UWAL Employment (UW undergraduates only!)

The University of Washington Aeronautical Laboratory (UWAL) offers undergraduate engineering students a unique opportunity to add to their education while earning an income. By working at UWAL on the student crew, you will gain valuable industry-related, hands-on experience.

Default hours of operation are 7:30 AM until 4:30 PM. Sometimes customers contract with us for longer shifts that go into the evening, or they may contract for testing on Saturdays or holidays. During Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters, crew members are scheduled for about 15 hours per week and work schedules are set around classes. During holidays and breaks, sign up sheets are used, with unfilled shifts assigned as necessary. During the Summer, we require crew members to work a normal 40-hour work week, although exceptions for a class or two are usually granted.

Since the job requires several months of training, we like to have you stay with us for two years. Therefore we usually hire freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors that will be staying an extra year.

Job Description:

Work with a team of other students to perform aerodynamic tests for customers. The position has elements of operations and computing. Examples of operations include running the tunnel, data acquisition, installing the model in the test section, maintaining the wind tunnel, and shop work. Examples of computing are writing test reports, trouble-shooting VisualBASIC computer codes and reducing data. The job requires the ability to carry tasks through to completion with little supervision and the ability to maintain a courteous professional attitude in a customer oriented environment. You must be enrolled at the UW as a matriculated undergraduate for at least 6 credits to be eligible.

Hiring

Hiring is typically done in Fall and Spring. Watch for flyers posted in various engineering buildings or call the wind tunnel at the start of Fall and/or Spring Quarters. Application deadlines are also posted at the top of the application webpage, so check back here.

Interested in Applying?