Studio Associate

Location: New York City

Status: Full-time

Reports to: Design Director

About the Role

The Studio Associate supports the daily operation of the makerspace under the direction of the Design Director, including workshop upkeep, event coordination, and vendor logistics, along with hands-on involvement in product testing, fabrication, and product development.

Tikkun Olam Makers works with people with disabilities to design and build custom adaptive solutions, and maintains a portfolio of open-source projects that are replicated and validated in-house. This role has direct involvement in nearly every project that passes through the studio.

This is a full-scope operations and fabrication role for candidates with 2-4 years of relevant experience, not an entry-level assistant position. The successful candidate will have both the technical skill and the operational mindset required to keep a working studio running smoothly day to day, in close coordination with the Director. Salary range is $60,000- $68,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities

Studio Operations

• Facilitate day-to-day workshop operations, including tool and equipment maintenance, materials inventory, and shop safety and organization
• Manage vendor relationships and execute procurement of materials, parts, and equipment, in coordination with the Director
• Coordinate and help run studio events, workshops, and open sessions
• Serve as in-person point of contact for visitors, walk-ins, and partner organizations

Fabrication & Testing

• Operate and maintain 3D printers and other fabrication equipment
• Build prototypes and iterate on designs based on testing and feedback
• Replicate and test products submitted to the Tikkun Olam Makers portfolio and document results
• Troubleshoot fabrication issues and maintain quality standards across builds

Product & Project Support

• Support product development initiatives
• Assist with request intakes and defining project scopes
• Contribute to the ongoing improvement of existing designs
• Provide project mentorship and technical guidance to TOM University Fellows and other community participants as needed

Qualifications

• Hands-on fabrication experience (3D printing, workshop tools, prototyping); a formal engineering degree is not required
• Demonstrated aptitude for the operational facilitation of a workshop or studio environment, in addition to technical/design skills
• Ability to manage detail-oriented, process-driven work (testing, documentation, inventory management) alongside more creative problem-solving
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with experience coordinating across vendors, visitors, and team members
• Comfort working alongside partners spanning age groups, ability levels and skill levels
• Experience with/interest in inclusive or assistive design is a plus
• Understanding of human-centered design
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a small team
• Ability to safely operate workshop machinery

Growth & Development

As the Studio Associate builds expertise, they will take on increasing ownership of specific products and independent design work, with the potential to lead dedicated project areas. Scope and development will be reviewed at the 6- and 12-month marks.

About This Opportunity

This role offers deep, hands-on involvement in every layer of a working studio's operations and fabrication pipeline, with direct impact on individuals who rely on custom-built solutions and our open-source portfolio.