Undergraduate and Postbaccalaureate Employment in ECE

Undergraduate & Postbaccalaureate Employment in ECE

The ECE Department offers temporary, hourly positions for qualified undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students to support courses and labs. Positions are typically assigned one term at a time.

STEP 1: Position Information

Grader, UGA,  EPL, PSAS, and Embedded Tutor Positions 

Position Types

• Grader: Assists the instructor by grading homework, labs, or projects; providing written feedback; compiling scores; and posting grades to Canvas in a timely manner. No direct student interaction or teaching duties.

• Undergraduate Assistant (UGA): Assists instructors or TAs during in-person lab sessions by explaining assignments, troubleshooting, answering questions, tracking attendance, maintaining safety, and managing cleanup. No grading duties are required.

• Electronic Prototyping Lab (EPL) Assistant: Requires a steady commitment of up to 6 hours/week. Applicants must be proficient in PCB manufacturing, 3D printing, soldering, laser cutting, store operations, and safety instruction.

• Portland State Aerospace Society (PSAS) Intern: Requires a minimum commitment of 4 hours/week (around 0.1 FTE) and agreement to member policies. Core duties tend to be influenced by major:

  • Mechanical Engineering: MCAD, manufacturing, assembly, testing, simulations, documentation.

  • Electrical Engineering: ECAD, manufacturing, assembly, testing, coding, simulations, documentation.

  • Computer Engineering: Firmware/software coding and testing, ECAD, manufacturing, assembly, simulations, documentation.

  • Software Engineering / Computer Science: Software/firmware coding and testing, server/infrastructure testing, documentation.

  • General Duties (All Majors): Onboarding/teaching new students, conducting lab tours, attending management meetings, and daily lab organization.

• Embedded Tutor: Managed by the PSU Learning Center. Tutors are paid to attend the course and support student learning. Requires successful completion of the course within the last two years. Learn more and apply via the Learning Center.

Eligibility & Qualifications

• Undergraduate or post-baccalaureate students may apply for these positions. Generally students should have completed at least 100 level ECE related coursework before applying for course-related roles, and must have completed the course with a grade of B+ or better. EPL and PSAs positions are open to broader experiences and majors.

• Students in good academic standing. All student employees are students first, and employment should not interfere with learning. If students are struggling to maintain course requirements, taking on additional work is generally discouraged.

• Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits in the term, summer term excepted.

• International students are welcome to apply, however, all applicants must be eligible to work in the US, which requires a Social Security Number. Please review information found on the Office of International Student Services: https://www.pdx.edu/international-students/employment

• NOTE: these positions and this application is not open for graduate students.

Applications and Hiring Process

The Department generally hires up to 12 UGAs, 10 graders, 9 embedded tutors, and 10 EPL supports. PSAS intern positions vary depending on project cycle.

• Current Application Cycle: Opens May 10, 2026 and closes March 01, 2027.

• Retention: Applications remain active for the full annual cycle; you do not need to re-apply each quarter. Old applications are purged at the start of each new cycle.

• Updates & Withdrawals: To update your application, use the edit link provided in your initial confirmation email. To withdraw from consideration, email eceinfo@pdx.edu.

• Selection: ECE staff screen applications for minimum qualifications before forwarding them to faculty. Faculty may require an interview. Selected candidates will receive a formal notification letter with PSU hiring instructions.

Requirements, Time Commitments and Expectations 

• Duration: One academic quarter (up to 12 weeks for Fall/Winter/Spring; 9 weeks for summer course positions; up to 12 weeks for summer EPL/PSAS roles).

• Hour Limits: Total weekly hours across all combined campus positions cannot exceed 20 hours.

• Academic Balance: Employment should not interfere with coursework. Course positions are hired term-by-term, while EPL & PSAS positions require a multi-term commitment.

• Compensation: $17.50 per hour, paid via timesheets for actual hours worked. These roles do not qualify for tuition remission.

• On-Campus Presence: Student employees must be available on campus at least two business days before the quarter begins for onboarding. UGAs, Tutors, PSAS, and EPL roles require 4–6 hours of weekly on-site presence.

• Training: Position-specific training is mandatory, considered part of the employment agreement, and fully paid.

STEP 2: Prepare to Apply

The online application form will ask you to answer several questions and submit information about yourself.

1. UGA and Grader positions: Decide which specific courses or sequences you are interested in being a grader or UGA for and that also match your qualifications. They can either be in the upcoming quarter or later in the academic year. 

2. PSAS & EPL positions: Prepare a short statement describing your PSAS, EPL/hands-on prototyping experience, equipment you've been trained to use, experience in the EPL, and any other related trainings (such as Embedded Tutor training).

3. Embedded Tutors: apply directly to the Learning Center 

STEP 3: Fill out the Application Form

Use the link below to apply for Grader and UGA positions. A PSU Google account login is required. If the form is closed, applications are not currently being accepted. 

What Happens Next?

• Review & Interviews: Applications are reviewed before the start of each quarter. Hiring managers or instructors will reach out via email if they wish to schedule an interview.

• Offers: Selected applicants will receive an email offer detailing the position, which they can accept or decline.

• Unselected Applications: Because positions are limited, unselected applications automatically remain in the pool for future quarters within the current cycle.

• Status Inquiries: Please do not email or call the department to check on your application status, as this delays the evaluation process.

Evaluations & Performance 

• Assessment: Supervisors may submit written performance evaluations based on:

  • Mastery of the course material.

  • Professionalism and responsiveness with students and instructors.

  • Punctuality for office hours, labs, and meetings.

  • Initiative in improving course outcomes.

• Termination: Failure to fulfill job obligations may result in immediate termination.

• Resignation: If your availability changes (e.g., accepting an internship), please notify the department as early as possible to minimize disruption.

• Future Employment: Prior employment does not guarantee future hiring, though strong performance evaluations will significantly increase your chances.