Employment Opportunities

The CU Community Fab is a cutting-edge, exciting and fun place to work. Our hiring patterns vary by time of the year and programs and grants, feel free to get involved as a volunteer to be the first to hear about future opportunities.

As a place where a lot of innovation happens, the Fab Lab depends on and greatly values cognitive diversity. Therefore we are especially interested in hiring individuals from diverse backgrounds, and kindly encourage all sorts of people to apply.

Community Engagement Student Hourly

Overview:

We are currently looking for Student Community Engagement workers (10 hours/week). Ideal candidates would have in-person afternoon availability in spring and fall. Work will include supporting and teaching youth workshops, staffing outreach events, and facilitating occasional in-lab workshops or events. If availability allows, this position may also lead into supporting and teaching youth camps during the summer.  2D Design or 3D Design software experience is preferred but not required. This role will require you to arrive on campus Friday August 22 in the afternoon for an all-staff meeting before classes begin to kick-off the semester. 

Position Description: 

The Student Community Engagement Hourly will work alongside the Community Engagement team to:

  1. Instruct and facilitate youth workshops at libraries, schools, and/or community centers (usually between 2:00pm and 6:00pm on select weekdays). 
  2. Lead or assist with single-instance outreach events (such as tabling, pop up workshops) around Champaign-Urbana.
  3. Prepare materials and supplies for programs; develop tutorials and assist instructors with curriculum development.


Qualifications and Preferences:

Required:  

  • Must engage with diverse users respectfully (e.g., youth, adults, both university and non-university affiliated community members, professionals, hobbyists, people with different abilities, and more).
  • Must have strong verbal skills and customer service skills.
  • Experience leading or assisting with youth (K-8) programming is required.
  • Skills teaching creative design and making with technologies are preferred.
  • Basic digital literacy skills –Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Apps, basic file management concepts with Windows/OSX, and online communication tools, such as Google Docs, Calendar, email and more.

Preferred: 

  • Skills and experience with:
    • Art and design –
      • Traditional and digital artistic methods (e.g. painting, illustration, printmaking, weaving, etc.)
    • Fabrication and creative technologies –
      • Electronic cutters, laser engravers, small board electronics (e.g. Arduino, Circuit Playground Express, Micro:bit, etc.), sewing and digital embroidery, and 3D printers/scanners.


Application Procedures:

Let us know that you’re interested by filling out this application. Feel free to include any relevant portfolios or references, if you have any. The deadline for applying is May 29, 2025.

People of all majors, genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religious affiliations, and ability status are strongly encouraged to apply. Positions working with youth will require a background check – both through University of Illinois, and potentially through partner organizations.

 
Starting Friday, May 16th

Upcoming Lab Closure Notice

May 16th through June 7th, we will be closing the lab for a few weeks to prep for our summer programming and do some much needed repairs and maintenance on our machines.
We will be open with our usual hours through Finals Week if you have any last minute projects to complete before then. The last day of Open Hours for this semester will be Thursday, May 15th.

Starting Sunday, June 8th

Summer Hours

Sundays only: 1-6PM

*Closed July 6th (Independence Day weekend) and July 27th