The Punahou Design Technology and Engineering team aims to build and maintain a student-centered, school-wide environment designed to empower the development of the social-emotional skills, technical abilities, design thinking and growth mindset needed to translate the Punahou aims into positive and purposeful action in the real world.  

Punahou School is actively recruiting a Design and Fabrication Technician to join the Design Technology and Engineering team. The Design Technology Technician will support the DTE curriculum by supervising student’s work in labs. This includes providing direct instruction, and assisting with the use of design technology software and fabrication tools. Other responsibilities of this position include:

Manage & Maintain Kosasa Labs

• Manage, maintain, and inventory supplies and machines in the Kosasa Labs
• Maintain all machines including ordering parts such as filters or other replacement parts/materials as needed
• Track use of supplies between K-8, Academy, and Extended Learning programs for billing purposes
• Order and stock other supplies such as wood, sticker film, and filament as needed/requested
• Maintain overall organization and upkeep of Lab equipment, supplies, and physical space

Support DTE classes

• Provide support to K-5 DTE teachers with classes as needed or requested.  
• Support all Grade 6-8 DTE classes and serve as an additional adult in the class to help advance student ideas and project design.
• Support K-8 DTE teachers with carrying out their curriculum ideas and integration projects
• Assist with student access to machines and demonstrate proper use of this equipment
• Help students with creating, editing, saving, and prepping CAD files
• Assist with fabricating student work (e.g  laser cutting, 3D printing, stickers, etc.)Advance student design ideas
• Assist with student projects
• Design of prototypes, templates, and models
• Support laser cutting, 3D printing, sticker printing production or other materials as needed for class prep
• Support training as needed on new equipment or software programs
• Conduct lab safety training and ensure all lab occupants are complying with safety protocols
• May assist with projects/tasks requested by other teachers and classes that are not regularly scheduled DTE classes
• Support greater Punahou operations and initiatives as directed by Punahou School Administration.

Summer Duties

• Support K-8 summer school DTE courses by prepping materials and serving as an adult in the class to advance student ideas and project design
• Assist with fabricating student work
• Maintenance of all equipment in the Kosasa Labs
• May assist with projects/tasks requested by other teachers and classes that are not regularly scheduled DTE classes
• Support greater Punahou operations and initiatives as directed by Punahou School Administration.

The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator, responsible, flexible and committed to design thinking, innovation and prototyping. If you thrive in a fast paced, innovative, creative and collaborative environment, we invite you to apply!  

 

Position Details: 

• Months: 10.5 Months
• School Year: 2026-2027
• Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, with occasional after hours/weekend work subject to the needs of the lab
• Minimum of Salary Range*: $61,880 - Compensation is commensurate with qualifications.

*Punahou School offers a comprehensive total rewards program that includes competitive pay and benefits. The salary, if displayed, is the minimum salary for the position. Pay for selected candidates will be determined by various factors such as knowledge, skills, abilities, relevant training and experience, and internal equity.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Industrial Design, or equivalent combination of training, education and/or experience.
• Two (2) years of experience working with Design Technology software and equipment in a K-12 school setting, professional training facility or university setting, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience working with students from diverse backgrounds; an understanding of the developmental needs of adolescents, sensitivity to each individual student’s needs; and ability to appreciate the variety of perspectives offered by individual viewpoints, disciplines and cultural understandings.
• Knowledge and experience operating and maintaining the following fabrication machines (or similar):
  • Laser cutters
  • 3d Printers/3d printing software
  • Sticker printers/large printing machine
  • Wood shop tools – hand tools and power tools
• Knowledge and proficiency with the following design software:
  • Onshape (or similar CAD software)
  • Adobe Illustrator (or similar vector design software)
• Experience with robotics fabrication and programming
• Experience with coding/fabrication microcontroller units or similar programmable electronics
• Ability to perform light routine maintenance/checks (water levels, tire checks, etc) on an electric cart.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Knowledge and experience operating and maintaining the following fabrication machines (or similar):
  • CNC routers
  • Metal shop tools – both automated and manual
• Knowledge and proficiency with the following design software:
  • CNC machine path driver's (machine specific) (gcode)

About Punahou School

Punahou School nurtures the individuality of each child within a vibrant K – 12 school community that celebrates diversity, inspires excellence and connects students for life. Located in Honolulu, Hawai`i, Punahou is the largest coeducational, independent K – 12 school on a single campus in the United States. Students at Punahou have unparalleled opportunities to cultivate their unique interests and talents under the guidance of attentive and caring teachers. Rigorous academics, robust programs in athletics and the arts, and an array of co-curricular opportunities offer an integrated, 21st-century education for the whole child. Students exemplify the diversity and strength of Hawai`i and reflect the School’s commitment to providing robust, need-based financial aid. When students graduate from Punahou, they join a network of 30,000 alumni spanning the globe. Beyond excellent scholars, the School seeks to develop engaged global citizens who can strengthen their communities.

Connections working at Punahou School