Maker Education Fabricator: Prototyping and Experience Design (NYC, Part-Time)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Maker Education Fabricator: Prototyping and Experience Design

Company: NORY

Location: New York, United States

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Maker Education / STEM Curriculum Design

Date Posted: September 15, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 years (estimated)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and fabricate innovative, hands-on STEM projects for children aged 3-12, focusing on robotics, engineering, and woodworking.

• Develop immersive, interdisciplinary learning experiences that integrate multiple domains, akin to theme park attractions, to enhance educational impact.

• Create compelling thematic worlds and narratives that engage young learners and foster a love for discovery and problem-solving.

• Empower and train teachers across all NORY campuses to effectively implement designed projects and utilize fabrication tools safely.

• Leverage a deep understanding of child development to ensure projects are age-appropriately challenging and highly engaging for elementary-aged children.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is not in traditional Revenue Operations, Sales Operations, or GTM, it requires a similar mindset for process design, curriculum development, and stakeholder enablement (teachers acting as 'internal customers'). The focus on "experience design" and "fabrication" translates to the creation and implementation of operational frameworks and tools that enable effective delivery. The "portfolio" requirement is analogous to a "process portfolio" in ops roles, showcasing tangible work and its impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and construct physical prototypes for STEM camp activities, including robotics kits, engineering challenges, and woodworking projects, ensuring safety and age-appropriateness for children aged 3-12.

• Integrate diverse learning domains (STEM, arts, storytelling) into cohesive, interdisciplinary educational experiences that captivate young minds.

• Develop rich thematic content and storytelling elements to transform learning environments into engaging, immersive worlds for campers.

• Create clear, concise, and effective training materials, particularly video-based content, to ensure consistent delivery of educational visions by teachers across all NORY locations.

• Apply expert knowledge of child psychology and developmental stages to meticulously tailor project complexity, materials, and learning objectives to specific age groups.

• Conduct comprehensive training sessions for educators, equipping them with the skills and confidence to safely operate tools, machinery, and facilitate project-based learning activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on curriculum development, prototyping, and educator enablement, which are analogous to building and deploying operational processes and tools. The "experience creation" aspect is akin to designing user journeys or customer workflows.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Education, Engineering, Industrial Design, Fine Arts, or a related field is preferred, though equivalent practical experience and a strong portfolio will be highly considered.

Experience: 2-5 years of experience in maker education, curriculum development, product prototyping, or experience design, with a demonstrated ability to translate complex concepts into engaging learning experiences for children.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in designing and fabricating hands-on STEM projects, including robotics, electronics, and mechanical systems.

• Proficiency in woodworking techniques, 3D printing, and laser cutting for prototyping and project creation.

• Familiarity with microcontrollers and platforms such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and Micro:bits.

• Experience with coding tools like Scratch and Python for educational applications.

• Strong understanding of child development principles for ages 3-12, enabling tailored educational content.

• Excellent storytelling and experience design skills to create immersive learning environments.

• Effective communication and presentation skills, with a demonstrated ability to train and coach educators, preferably with experience in video content creation. Preferred Skills:

• Background in mechatronics or advanced robotics.

• Experience in developing interdisciplinary curricula that blend STEM with arts and humanities.

• Knowledge of user experience (UX) design principles applied to educational products or environments.

• Familiarity with project management methodologies for curriculum development and implementation.

• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-growth educational organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio and practical skills over formal education aligns with many operations roles where demonstrated ability to execute and deliver results is paramount. The "interdisciplinary learning" and "storytelling" aspects suggest a need for creative problem-solving and systems thinking, crucial in operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing at least 3-5 distinct maker projects relevant to children aged 3-12.

• Projects should demonstrate proficiency in electronics (circuits, motors, sensors), digital and physical fabrication (woodworking, 3D printing, laser cutting), and microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Micro:bits).

• Include examples of projects incorporating coding (Scratch, Python) and their educational application.

• Each project description must clearly articulate the underlying purpose, design choices, and the specific educational potential or learning outcomes intended.

• The portfolio should highlight your ability to create engaging, thematic experiences, not just functional prototypes. Process Documentation:

• Ability to document fabrication processes and project instructions clearly for teacher training and replication.

• Develop standardized procedures for safe tool usage and workshop management.

• Outline a framework for integrating new project designs into the NORY curriculum and teacher training modules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirement is a direct parallel to operations roles requiring a "process portfolio" or "project portfolio" demonstrating experience in designing, implementing, and optimizing workflows, systems, or solutions. The emphasis on clear documentation and standardized procedures is also a hallmark of effective operations professionals.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $20.00 – $35.00 per hour, commensurate with experience and portfolio strength.

Benefits: Not applicable, as this is a Part-Time/Seasonal contractor position.

Working Hours: This is a part-time role. Specific hours will be discussed during the interview process, with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and camp schedules. The role is on-site in New York City.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hourly rate is based on the provided raw data. The "no benefits" note is a direct reflection of the contractor employment type. The working hours are estimated based on the "Part-Time" designation and typical contractor engagements, with an assumption of flexibility tailored to project deliverables.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: STEM Education Technology / EdTech. NORY operates at the intersection of education, technology, and experiential learning, positioning itself as a leader in innovative youth development programs.

