In 1956, Layton took a one-year replacement position teaching American history at the University of Wisconsin while finishing up his Ph.D.
[1] There, he met two other historians interested in technology, Abbot Payson Usher (who was visiting the university following his retirement from Harvard) and Eugene Ferguson.
[2] In 1975, Layton took a position as a professor of the history of science and technology at the University of Minnesota, where he remained until his retirement in 1998.
[1] In 1990, Layton was awarded the Leonardo da Vinci Medal, the highest recognition from SHOT.
[1] In 2020, SHOT announced the Martha Trescott Prize, which is offered in honor of Layton, Frances McConnell Moore, and Carroll Pursell.