Job Description:
We are looking for an experienced engineer – teacher from the Design & Technology domain to become a key researcher for our MAKESPACE project, a project sponsored by the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation (proposal INNOVATE/1221/0052). There are two positions, one at the Education Science Department of the University of Cyprus in Nicosia and one at ENGINO headquarters in Limassol, the two strategic partners in the Project. This engineer will develop STEM DIY projects that combine 3D printing technologies with Laser cutting and traditional wood working tools to help children from the age of preschool to high school to solve problems by following the Engineering Design Process. The engineer will also develop projects that will use coding and DIY electronics such as with Microbit or Arduino in combination with ENGINO technologies. The duration of the contract is 24 months starting from 1st of November 2022 and can be extended to 36 months.

About ENGINO and the Project:
At Engino we design and manufacture cutting-edge learning toy systems that help curious minds of ages 3 to 16 develop their 21st century skills of critical thinking and problem solving through hands on activities, coding and scientific experimentation. Having received numerous patents and international awards, including the “Best Place to Work” seal, we aim to continue leading the STEM trend by investing in new people who can join our team. As our company grows, we continue to innovate, developing services, systems and products that will inspire the next generation of inventors. The MAKERSPACE project is the result of several years of background research and commercial activations in the area of STEM, and is considered the evolution of STEM by aspiring to merge traditional with modern technologies in a holistic approach that will help students acquire the Engineering Design skills from the young age of Primary school but extend all the way to High school with more advanced challenges. The project aims to develop in-house disruptive technologies that will change how STEM is taught in schools, placing emphasis in creating the tools that will facilitate every step of the Engineering Design Process, vertically and horizontally. Through the project key developments are (a) a new CAD software which will allow kids to easily design 3D models and send to 3D printer or laser cutter, (b) a new Learning Management System that allows kids to create their portfolio and share with the teacher and classroom and to the community of users, (c) several new plastic parts that will allow the building of hybrid models with ENGINO components, 3D printed articles and laser cut surfaces, and (d) a completely new DIY electronics library of controllers and sensors that will be compatible with Microbit and Arduino but will also bring additional innovations. Horizontally, the above technologies will be infused into a new Problem-based teaching methodology which will be spearheaded with detailed lesson plans and working examples for every age group, mapping also to the Cyprus curriculum for D&T as it is know but also as it could evolve in the next decade.

Main Responsibilities:
• Responsible for the Research, Design, Development and Implementation of DIY projects using the engino parts, 3D printer, laser cutter and other wood processing equipment that allow children from the age of 3 to 16+ to make their own technical device or toy. The developed projects would include the parts, models and lesson plans for students as well as teacher guide.
• The projects will be of various complexities from simple constructions to functional mechanics and to electronics with Arduino and other platforms such as Microbit and Arduino along with own ENGINO proprietary electronics. This includes conceptual drawings, 3D design, model modeling, prototyping, testing, iterating and bringing to manufacture along with the creation of the instructions and educational content relating to each project.
• Work closely with the ENGINO educational team as well as the R&D people in various departments (Marketing, Product Design, Software and electronics Development, Graphics etc).
• Operate the 3D printing and Laser cutting and make efficient prototypes and DIY makerspace projects.
• Develop the work using various software, some of which are proprietary to the company such as KEIRO and some that are more generic such as TINKERCAD, MAKECODE, SCRATCH, INVENTOR, SOLIDWORKS, COREL DRAW and PHOTOSHOP.
• Teach and test the makerspace lessons developed to students both in-house at the ENGINO center and to schools and other locations when needed, collect data and work with the rest of the team and the University to analyze data and write reports and papers for publishing in Academic Journals
• Analyze the D&T curriculum for all levels of K12 for Cyprus and research on other key countries curriculum as well as latest Publications and Pedagogical trends to develop the methodology and framework of the lesson plans, mapping the developed lesson plans to the curriculum, proposing also new chapters and skills that we aspire to be embraced by Ministries of Education in the future.
• Develop user manuals and teacher guides as well as teacher training programs.
• Present at Conferences and to Teacher events.

Qualifications required:
• Degree in Industrial/Product Design or Mechanical or Electronics Engineering and/or Education Science or other related degree.
• Graduated at least 2 years ago, with work experience in design and manufacturing or Makerspaces as well as teaching D&T.
• Excellent Knowledge of 3D CAD Design software, ideally Autodesk Inventor, but also Solid Works, or Similar software.
• Knowledge of other software such as Tinkercad, 3DS Max, Photoshop, CorelDraw and programming will be considered an advantage.
• Adequate expertise in 3D printing, laser cutting and prototyping hands-on projects and willingness to learn.
• Portfolio demonstrating capabilities.
• Team player with Problem solving mentality
• Strong communicator with innovative mind, with a passion for results and perfectionism.
• An Educator by heart, with a natural inclination towards teaching and mentoring the young generation.

Remuneration Package Offered:
The position is a full-time contractual position at either the University of Cyprus in Nicosia or at the ENGINO® factory in Limassol for a duration of 24 months that can be extended to 36 months. The engineer who will be based in Nicosia under the University of Cyprus will need to work 2 days a week from ENGINO’s offices in Limassol to better coordinate with the team (a travelling allowanced of 150 euro per month will be granted). The position can evolve to a full-time permanent position at ENGINO should the successful candidate is able to continue after the project’s completion.
A full scholarship is offered as part of the remuneration package, sponsored 1/5th by the University and 4/5th by ENGINO to carry out a Master’s Degree in Teaching Science in Education (supervised by Prof Zacharia Zachariou). If the selected candidate is a teacher at the Ministry of Education, a full-time non-paid educational leave can be granted by the government, which counts as normal Teaching work in terms of career and retirement benefits.

The salary offered ranges from 1800 to 2500 gross per month depending on qualifications and experience.

Contact:
The candidates should provide proof of their work and their CV at recruiting.research@engino.com with title ‘Design and Technology Engineer’.

All applications will be treated as strictly confidential