Company Size: NORY is a rapidly expanding leader in STEM education, serving over 4,000 campers annually across NYC and Boston. This indicates a dynamic, growth-oriented environment with a significant operational footprint.

Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the rapid growth suggests a relatively young and agile organization focused on scaling its impact.

Team Structure:

• The operations team is likely lean and highly collaborative, given the growth phase. This role will report to a curriculum lead or program manager.

• Close collaboration with other "Maker Educators," curriculum designers, and camp directors is expected.

• Teachers across multiple NORY campuses are key "stakeholders" or "internal customers" for this role's output. Methodology:

• NORY emphasizes a "magical, impactful, and memorable" learning experience, suggesting a focus on user-centric design and high-quality execution.

• The "Ways of Being" (Purpose-Driven, Solution-Oriented, Data-Informed, Accountable, Growth-Minded, Root-Cause Solvers, Unifiers) outlines a culture that values initiative, problem-solving, continuous improvement, and strong interpersonal skills, all critical in operations.

Company Website: https://www.nory.co/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description highlights a mission-driven organization with a strong focus on creating exceptional experiences. This implies an operational environment that values innovation, quality, and impact. The "Ways of Being" provide a clear framework for understanding the expected professional conduct and cultural fit, mirroring the importance of cultural alignment in operations teams.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an individual contributor with a focus on specialized technical and creative skills in fabrication and experience design. It’s an ideal entry to mid-level role for someone passionate about hands-on creation and education.

Reporting Structure: The Maker Education Fabricator will likely report to a Lead Fabricator, Curriculum Manager, or Program Director, overseeing the development and implementation of educational projects.

Operations Impact: The fabricator's work directly impacts the quality and engagement of NORY's STEM camps, influencing thousands of campers and hundreds of teachers. This role is crucial for scaling NORY's unique educational model and maintaining its reputation for high-impact learning experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced fabrication techniques, materials science, and educational technology.

• Curriculum Leadership: Progress to leading curriculum design initiatives, managing project pipelines, and developing new educational programs.

• Training & Development: Become a lead trainer for educators, developing and delivering workshops on maker education and project implementation.

• Cross-Functional Roles: Transition into program management, product development, or educational strategy roles within NORY as the company continues to expand.

📝 Enhancement Note: This growth analysis frames the role's potential within an operations context, emphasizing skill development, process ownership, and potential for leadership in program delivery and curriculum management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, likely involving work in a maker space, workshop, or studio environment equipped with fabrication tools and materials. It may also involve some remote work for content creation (e.g., video editing).

Office Location(s): New York City, NY. Specific campus or workshop locations will be confirmed during the application process.

Workspace Context:

• A hands-on, creative, and collaborative workspace is expected, fostering innovation and experimentation.

• Access to a range of fabrication tools (3D printers, laser cutters, woodworking equipment, electronics stations) will be essential.

• Opportunities for regular interaction with other creative team members and educators to share ideas and feedback.

• A dynamic environment that requires adaptability and problem-solving on the fly.

Work Schedule: Part-time, with hours likely to be scheduled around camp sessions and project development needs. Flexibility will be key, particularly during peak program times.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the workspace emphasizes practical, hands-on execution and collaboration, common in operational support roles for physical product development or technical implementation.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application Review: Screening of resumes and portfolios for relevant skills and experience.

• Portfolio Deep Dive: A focused discussion on submitted projects, design choices, and educational impact. Be prepared to walk through your portfolio, explaining the "why" and "how" behind your creations.

• Skills & Scenario Assessment: Practical exercises or scenario-based questions to assess problem-solving abilities, technical skills, and understanding of child development.

• Cultural Fit Interview: Discussion around NORY's "Ways of Being" and how your personal values align with the company culture.

• Teacher Training Simulation: Potential to demonstrate how you would train an educator on a specific project or tool.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Impact: Clearly articulate the learning outcomes and engagement potential of each project. Quantify where possible (e.g., "This project taught X concept to Y number of children").

• Highlight Process: Include details on your design process, prototyping iterations, and problem-solving journey for each piece.

• Demonstrate Versatility: Ensure your portfolio reflects a range of skills across electronics, fabrication, and coding.

• Explain Design Choices: Justify your material selections, complexity levels, and thematic integrations based on target age groups and learning objectives.

• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with NORY's mission and "Ways of Being."

• Prepare examples of how you've solved complex problems in past projects, especially those involving technical constraints or educational challenges.

• Practice explaining technical concepts in simple, clear terms suitable for educators with varying technical backgrounds.

• Be ready to discuss your approach to safety in a workshop environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical demonstration of skills, problem-solving, and cultural alignment, mirroring the evaluation criteria for many operations roles where hands-on capability and strategic thinking are key. The portfolio review is a direct parallel to operations roles requiring case studies or project demonstrations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Fabrication Equipment: 3D printers (e.g., Prusa, Ultimaker), laser cutters (e.g., Epilog, Trotec), CNC machines, woodworking tools (saws, drills, sanders), electronics workstations (soldering irons, multimeters, oscilloscopes).

