After-School STEAM Instructor

After-School STEAM Instructor

Location: Redwood City, CA
Program: After-School STEAM Inventor’s Lab – Engineering, Makerspace & Circuits
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 Instructor to lead hands-on STEM and STEAM enrichment classes for elementary school students in Redwood City, CA.

Our STEAM Inventor’s Lab introduces students to engineering, invention, makerspace projects, basic electronics, circuits, design thinking, and creative problem-solving through engaging, project-based activities.

Students will explore how things work by designing, building, testing, troubleshooting, and improving their own creations. Projects may include simple circuits, engineering challenges, DIY inventions, building activities, maker projects, and collaborative design challenges.

This position is a great fit for educators, college students, recent graduates, engineers, makers, STEM/STEAM educators, robotics instructors, science educators, and creative professionals who enjoy working with children and making technical concepts fun and accessible.

Curriculum and lesson materials are provided.

What You’ll Teach

Students will explore concepts through hands-on activities such as:

• Basic electrical circuits
• Batteries, LEDs, switches, and simple electrical components
• Engineering and building challenges
• DIY inventions and maker projects
• Design-and-build activities
• Prototyping and testing
• Creative problem-solving
• Structures and simple machines
• Cause-and-effect experiments
• Collaborative engineering challenges
• The engineering design process
• Introductory electronics
• STEM and STEAM experiments
• Design thinking and iteration

The goal is not simply to complete a project. Students are encouraged to ask questions, experiment, troubleshoot, redesign, and understand why their creations work.

What You’ll Do

• Lead engaging after-school STEAM and STEM classes for elementary students
• Teach hands-on lessons using provided curriculum and activity plans
• Facilitate engineering, makerspace, invention, electronics, and introductory circuitry projects
• Demonstrate how to safely use materials and basic project components
• Guide students as they design, build, test, troubleshoot, and improve their creations
• Explain science and engineering concepts in clear, age-appropriate ways
• Help students understand basic circuits and how components work together
• Encourage creativity, experimentation, innovation, collaboration, and critical thinking
• Support students when projects do not work as expected and turn mistakes into problem-solving opportunities
• Adapt explanations and activities for different learning styles and experience levels
• Maintain a positive, inclusive, organized, and safe classroom environment
• Manage classroom routines, transitions, materials, and student behavior
• Prepare lesson materials and activity supplies before each session
• Assist with project and classroom cleanup after class
• Communicate professionally with school staff and program coordinators
• Follow all school-site procedures and program expectations
• Provide brief class updates when requested
• Applicant must be residing in Redwood City or within 20 miles of Redwood City.

Who We’re Looking For

We encourage applicants who:

• Enjoy working with elementary school students
• Have an interest or background in STEM, STEAM, engineering, science, technology, electronics, robotics, makerspaces, or hands-on learning
• Are comfortable leading hands-on building and design activities
• Can explain technical ideas in simple, age-appropriate ways
• Are creative, patient, organized, enthusiastic, and dependable
• Have strong communication and classroom-management skills
• Are comfortable leading and supervising groups of children
• Can follow a provided curriculum while adapting instruction to student needs
• Enjoy helping students experiment, troubleshoot, and solve problems
• Can reliably commit to the Fall 2026 after-school program schedule

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

Preferred Qualifications

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

• STEM / STEAM Education
• Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Robotics
• Electronics
• Basic Circuitry
• Maker Education
• Makerspaces
• Science Education
• Technology Education
• Computer Science
• Physics
• Industrial Design
• Product Design
• Architecture
• Project-Based Learning
• Inquiry-Based Learning
• Design Thinking
• Youth Development
• Elementary Education

Great Fit For Candidates With Backgrounds In

• Engineering
• STEM / STEAM
• Robotics
• Electronics
• Computer Science
• Physics
• Science
• Education
• Elementary Education
• Maker Education
• Industrial Design
• Product Design
• Architecture
• Technology
• Youth Development
• Recreation

College students and recent graduates in these fields are encouraged to apply.

Candidates from other backgrounds are also welcome if they have relevant experience working with children and an enthusiasm for building, inventing, engineering, science, technology, or hands-on learning.

Skills You’ll Use & Develop

This role provides practical experience in:

• STEM / STEAM Education
• Engineering Education
• Maker Education
• Classroom Management
• Project-Based Learning
• Design Thinking
• Science Communication
• Lesson Facilitation
• Problem-Solving
• Leadership
• Youth Development
• Public Speaking
• Collaboration
• Creative Thinking
• Technical Communication

Why Join Us?

Curriculum Provided
Lesson plans and program materials are provided so you can focus on engaging students and delivering a great learning experience.

Teach Through Building & Making
Help students understand science and engineering by actually designing, constructing, testing, and improving projects.

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

Use Your Technical & Creative Skills
Turn your interest in engineering, electronics, science, making, or design into meaningful learning experiences for young students.

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

Make an Impact
Help elementary students develop curiosity, confidence, creativity, persistence, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving skills.

Position Details

Position: After-School STEAM Instructor
Program: STEAM Inventor’s Lab – Engineering, Makerspace & Circuits
Location: Redwood City, CA
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 STEM, STEAM, engineering, electronics, circuits, robotics, invention, makerspaces, science, teaching, or working with children, we encourage you to apply.

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