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This position has closed. Universities of Wisconsin removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Fabrication Shop Technician

Universities of Wisconsin · Platteville, WI · Full time

Posted Aug 19, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

You will supervise student workers. Tell me about a time you had to correct someone who was working unsafely.

What they are checking: Whether they step in right away and firmly on safety, even with peers or customers.

The posting calls this a public-facing and socially engaged role. Tell me about a time you helped someone make something they were proud of.

What they are checking: Whether they enjoy helping others learn to make things, not just doing the fabrication themselves.

Tell me about a project where you designed or modified a fixture, jig or tool to solve a problem.

What they are checking: Whether they are an inventive maker who can support the design and lab work the posting mentions.

What would you do

Say a student organization needs a prototype built by Friday and the machine they need breaks Wednesday. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can diagnose, repair or find a workaround while being honest about what is realistic.

This role may work evenings and weekends. How would you handle being the only staff member in the shop on a busy Saturday?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage safety and many users at once without cutting corners.

About the work

The Huff Family Innovation Center serves students, faculty and community members with very different skill levels. How would you train a first-time user on a machine like a band saw or CNC router?

What they are checking: Whether they teach safety first, demonstrate, then watch the person do it before letting them work alone.

What fabrication equipment have you run and maintained yourself? Tell me which one you know best.

What they are checking: Whether their hands-on experience covers the kinds of tools a university makerspace actually uses.

How would you set up a preventive maintenance routine for a shop with many different machines?

What they are checking: Whether they plan regular checks and keep logs instead of waiting for things to break.

How would you help a student turn a rough sketch into something that can actually be fabricated?

What they are checking: Whether they understand design for manufacturing and can guide someone through materials and tolerances.

What quality standards would you set for work coming out of the fabrication area?

What they are checking: Whether they think about consistent results and clear expectations, which the posting lists as part of the job.

Practice this interview out loud.

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Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Universities of Wisconsin.

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Position Title: Fabrication Shop Technician Job Category: University Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Instrument Maker Position Summary: The Huff Family Innovation Center, part of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, is hiring a Fabrication Shop Technician . The Fabrication Shop Technician will work with students, staff, faculty and community members to support class project work, student organization projects, prototypes, and general fabrication and making in the Huff Family Innovation Center. This position will assist with the design, maintenance, and training of equipment and laboratories. This position is essential for the safe and effective operation of the Huff Family Innovation Center’s fabrication-centered spaces and is considered a public-facing and socially engaged role. The Fabrication Shop Technician is a full time, benefit and paid time off eligible position, with a starting wage of $23.00/hour, commensurate with skills and experience. This position may work evenings and weekends, with an hourly rate differential. Key Job Responsibilities: • Assist in oversight and maintenance of quality standards in the fabrication area • Supervise student work groups • Instruct students in proper methods to use equipment in a safe manner • Keep shop area clean and equipment in good working condition • Assistant with maintaining tool and shop machinery • Participate in development of training materials and processes • Design, develop, fabricate, test, and maintain highly specialized instruments, components, and mechanical systems • Analyze data and recommend protocol changes to assure quality and alignment with the strategic plan and unit objectives • Assist with the selection of materials and components with respect to physical properties, cost, and established guidelines • Maintain, repair, and operate highly complex and/or specialized instrumentation, identify damages and communicate repair or replacement needs to the appropriate entities • Locate, position, and calibrate instrument parts and assemblies Required Qualifications: • Working knowledge of various tool sets including: woodworking, metals, CNC machine and manual milling and lathe work, welding, composites fabrication, electronics fabrication, powdercoating, or general prototyping. • Excellent communication and customer service skills • Experience teaching or mentoring others. • Interest in learning new skills, toolsets, and procedures. • Ability to communicate and engage with students, fellow technical staff, faculty, and community members. • Basic computer skills including MS Office • Able to work evenings How to Apply: To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by September 2, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled. The following documents are required for applicant consideration: • Letter of application addressing all required qualifications. • A current resume. Contact: For questions regarding this position, please contact: Andrew Woodard, Director of Huff Family Innovation Center woodarda@uwplatt.edu . Legal Notices and Important Information: Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University ensures physical accessibility to work environments for persons with disabilities and will provided reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to employment. Upon request, the University will provide reasonable accommodations for religious observances and practices. The University is committed to a program of affirmative action for women, racial minorities, persons with disabilities, disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam era. While the Chancellor assumes overall responsibility for the success of the program, university administrators and supervisors are responsible and accountable for implementation. Authority for monitoring the program is delegated to Human Resources. Each individual associated with the University is called upon to pledge a new and revitalized commitment to build and maintain a campus environment free of harassment and discrimination, an environment that fosters mutual respect, recognizes the dignity and worth of all people, and promotes to the fullest, equal employment opportunity through affirmative action. In compliance with the Clery Act of 1998, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Annual Security & Annual Fire Safety Report is available for review. Call the UW-Platteville Campus Police Office at 608.342.1584 for a paper copy of the annual report. The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7). UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. Required Postings: Labor Law Poster - English Labor Law Poster - Spanish Families First Coronavirus Response Act Update