• Prototyping Software: CAD software (e.g., Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Tinkercad), slicing software for 3D printing, laser cutter design software.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct analytics role, the ability to track project development progress, material usage, and potentially teacher feedback data will be valuable.

• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello) for organizing development tasks. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable in terms of CRM, but the role involves creating "content" (projects, training) that will be "distributed" and "used" by teachers, requiring an understanding of effective delivery mechanisms.

• Potential use of video editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, iMovie) for teacher training content.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section highlights the specific technical tools and software relevant to a fabrication and maker education role. In operations, this would be analogous to listing specific CRM, ERP, or analytics platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Purpose-Driven: A strong commitment to NORY's mission of empowering children through STEM education.

• Solution-Oriented: A proactive approach to problem-solving, focusing on how to achieve project goals rather than dwelling on obstacles.

• Data-Informed: Utilizing feedback from campers, teachers, and project performance to refine designs and improve educational outcomes.

• Accountable: Taking full ownership of project development, fabrication quality, and teacher training effectiveness.

• Growth-Minded: Openness to learning new fabrication techniques, pedagogical approaches, and adapting designs based on feedback.

• Root-Cause Solvers: Investigating why a project might not be working as intended or why a teacher struggles with implementation, and addressing the underlying issues.

• Unifiers: Fostering a collaborative spirit within the maker team and supporting educators to ensure a cohesive learning experience across all NORY programs.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working closely with fellow fabricators, curriculum designers, and educators.

• Emphasis on clear communication, constructive feedback, and shared problem-solving.

• A culture that encourages experimentation and learning from both successes and failures.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Ways of Being" are directly translated into operational values, emphasizing a proactive, data-informed, and collaborative approach. This is crucial for understanding the expected professional behavior and contribution within NORY's operational framework.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scalability: Designing projects that are robust, cost-effective, and easily replicable across multiple camp locations and diverse teacher skill levels.

• Age Appropriateness: Balancing complex technical concepts with the developmental capabilities and attention spans of very young children (ages 3-12).

• Teacher Enablement: Ensuring that educators, who may have varying technical backgrounds, can confidently and effectively implement intricate projects.

• Rapid Development Cycles: Keeping pace with NORY's growth and evolving curriculum needs, requiring agility in design and fabrication.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Fabrication Techniques: Opportunities to master new tools, materials, and digital fabrication processes.

• Pedagogical Training: Deepen understanding of experiential learning, design thinking for education, and child psychology.

• Curriculum Design Leadership: Potential to influence the strategic direction of NORY's STEM programs.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Working with diverse teams to integrate storytelling, art, and other disciplines into STEM projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying potential challenges and growth areas provides a realistic outlook for candidates and highlights areas where they can develop their skills and contribute to the organization's strategic objectives.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex maker project you designed for a specific age group. What were the key design choices, and what challenges did you overcome?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and age-appropriateness)

• "How would you train a teacher with no prior experience in robotics to confidently lead a session using your designed kit?" (Focus on communication, empathy, and training methodology)

• "Imagine a project you designed is not working as expected in a camp setting. What steps would you take to diagnose and resolve the issue?" (Focus on root-cause analysis and iterative improvement) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do NORY's 'Ways of Being' resonate with your personal work philosophy? Provide an example of how you've demonstrated one of these values." (Focus on cultural alignment and self-awareness)

• "What excites you most about NORY's mission to create 'magical, impactful, and memorable' learning experiences?" (Focus on passion and mission alignment)

• "How do you approach integrating feedback from users (campers or teachers) into your design process?" (Focus on data-informed approach and continuous improvement) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation around the "story" of each project: the problem, your solution, the process, and the impact.

• Visuals are Key: Use high-quality photos and videos to showcase your work. Short, impactful demonstration videos are highly effective.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, provide metrics on how many children used the project, what skills they learned, or how it improved engagement.

• Focus on Educational Value: Clearly articulate the learning objectives and how your design supports them.

• Be Ready for "What Ifs": Anticipate questions about modifications, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and alternative approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview questions and preparation tips are tailored to assess the specific skills, mindset, and cultural fit required for a Maker Education Fabricator role, drawing parallels to how operations candidates would be evaluated on their process thinking and problem-solving abilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Maker Education Fabricator position:

• Submit your resume and a compelling portfolio directly to peter@nory.co.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects that align with NORY's focus on robotics, engineering, woodworking, and experience design for children aged 3-12. Highlight your ability to create engaging, thematic worlds.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize hands-on fabrication skills, curriculum development experience, child development knowledge, and any experience in training or coaching educators. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving methodologies, and how your work contributes to impactful learning experiences. Be ready to discuss NORY's "Ways of Being."

• Company Research: Thoroughly review NORY's website, social media, and mission statement to understand their approach to STEM education and their unique culture.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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