdisciplinary team of deep thinkers and brilliant makers. Our 36,000-square-foot facility is used for a novel research and design practice that seeks to foster systemic changes in the built environment by radically realigning methods of design and production with the natural world.
The Workshop and Laboratory Assistant will be responsible for ongoing maintenance, supply management, and compliance with safety regulations and laboratory protocols. Successful applicants embody stellar technical skills, hold the capacity to navigate and resolveuncertainty, and demonstrate a unique “language” of biology (wetware) / computing (software) /fabricating (hardware), or a combination thereof. They personify an appreciation for engineering,science, and art and seek synergy between biology and technology in research, practice, and direct industrial utility.
This role reports directly to the Workshop and Lab Managers and will equally split time between both departments.
Core responsibilities
- Perform basic maintenance on workshop and laboratory equipment: 5 axis CNC, centrifuges, waterjet cutter, ultracold freezers, 3D printers, etc.
- Maintain a safe environment for all of the workshop and laboratory users by modeling, enforcing, and training team members on safety protocols.
- Manage purchasing process for lab and workshop consumables in close collaboration with the Finance team, vendor representatives, and R&D teams.
- Collaborate with internal R&D teams to support their prototyping and experiment needs.
- Aid with inventory management, organization, and general housekeeping of the laboratory and workshop.
- Continually improve site operations by streamlining existing processes and helping generate new ones.
Qualifications & competencies
- Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, engineering, industrial design, architecture, or related field.
- Minimum of 1-2 years of professional workshop and/or laboratory experience.
- Ability to support and advance safe working environments across the lab and workshop.
- Ability to troubleshoot equipment and solve technical problems with minimal supervision.
- Background in traditional and/or CNC machining.
- Experience with CAD/CAM software such as Fusion360, Mastercam, etc.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records.
- Strong organizational skills around tools and components.
- Willingness to complete necessary certifications, training, and other regulatory requirements.
- Must be able to stand, sit, and walk for extended periods of time; the position requires the ability to lift and carry laboratory equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
OXMAN does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.
NYC Salary Range: $60,000-$80,000
Salary is based on a number of factors including job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other business and organizational needs. Our compensation package also includes variable compensation in the form of year-end bonuses, benefits, immigration assistance, and equity participation.
