Master Prototyper

Introduction

• Description: We are looking for a Master Fabricator/Machinist/Prototyper to lead the build-out of GVCS machine prototypes. Unique opportunity with innovative open source machine development organization. See Master Prototyper and Machine Designer Invitation.
• Date of Recruiting Announcement - 8/25/12
• No. of Positions: 1
• City: Maysville
• Country / State: USA: Missouri
• Enterprise: Open Source Ecology
• Job Title Suffix: Prototyping Director

Basic Terms

• Must live on-site at Factor e Farm (accommodations and fast internet are provided, applicant covers their own food) and follow Factor e Farm General Guidelines
• Full time commitment (no outside jobs or telecommuting unless specifically negotiated)
• Applicant covers travel to and from FeF, and any insurance needs
• Financial compensation based on risk-sharing, experience, and culture fit to OSE
• Biweekly blog posting on the Factor e Farm Blog according to FeF Blogging Standards
• Alignment with open source culture, and openness to lifelong learning

Skill Set Requirements

Basic Requirements

• Professional (or equivalent) experience in custom fabrication and machining
• Professional (or equivalent) competency in precision machining and CNC precision machining
• Excellent practical working proficiency in machine design, technical drawing, and CAD
• Reading fabrication drawings, setting up jigs, squaring, measuring distances and angles
• Hydraulic power system design and build
• Excellent working knowledge of mechanisms, mechanics, electromechanical devices, and mechatronics
• Excellent working knowledge of engines, engine repair, and electrical wiring
• Creating bills of materials, sourcing, bidding, and preparation of work contracts
• Experience with heavy machine operation

Desired Experience

• CAM, automation, and robotics
• Fabrication of gears
• Engine building from the ground up
• Tool and die making, heat treating
• Metallurgy and alloying
• Metal casting
• Power electronics design and fabrication
• Electrical generator design and fabrication
• Teaching experience
• Managing a workshop
• Precision machine design
• Agricultural machinery design
• Heavy equipment design
• Programming milling machines in both G & M codes and makimg required fixturing
• Setting standards for and executing workshop facility organization, cleanliness, and maintenance
• Farming
• Construction

Role

• The core of the Master Prototyper role is prototyping GVCS machines. This requires a number of responsibilities: fabrication, workshop and tool management, apprentice training, strategic planning, documenting, product quality control and testing, design work, and others.
• Enforces shop conduct standards covering safety, quality control, organization, and cleanliness
• Reports to Founding Director (FD) and executes development priorities set by the FD
• Assists FD in strategy on issues of fabrication optimization
• Collaborates with other team members on documentation, planning, field testing, and other common activities
• Performs planning, review, and reporting process on Flashy XM platform according to Planning and Review Strategy (in development)
• Builds prototypes on an ongoing basis, and in absence of fabrication drawings or plans, engages in design work
• Performs field testing of prototypes to collect performance data, evaluate prototypes, and make improvements
• Leads teams of fabricators and apprentices in prototyping and production runs
• Develops fabrication procedures according to Fabrication Diagram method
• Keeps workshop well-organized, ergonomic, and clean, and maintains tools in good working order
• Develops standards for cleanliness, tool organization, and workflow
• Performs quality control on prototyping work
• In addition to building from stock components, must also be able to build precision components as needed
• Trains apprentices and team members in machine operation and tool use
• Coordinates with remote fabrication teams (Prototyping Flash Fab Mobs) to build prototypes and components thereof
• Instills a sense of pride in craftsmanship and inspires others towards mastery
• Crafts strategies for organization and replication of the workshop with management team
• Advises the Director of Learning in developing curriculum covering fabrication and machining
• Organizes cleanup of workshop and maintenance of tools and machines in collaboration with the rest of the team
• Designs processes with intent of cross-training in mind

Requirements

The MP must be able to:

• Follow verbal and written work instructions, take initiative as necessary, and have the wisdom to understand the difference between the two
• Read blue prints and understand G.D.T. and how it applies to the part and the manufacturing process
• Work tool steel and carbide tooling
• Work with indexing heads, sine plates, and and know trigonometry to figure distances and angles from construction holes and tooling balls
• Work with engineering and documentation personnel
• Manage interruptions and organize apprentices to meet monthly prototyping and production schedules
• Be responsible for sound judgment
• Ask questions when uncertain or blocked
• Work with minimum supervision or work closely with teams on a schedule on teams
• Be in good physical condition
• Have excellent communication skills
• Teach apprentices
• Provide leadership and inspiration to apprentices