What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research & Development Engineer I position at Duke?
Duke University:
Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.
Be You.
The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University is looking for a Research & Development Engineer I to join our Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (MEMS) team. In this hands-on role, you’ll work at the intersection of engineering education, research, and innovation—supporting faculty, guiding students, and helping bring complex engineering concepts to life in state-of-the-art laboratory environments.
Every day, you’ll collaborate with faculty, staff, and student project teams to design, build, test, and maintain specialized equipment and teaching laboratories. You’ll play a key role in ensuring our lab spaces are safe, effective, and technically cutting-edge, while also mentoring students as they develop the practical skills that complement their classroom learning. If you enjoy working with hardware and software, supporting experimental learning, and contributing to the next generation of engineers, this is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related natural science (such as Physics or Chemistry)
- Strong foundational knowledge of engineering principles and applied sciences
- Ability to perform hands-on technical work in laboratory and fabrication environments
- Commitment to safety, collaboration, and inclusive learning environments
(Note: Due to professional exemption requirements, equivalent experience cannot be substituted for the bachelor’s degree.)
Preferred Qualifications
- Teaching assistant or instructional laboratory support experience
- Demonstrated experience completing design-and-build engineering projects through coursework, research, employment, or personal projects
- Familiarity with machine shop equipment and general fabrication techniques
- Exposure to additive manufacturing / 3D printing technologies
- Experience with programming, data acquisition, or laboratory instrumentation
Other Requirements
- Regular onsite work in laboratory, machine shop, and instructional environments
- Ability to train and supervise students safely around specialized equipment
- Use of mechanical, electrical, electronic, video, and optical equipment
- This position is onsite, in a university environment
Be Bold.
In this role, you will:
- Design, build, test, and maintain specialized instruments, equipment, and experimental systems that support engineering research and education across the MEMS curriculum.
- Support and administer teaching laboratories, providing primary and backup laboratory operations for core undergraduate and master’s courses, including Controls, Mechatronics, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Materials, Dynamics, and Mechanical Design.
- Train, supervise, and guide students in general fabrication spaces, machine shops, and additive manufacturing environments, ensuring safe and effective use of tools and equipment.
- Integrate hardware and software systems, including analog and digital experiments, data acquisition hardware, microcontrollers, CAD/CAM tools, and computer-based control systems using platforms such as LabVIEW and Python.
- Manage laboratory operations, including equipment procurement, inventory tracking, scheduling systems, routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of apparatus and systems.
Additional responsibilities include providing engineering consultation to faculty and researchers, supporting design-and-build instructional projects, maintaining technical documentation and manuals, training student assistants, and continuously improving laboratory teaching modules to maintain the department’s technical relevance.
Choose Duke.
At Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering, you’ll be part of one of the fastest-rising and highly ranked engineering schools in the nation. Pratt is home to four departments, more than 130 tenure-track faculty members, and a vibrant community of undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students who are passionate about solving real-world problems.
What sets Pratt apart is its whole‑student approach—combining rigorous technical education with strong support, collaboration, and a culture that values curiosity, resilience, diversity, equity, inclusion, and community. Housed within a world-class research university known for excellence in medicine, law, business, and the liberal arts, Pratt offers an inspiring environment where your work directly shapes the future of engineering education and innovation.
Job Code: 00001817 RESEARCH & DEV ENGINEER I
Job Level: 12
Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $59,829.00 to USD $88,740.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.
Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/
Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions:
Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: DAAS@duke.edu; phone: 919-668-1267).
Salary : $59,829 - $88,740