Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

The MakerSpace & Woodshop Technician is a member of the Learning Spaces team, which includes the Language Media Center, Creative Media Commons, and the MakerSpace, all of which are part of the Academic Technology department within Information Technology Services (ITS).

The opportunity:

The MakerSpace acts as a campus wide testing ground for creative innovation, making and hacking of physical things, and a space for interdisciplinary interaction and learning. It serves as the primary studio space for all Sculpture and 3D Design courses taught inside the Art Department. Beyond these fixed course meeting times, the space opens up to serve a broader cross-section of the community of students, staff, and faculty interested in making.

The MakerSpace & Woodshop Technician plays a critical role in ensuring a safe, well-supported, and inclusive learning environment. This position expands staffing coverage in the MakerSpace, strengthens safety oversight, and provides essential training and technical support for both classes taught in the space and the wider MakerSpace community that serves students, faculty, and staff across campus. Hours are Monday through Friday, 12pm to 8pm during the academic year. Summer hours may shift to 9am to 5pm. Occasional weekend hours for events or workshops.

Essential Responsibilities

• Supports the Art Department Studio Arts courses being taught in the space, including Sculpture and 3D Design, as well as any other future courses offered in the space.
• Work with the Senior MakerSpace and Woodshop Manager on planning, setup, and maintenance of the Woodshop and Digital Fabrication tools and space including selecting and installing equipment.
• Assist in developing policies and training programs in consultation with the Director of Learning Spaces Innovation, Senior MakerSpace and Woodshop Manager, and the MakerSpace Committee as appropriate.
• Help identify new equipment and technologies, new making activities and programs, educational materials/techniques for classes and training, including the formation and sustaining of maker communities.
• Assist with managing supplies, including restocking materials and maintaining inventory in consultation with the Studio Art faculty, ITS, and other users.
• Assist with hiring, training, and supervising student employees to help manage the facility.
• Collaborate, organize, publicize, and facilitate college-community workshops with other departments across campus.
• Collaborate with fellow Information Technology Services (ITS) colleagues, librarians, faculty, staff, and students to integrate innovative making and technology practices into teaching, learning, and creative MakerSpace projects.
• Assist with documenting and showcasing what happens in the MakerSpace using the web, social media, ITS blog, Instagram and other media.

Safety, Training, & Daily Operations

• Provide consistent supervision of the Woodshop and MakerSpace during open hours to maintain a safe, supportive learning environment.
• Enforce safety policies and procedures for woodworking, metalworking, and digital fabrication equipment.
• Conduct safety orientations, equipment certifications, demonstrations, and refreshers for students, faculty, and staff.
• Monitor tool usage and address unsafe behaviors or conditions promptly.
• Provide incident response and documentation in collaboration with the Senior MakerSpace and Woodshop Manager.
• Maintain woodshop tools for optimal working condition assuring safety and functionality
• Maintain a clean, organized, and accessible workspace in all shop and fabrication areas.

Who you are:

• Adapts to new work situations, people, ideas, procedures, and organizational structures, in order to accommodate an evolving work environment.
• Builds successful relationships with faculty members, staff, and students and acts as a thought partner with students in solving problems for projects.
• Communicates and works effectively as a team member, in order to maximize the effectiveness of the work group.
• Collaborates with other colleagues and departments on campus to expand the available resources and instruction to students, faculty, and staff.
• Must be able and willing to learn new skills, adopt new equipment with institutional support, and be attentive to trends and best practices in the field.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with two years of professional experience within the industry or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Extensive knowledge of (and experience with) managing training and safety in a Woodshop/MakerSpace environment.
• Experience in woodworking and maintaining a woodshop with knowledge of woodworking tools, machines, techniques, and processes.
• Experience and skill in one or more of the following areas together with a willingness to develop skills in the new areas: 3D design and fabrication, 3D printing, 3D printer slicer software, sewing and textiles, or other specialized types of making.
• Software and hardware skills should include some combination of: Adobe Creative Suite; 3D modeling/creation tools (Rhino, SolidWorks, Autodesk apps such as Fusion 360, CAM software); Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or other microcontrollers; 3D scanning; photography; sewing machines and weaving, CNC machines, casting techniques (plaster, resins, etc.), the Internet of Things.
• Ability to conduct workshops and demonstrations.
• Creative problem-solving instincts, the ability to learn quickly, and an interest in utilizing both traditional and non-traditional tools.
• The vision to understand and appreciate the intellectual, cultural, and sociopolitical development of undergraduate students in the context of a small liberal arts institution.
• Works successfully with diverse community members across campus.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3-5 years of relevant experience in a higher educational or makerspace environment.
• Advanced degree in Art, Design, Engineering, or related field.
• Experience using AutoCAD or other 3D modeling software.
• Experience in arc welding, especially MIG and TIG, and metalwork
• Familiarity with higher education and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Experience with budget tracking, purchase management, and inventory management.
• CPR and First Aid certification or willingness to obtain.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand for extended periods and lift/move up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to maintain and operate woodworking, metalworking, and digital fabrication equipment, and clean work areas.

Working Conditions

• Ability to work in a woodshop environment, including typical dust and noise levels.
• Hours are Monday through Friday, 12pm to 8pm during the academic year. Summer hours may shift to 9am to 5pm.
• Occasional weekend hours for events or workshops.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter, by Friday, January 30, 2025.

Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).

The market range for this position is $63,000 - $80,000 per year, which represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience and education of the final selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

PA Criminal Clearance Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Education Verification Required by Position

An education verification is required for this position because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

2026 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by law or College Policy.