After-School STEAM Engineering Instructor

After-School STEAM Engineering Instructor

Location: Redwood City, CA
Program: After-School STEAM Engineering Enrichment
Age Group: Kindergarten–2nd Grade
Job Type: Part-Time
Schedule: Weekday afternoons | Fall 2026
Compensation: $45–$65 per session, depending on experience
Work Location: In person

About the Role

We are seeking a creative, energetic, and dependable After-School STEAM Engineering Instructor to lead hands-on engineering and STEM/STEAM enrichment classes for K–2 students in Redwood City, CA.

Students will explore how things work through age-appropriate engineering challenges, building projects, design experiments, structures, simple machines, and creative problem-solving activities.

Rather than simply following instructions, students will be encouraged to imagine, design, build, test, troubleshoot, and improve their creations while developing confidence, curiosity, teamwork, and early engineering-thinking skills.

This position is ideal for educators, college students, recent graduates, engineers, STEM/STEAM instructors, science educators, makers, architecture or design students, and professionals who enjoy helping young children learn through hands-on discovery.

Curriculum and lesson materials are provided.

What You’ll Teach

Activities may include:

• Engineering design challenges
• Building and construction projects
• Towers, bridges, and structures
• Simple machines
• Motion and forces
• Balance and stability
• Cause-and-effect experiments
• Design-and-build challenges
• Prototyping and testing
• Creative invention projects
• Materials exploration
• Early physics concepts
• STEM problem-solving activities
• Collaborative engineering projects
• Design thinking and iteration

Projects are designed specifically for Kindergarten–2nd Grade students, with an emphasis on hands-on exploration rather than advanced technical concepts.

Students will learn that engineering is about asking questions, trying ideas, learning from mistakes, and improving designs.

What You’ll Do

• Lead engaging STEAM engineering classes for K–2 students
• Teach hands-on lessons using provided curriculum and activity plans
• Facilitate engineering, building, design, and STEM challenges
• Demonstrate projects and break activities into simple, age-appropriate steps
• Introduce basic engineering concepts through hands-on exploration
• Help students safely use classroom materials and building supplies
• Guide students as they design, build, test, troubleshoot, and improve their creations
• Encourage creativity, experimentation, collaboration, and critical thinking
• Help students understand why a design succeeds or fails
• Support students when projects do not work as expected and encourage them to try new solutions
• Adapt activities for different ages, learning styles, and skill levels
• Maintain a positive, inclusive, organized, and safe classroom environment
• Manage classroom routines, transitions, materials, and student behavior
• Prepare lesson materials and project supplies before each session
• Assist with project and classroom cleanup
• Communicate professionally with school staff and program coordinators
• Follow school-site procedures and program expectations
• Provide brief class updates when requested

Who We’re Looking For

We encourage applicants who:

• Enjoy working with Kindergarten–2nd Grade students
• Have an interest or background in engineering, STEM, STEAM, science, technology, building, design, or maker education
• Enjoy hands-on projects and creative problem-solving
• Can explain technical or scientific ideas in simple, child-friendly ways
• Are creative, patient, enthusiastic, organized, and dependable
• Are comfortable leading and supervising groups of young children
• Have strong communication and classroom-management skills
• Can follow provided lesson plans while adapting activities to student needs
• Enjoy encouraging children to experiment and learn through trial and error
• Can reliably commit to the Fall 2026 after-school program schedule
• Applicant must be residing in Redwood City or within 20 miles of Redwood City.

Experience working with elementary-age children through teaching, tutoring, camps, after-school programs, STEM programs, museums, robotics programs, maker programs, coaching, mentoring, childcare, or youth enrichment is strongly preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience, education, or interest in one or more of the following is especially helpful:

• Engineering
• STEM / STEAM Education
• Mechanical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Robotics
• Physics
• Science Education
• Maker Education
• Architecture
• Industrial Design
• Product Design
• Technology Education
• Elementary Education
• Early Childhood Education
• Child Development
• Project-Based Learning
• Inquiry-Based Learning
• Design Thinking
• Youth Development

Great Fit For Candidates With Backgrounds In

• Engineering
• STEM / STEAM
• Science
• Physics
• Robotics
• Architecture
• Industrial Design
• Product Design
• Education
• Elementary Education
• Early Childhood Education
• Child Development
• Maker Education
• Technology
• Recreation
• Youth Development

College students and recent graduates are encouraged to apply.

Applicants from other fields are also welcome if they have relevant experience working with children and an enthusiasm for engineering, building, science, design, invention, or hands-on learning.

Skills You’ll Use & Develop

This role offers practical experience in:

• STEM / STEAM Education
• Engineering Education
• Classroom Management
• Project-Based Learning
• Design Thinking
• Lesson Facilitation
• Science Communication
• Creative Problem-Solving
• Youth Development
• Leadership
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Hands-On Learning
• Elementary Education

Why Join Us?

Curriculum Provided
Lesson plans and program materials are provided so you can focus on creating an engaging learning experience for students.

Teach Engineering Through Play
Help young students discover engineering by building, experimenting, testing, and creating.

Work With K–2 Students
Introduce engineering concepts at an age when children are naturally curious and excited to understand how things work.

Gain Teaching Experience
Build practical experience in classroom management, STEM education, project-based learning, and youth development.

Use Your Technical & Creative Skills
Turn your interest in engineering, science, building, or design into meaningful educational experiences.

Build Your Resume
Gain relevant experience for careers in engineering education, STEM outreach, teaching, museums, science communication, youth programming, and technology.

Make an Impact
Help young students develop curiosity, confidence, persistence, teamwork, creativity, and early problem-solving skills.

Position Details

Position: After-School STEAM Engineering Instructor
Location: Redwood City, CA
Age Group: Kindergarten–2nd Grade
Job Type: Part-Time
Schedule: Weekday afternoons during Fall 2026
Compensation: $45–$65 per session, depending on experience
Work Setting: In person

How to Apply

If you enjoy engineering, STEM, STEAM, science, building, design, invention, teaching, or working with children, we encourage you to apply.

Please submit your resume and highlight any relevant experience in engineering, education, STEM/STEAM, science, robotics, maker projects, tutoring, camps, after-school programs, or youth enrichment.