Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility Lead (Research Technician III)

Company: San Diego State University
Location: San Diego
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

Position Summary The NMR Facility Lead provides technical leadership and operational oversight for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry’s Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Facility. This position is responsible for the performance, maintenance, and long-term reliability of multiple high-field Bruker and Varian/Agilent NMR spectrometers supporting undergraduate instruction, graduate training, and externally funded research. The role combines advanced instrumentation management, experimental consultation, infrastructure coordination, and safety oversight. This is a hands-on technical position requiring expertise in NMR hardware and software systems, cryogen management, and experimental design, along with the ability to support faculty, students, and external collaborators in a high-throughput research environment. Key Responsibilities Instrumentation Oversight: Operate, maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot multiple NMR spectrometers, including hardware, software, cryogenic systems, and associated infrastructure to ensure continuous research-grade performance. Technical Problem Solving: Diagnose and resolve complex hardware and software issues, implement system upgrades, manage vendor service agreements, and coordinate repairs with external service providers. Research Support & Method Development: Consult with faculty and students on experimental design, pulse sequence development, data acquisition, and spectral interpretation for solution-state and solid-state NMR applications. User Training & Instructional Support: Train and supervise undergraduate and graduate users in safe and effective instrument operation; support upper-division and graduate laboratory instruction in NMR theory and applications. Facility & Cryogen Management: Manage liquid helium and liquid nitrogen ordering, magnet fills, compressed gases, environmental controls, and facility infrastructure impacting instrument stability and performance. Data & Documentation Management: Maintain detailed technical documentation, spectral archives, maintenance logs, and inventory records to support compliance, reproducibility, and long-term operational continuity. Safety & Compliance Coordination: Serve as Department Safety Coordinator for NMR-related operations, ensuring safe handling of chemicals, cryogens, and instrumentation, and acting as a liaison with Environmental Health & Safety and Public Safety. Why Join Us? High-Level Technical Responsibility: Lead and maintain advanced NMR instrumentation central to a research-intensive chemistry and biochemistry program. Impact Research & Instruction: Directly support undergraduate, graduate, and industry research projects that rely on high-quality spectroscopic data. Hands-On Technical Work: Engage daily with complex instrumentation, experimental design, and analytical problem-solving. Collaborative Scientific Environment: Work alongside faculty researchers, graduate students, and industry partners in a dynamic laboratory setting. Strategic Facility Role: Shape the long-term reliability, safety, and development of a core research facility within the College of Sciences. Position Information Full-time, benefits eligible, permanent/probationary position. Position is designated exempt under FLSA and is eligible for overtime compensation. Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This position requires the ability and willingness to work outside of normal business hours as needed to address emergencies or urgent operational needs. The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego. Department Summary The College of Sciences consists of eight departments (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geological Sciences, Math and Statistics, Physics, and Psychology) and about 170 full-time faculty members. The College operates a number of major off-campus instructional and research centers which include the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve, Sky Oaks Field Station, Mount Laguna Observatory, and Coastal and Marine Institute. This position is within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The department has 24 Tenured/Tenure-Track faculty members, 3.0 FTE lecturers, over 50 teaching associates, and 7 full-time staff. The department provides B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. Degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry. The department offers a comprehensive undergraduate research program in which almost all undergraduates majors participate, an M.S. degree that is a combined coursework/laboratory research with thesis degree, and a Ph.D. degree through the Joint Doctoral Program with UC San Diego. Our on-campus facilities provide classroom and research students, faculty, and staff with access to cutting edge chemistry instrumentation and computer equipment in a modern laboratory building. Additional resources are available through collaborations with faculty at nearby institutions and with the extensive local chemistry and biotechnology industries. For more information regarding the College of Sciences, click here . Education and Experience Experience: Three years of progressively responsible technical research or statistical experience including or supplemented by one year in the interpretation and graphic presentation of data. Graduate study in the social sciences, economics, mathematics, statistics, public or business administration or engineering may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis. And Education: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university. (Additional qualifying professional experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.) Key Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a closely related field. Ability and willingness to work outside of normal business hours as needed to address emergencies or critical operational needs is required. Demonstrated hands-on experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting advanced NMR instrumentation in a research laboratory environment. Proficiency with Bruker (TopSpin) and/or Varian/Agilent (VNMRJ) platforms, including experiment setup, data acquisition, and spectral analysis. Strong expertise in solution-state NMR and working knowledge of solid-state NMR applications. Experience designing and optimizing NMR experiments, including pulse sequence development. Demonstrated ability to diagnose and resolve complex hardware and software issues, including operating systems (Windows/Linux environments), NMR applications (e.g., VNMRJ, TopSpin, MestreNova), and instrument components (RF systems, digital/analog circuitry, mechanical systems). Experience managing cryogenic systems, including safe handling and transfer of liquid helium and liquid nitrogen. Ability to safely handle heavy equipment and cryogenic Dewars in accordance with laboratory safety protocols. Strong communication skills and demonstrated ability to train and support faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers. Compensation and Benefits San Diego State University offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth. Compensation : Step placement will be determined based on relevant qualifications and professional experience, in alignment with the department’s budget and equity guidelines. Initial step placement is not expected to exceed Step 15 ($7,321) for highly qualified candidates. Salary step placement for internal applicants will follow the CSUEU Collective Bargaining Agreement. CSU Classification Salary Range: $5,548 – $8,083 per month (Step 1 – Step 20). Future increases, including step advancements, are subject to contract negotiations. Full Benefits Package Includes : Generous Time Off : 15 paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave. Retirement : CalPERS pension plan with retiree healthcare, and reciprocal agreements with other California public retirement systems, including the UC. Health Coverage : Medical, dental, and vision options at low or no cost. Education Support : CSU tuition fee waiver for employees and eligible dependents. Optional Offerings : FlexCash, life and disability insurance, legal and pet plans. Campus & Community : Access to the library, campus events, employee groups, and volunteer and social activities. Our benefits are a significant part of total compensation. Learn more at the SDSU Benefits Overview . SDSU Values At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment. We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion. Principles of Community At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all. Supplemental Information Apply by March 25, 2026 to ensure full consideration. Applications submitted after this date will be reviewed on an as-needed basis, and the position will remain open until filled. The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position. SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here . Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Taylor Smith at tjaress@sdsu.edu .

Keywords: San Diego State University, Moreno Valley , Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility Lead (Research Technician III), Science, Research & Development , San Diego, California