This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

In accordance with the Trust/Research Academic Staff Agreement, this position offers a comprehensive benefits package found on our Benefits Overview page and annual salary range of $75,010-$103,162. This position has an approximate appointment of 18 months.

Location

Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Working for the Department/Faculty

The Darkside-20K (DS20K) experiment aims at the direct detection of dark matter (weakly interacting massive particles - WIMPs) using a dual phase liquid Argon time projection chamber. The DS-20k is a two-phase liquid Argon detector with a 50 tonnes active volume that will be installed in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory. The University of Alberta (UofA) group is primarily involved in the production of the large acrylic vessel that houses the liquid Argon and is integrated with the components of the inner detector. The holder of this position will be working with the members of the Astroparticle physics group and as part of the DarkSide-20K project.

The DS-20K collaboration include researchers from >75 member organizations and will take place over a decade of operation The UofA, along with other member organizations, will prepare the acrylic vessel and develop the tools and processes for assembly within the next 1.5-2 years

Position

The successful candidate will put their talents to use to help realize the world’s most powerful high mass dark matter detector to date.

They will work with a core group of 10-15 people at the UofA supervised by Dr. Aksel Hallin, which is a part of a larger international collaboration working on the DS-20K project.

The Mechanical Engineer will assist in the management of resources and lead the organization/coordination/administration of the mechanical and structural engineering aspects of the DS-20K project at the University of Alberta. This encompasses training and guidance of other team members, oversight of the engineering design and clean room operations and facilities. They would contribute to and review the design work of others for the custom tools and other devices, and perform structural/engineering analysis with final approval of their production and safety and compliance with standards. They will collaborate with another senior engineer advising the project to ensure that all engineering and design evaluation is performed to a high standard. They will assist or coordinate the interactions/processes between international collaborators and play a key role in facilitating the fabrication of a large radon reduced air clean room. They would produce/adapt designs (structures, tools, floor-plans etc.) and follow-through with overseeing the day-to-day operations of their production/construction. They would set out a written description of the scope-of-work to be done by different contractors and verify in proposal review and construction that building code requirements are met. They would assist in establishing the construction schedule, prepare tender, bid and contract documents, ensure that completed designs, schedules and plans are submitted and approved.

They will be expected to be able to provide an expert level of mechanical and structural design evaluation/review of the work of other members and direct their work based on their review and recommendations. Their role be primarily reporting to Aksel Hallin and collaborating with team members, but will be expected to be capable of validating the work of members and providing feedback and final approval on designs. The Mechanical Engineer will also support in the assembly steps for the acrylic pieces. Much of the work on this project is focused on the DarkSide 20K project to be implemented in Italy, so occasional travel may be required.

Duties

Collaborative Engineering Design:

• Review specifications/designs; note and confirm accuracy and coordinate between design members and machine shop. They will be expected to be able to provide final engineering review and approval of designs for manufacture of custom tools that are required to assembly multi-ton acrylic pieces with strict tolerances.

• Prepare and/or review drawings for a unique 130m2 radon-reduced clean room. This clean room must include removable roof access for the transport of acrylic piece via crane and the operation of a large 5-axis milling machine that is operated from outside the clean room while machining the acrylic on the inside. The engineer will take responsibility for the major design challenges involved and the contractor and operational oversight of the space.

• Ensuring engineering/design of team members is done with accuracy and to high standards. This will include directing the production and approval of engineering drawings and the training of other members in design and engineering methods.

• Ensures the quality, accuracy and completeness of overall Engineering work and compliance with established standards, procedures, codes and ordinances.

• Coordinate facility operations, safety and compliance inspections and prepare documentation of inspections.

Mechanical/Structural Design Analysis:

• Contribute to equipment design (vessels, frames, rotating equipment) and provide review and final approval of other members design contributions.

• Contribute sketches and designs for components, devices or fixtures and frames and provide review and final approval of other members design contributions.

• Contributes technical input and oversees technical output of other members to assure compliance with legal, standards and project requirements.

• Perform structural and mechanical CAD analysis and evaluation of the stresses of moving and manipulating multi-ton acrylic pieces and approving structural analysis for safety and reliability.

• Simulation and modelling (FEA and others) potentially including materials fracture analysis and structural failure investigation.

Project Management

• Coordinate the activities of engineering and design team members and assign their design tasks.

• Manage deadlines and track budget for the production and purchasing of tools, manufacturing materials and supplies, contractors and the production of radon-reduced clean room.

• The coordination of drawings and purchasing with machine shop or outside manufacturers and team members to ensure work is completed.

• Ensure design information and documentation is adequately controlled and provided to the project team as required. This involves coordinating document control with collaborating institutions and ensuring that the tracking of engineering drawings is performed according to standards and regulations.

• Assesses project requirements

• Project controls – ongoing review of project costing and scheduling

• Recruitment of Co-op students and establish/facilitate the hiring of contractors.

Communication

• Coordinate and oversee various disciplines involved in project (ensure their awareness of all ongoing work). Other disciplines will include design drafting, instrumentation/measurement, electrical, control systems, mechanical & structures engineering.

• Monitors activities of team members and instructs appropriately to ensure compliance with quality and safety standards.

• Ensures and participates in the accurate preparation of written documentation such as procedures and preventative maintenance records.

• Act as Liaison between contractors and collaborators with team

• Present and implement designs and management plans with international collaborators, responding to feedback and providing review and feedback.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.Sc. in Civil or Mechanical Engineering. Other Engineering disciplines (Materials, Mining) with experience in mechanical design and/or project management will be considered. P.Eng. licensure is preferred. Preference will be given to candidates with post-graduate degrees or qualifications (MSc, PhD)

• 5-10 years of experience in a combination of the following:

• In a Project Engineering role and/or experience working on large capital projects.

• Working in specific areas of design: structural reinforcement, mounting equipment, mechanical systems

• In a design engineering role

• In a prototyping or industrial research/development role

Preferred Qualifications

Additional Experience/skills desired:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Strong time management and organizational skills

• Previous experience managing/mentoring a small team.

• Preparation of reports and presentations

• Safety or compliance enforcement

• Operations with assembly, disassembly and movements of cranes

• Experience in structural steel drafting, fabrication, and installation

• Structural design (steel, plastic, building etc.)

• Familiarity with project management software

• Experience with procurement processes and documentation

• Knowledge of design for fabricating, welding and finishing using steel, stainless steel, and composite materials.

How to Apply