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Design Lab Instructor
Position Purpose
Support design-centered learning by providing technical guidance, prototyping support, and human-centered design mentorship for students and faculty. This role helps translate ideas into tangible prototypes while fostering iterative experimentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and responsible use of fabrication tools and technologies. The position also strengthens Dartmouth’s maker and design community through co-curricular programming, peer mentorship, and stewardship of design resources.
Description
Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp
Masters plus 3-5 years' experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
- Ability to help a wide range of design learners, practitioners, and partners achieve their goals based on experience applying design methodologies in diverse disciplines and organizational settings, from startups to large corporations to higher education
- Significant end-to-end product management experience with 5+ years of experience leading innovation, product, and/or design engineering teams using human-centered design and lean startup methods, learning and iterating on these experiences, with a proven track record of taking projects from concept to shipped products
- Demonstrated experience co-teaching design, technology, and innovation for audiences ranging from students to executives
- Demonstrated expertise in adopting and applying emerging technologies, AI tools, digital fabrication tools, higher education and industry domains, and helping teams explore whether and how these tools may improve their work
- Collaborative, team-oriented working style with strong interpersonal skills
- Commitment to and experience supporting initiatives that support diversity
- Strong aptitude for interdisciplinary collaboration and creativity across diverse fields
- Exceptional organizational skills with ability to manage complex, concurrent projects
- Technical leadership experience in research, product development, or laboratory environments
- Proven ability to establish objectives, develop strategic plans, and build client/external relationships
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to give and receive constructive feedback
- Master’s degree in technical design discipline (Engineering, CS, Industrial Design, Architecture, or related technology field) and an educational or professional background in an additional field that complements design thinking
Preferred Qualifications
- Interest in educational innovation and pedagogy
- Ability to contribute to DIAD research efforts with graduate degree or equivalent portfolio of experience advanced maker experience building in technical or design discipline (mechanical, electrical, digital fabrication, etc) and published research in emerging technologies or design engineering
- Background in product design, industrial design, mechanical or electrical engineering, or related fields
- Demonstrated comfort working with students and faculty from diverse creative and technical fields and ability to make participants from diverse fields feel comfortable
- Significant operational experience including managing teams and budgets
- Advanced experience in a growing technical field such as applying AI/ML tools and applying emerging technology methodologies to physical and physical-digital product design, mechanical engineering, media arts, and/or advanced maker experience
Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries
Danielle Pierce
Department Contact Phone Number
6036463557
Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title
Professor Beth Ames Eagle
Department Contact's Phone Number
Equal Opportunity Employer
Dartmouth College is an equal opportunity employer under federal law. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applications are welcome from all.
Background Check
Employment in this position is contingent upon consent to and successful completion of a pre-employment background check, which may include a criminal background check, reference checks, verification of work history, conduct review, and verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, with results acceptable to Dartmouth College. A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.
Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Dartmouth vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job?
Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants
Dartmouth College has a Tobacco-Free Policy. Smoking and the use of tobacco-based products (including smokeless tobacco) are prohibited in all facilities, grounds, vehicles or other areas owned, operated or occupied by Dartmouth College with no exceptions. For details, please see our policy. https://policies.dartmouth.edu/policy/tobacco-free-policy
Additional Instructions
Key Accountabilities
Description
Design Project Prototyping & Technical Support
- Provides technical support for design-affiliated courses, integrating technical skill-building and human-centered design thinking into the learning experience.
- Offers structured, advance-requested instructional and project support for faculty incorporating design and making elements into their courses, functioning similarly to a teaching assistant role with a dedicated purpose (augmenting student project quality and technical support)
- Guides students in bringing their ideas to life and accelerates iterative learning through making, helping them learn and navigate how to take their ideas further with technical tools including but not limited to digital fabrication tools (e.g., 3D printing, laser cutting, electronics prototyping) and CAD software.
- Supports the full creative and technical process — from concept development to prototyping, testing, and refinement — enabling students to quickly cycle between ideas and physical realizations.
- Promotes safe, responsible, and inclusive use of tools and technologies to support liberal arts–based, interdisciplinary exploration and innovation.
- Helps connect technical execution with critical inquiry and creative problem-solving.
Percentage Of Time
50%
Description
Co-curricular Design Learning Program Support & Community Engagement
- Provides similar advance-requested technical and human centered design instructional support for co-curricular programs and initiatives (e.g., workshops, design sprints, project-based events).
- Partners with student groups, campus centers, and initiatives to bring human-centered design and making into informal learning environments.
- Designs and leads a peer-to-peer training initiative that empowers students to become skilled facilitators and technical mentors, expanding the community’s capacity for collaborative learning over time.
- Helps cultivate a sustainable, student-centered maker and design culture by building infrastructure for shared expertise, skill development, and support.
- Encourages broad participation and lowers barriers to entry by fostering an inclusive, welcoming environment for learners from all disciplines.
- Advises students and faculty on next-stage opportunities for projects to grow their impact within and beyond design at dartmouth — including potential pathways to expand work beyond courses, across campus, and into broader communities or external contexts as relevant.
Percentage Of Time
30%
Description
Tools, Technologies & Resources Stewardship
- Coordinates and maintains tools and technologies that support student projects.
- Troubleshoots and ensures functionality of fabrication and prototyping equipment.
- Recommends emerging tools and technologies that enhance learning and creative exploration.
- Promotes shared responsibility, sustainability, and equitable access to making resources.
Percentage Of Time
20%
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Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all.
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Performs other duties as assigned.
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