Question 1

What are the required qualifications for Technical Associate II?

Accepted Answer

Requires a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering , materials science, physics, chemistry, or related field (preferred), or equivalent experience, plus a minimum of 4 years in an academic engineering research or commercial R&D environment . Strong program management , organizational, interpersonal skills, attention to detail, leadership, and mechanical/electromechanical design expertise essential. See academic CV tips for applications.

Question 2

What are the main responsibilities in the GEAR Lab role?

Accepted Answer

Manage day-to-day operations of the Global Engineering and Research (GEAR) Lab , support ~30 students/postdocs/staff with engineering, logistical, administrative needs. Coordinate design, prototyping, testing of bench-scale/pilot-scale mechanical systems (e.g., solar devices , desalination ). Oversee field pilots , project management , lab resources, fabrication/machine shop, onboarding, reports/publications. Explore research jobs for similar roles.

Question 3

Does this position involve international travel or field work?

Accepted Answer

Yes, coordinates domestic and international field pilot activities , including prototype installation, testing, logistics with research teams/external partners. Involves transport and collaboration on solar-powered devices , irrigation systems , etc.

Question 4

What skills are needed for lab operations and management?

Accepted Answer

Oversee shared lab operations , resources, onboarding , documentation/code repositories, weekly activities, fabrication facility/machine shop maintenance/upgrades, consumables sourcing. Provide guidance to students/junior staff , manage multiple projects with plans/milestones. Check lab research jobs .

Question 5

Is teaching or publication required for this Technical Associate role?

Accepted Answer

Contribute to sponsor reports, presentations, academic publications with opportunities to lead technical writing. No explicit teaching load , but provide guidance to students and support research planning. Ideal for R&D professionals . View research role advice .

Question 6

How to apply for this Mechanical Engineering lab position?

Accepted Answer

Application deadline July 13, 2026 . Tailor resume/CV to highlight 4+ years R&D , mechanical design skills. Prepare for program management/leadership examples. Use free resume template and cover letter template .

Technical Associate II

MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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