Senior Electronics Technician - Division of Biology
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Job Info

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Description

Senior Electronics Technician - Division of Biology

Biology Service Facility

The Division of Biology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville invites applications for the Technical Specialist 2 position within the Biology Service Facility (BSF).  This is a non-exempt, 12-month, full-time, non-tenure track, market range 08 staff position with a working/position title of Senior Electronics Technician.

The University and Region:

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is the state’s flagship research institution, a campus of choice for outstanding undergraduates, and a premier graduate institution.  Enrolling 30,000 students, the campus is located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and beautiful East Tennessee.  As a land-grant university, it is committed to excellence in learning, scholarship, and engagement.  In all its activities, the university aims to advance the frontiers of human knowledge and enrich and elevate society.  The university values intellectual curiosity, pursuit of knowledge, and academic freedom and integrity. 

The city of Knoxville is a hidden gem surrounded by eight gorgeous lakes, with a beautiful and accessible downtown, a diverse music scene including internationally recognized festivals, active neighborhoods, unique restaurants, and a strong offering of diverse cultural and outdoor activities. UTK is located within easy driving distance to the Great Smoky Mountains, Atlanta, Nashville, Asheville, Charlotte, Louisville and Cincinnati. It is only a day’s drive to Memphis, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a population of more than 850,000 people.

The Division of Biology:

The Division of Biology houses three different departments: Microbiology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Biochemistry, Molecular, and Cellular Biology.   The Division is home to over 1,000 faculty, staff, and students.  These researchers are actively engaged in scientific exploration, including field studies throughout the world.  BSF functions to actively support these endeavors. 

The Department:

As a support facility that falls within the Division of Biology, BSF is committed to excellence in the service and support of laboratory equipment utilized by our scientific community. Our primary goal is to support teaching and research by lowering equipment down time, minimizing repair costs, and providing service equal or superior to that of outside vendors. We seek colleagues that are committed to teamwork and have a profound passion for working with and serving all students and faculty. 

The Position:

To provide technical support, maintenance, repair, design and fabrication for complex research, medical, and teaching instrumentation to the Division of Biology, College of Veterinary Hospital, and Institute of Agriculture. This equipment includes but is not limited to: microscopy, chromatography, spectroscopy, centrifugation, water purification, patient monitoring, balances/scales, laminar flow hoods, biological safety cabinets, CO₂ incubators, ovens, furnaces, shakers, electronic pipettes, micro-tome/cryostat, gel documentation, syringe pumps, peristaltic pumps, autoclaves, environmental controlled chambers, electronic controller, x-ray generators, bi-reactors, pH meters, vortex mixers, water baths, etc. Additionally, this position will handle highly complex component repairs, will remain properly trained on industry standards, and provide training to others in the unit.

Qualifications

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Electronic equipment repair and technical support:

·         Provides technical support and repair for complex research, medical, and teaching instrumentation by diagnosing issues with malfunctioning components and determining how to repair.

·         Troubleshoot and repair resistive capacitance circuit boards down to component level, determining what component needs to be repaired and determining the appropriate method for repair depending on the type of component: Hot-air soldering for micro-components (a more detailed and complex repair) or through-hole board component soldering and repair.

·         Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) programming for multiple types of controllers/chips, determining and implementing the appropriate coding for the electromechanical component.

·         Installs, maintains and programs telemetry equipment and/or remote monitoring systems, such as those required in scientific freezers across campus.

·         Compile quotes and perform repair cost analysis on damaged equipment, presenting estimates and repair options to customers across campus.

·         Oversee phases of small to moderate projects coordinated through the Biology Service Facility.

·         Collaborate with OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) technicians to troubleshoot complex technical issues.

·         Coordinate and supervise third party warranty repairs or service.

·         Evaluate equipment needs and make cost effective decisions regarding organizational labor rate, material costs and availability, and equipment downtime.

·         Develop departmental processes related to determination of how component repair should be handled and when the repair should be referred to this position, based on the complexity of the repair.

Design, fabrication and installation:

·         Designs and builds unique electronic prototypes utilized in various teaching and research fields, providing recommendations and guidance to PIs on the best approaches to achieve research needs and goals, fabricating needed components and ensuring proper functioning.

·         Develops standard operating procedures for newly developed and designed prototypes, ensuring proper use and safety.

·         Create Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) for system controls.

·         Retrofit components and redesign existing instrumentation in need of re-purposing, determining the scope of the needs and how to implement the needed changes so that research continues uninterrupted.

·         Fabricate wiring harnesses and other electrical components for obsolete equipment.

·         Micro-welding for lithium-ion battery fabrication and repair.

Maintenance and calibration:

·         Review and maintain calibration records created by lower-level technicians.

·         Maintain traceability documentation for calibration standards for units across campus, to ensure standards are being met for compliance to organizations such as IACUC.

·         Maintain and calibrate complex microscopy equipment to include compound, stereo, fluorescence, inverted and polarizing microscopes.

·         Maintain and calibrate analytical balances to class 1 standards.

·         Maintain and calibrate remote monitoring sensors.

Coaching and training:

·         Attend conferences and training opportunities for the unit in order to maintain current knowledge of best practices in the field and provide training to others in the unit.

·         Train lower-level electronic technicians on proper repair techniques and electronic theory.

·         Train lower-level technicians on proper calibration procedures and record keeping.

·         Train lower-level technicians on accurate time accountability and labor estimating.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

·         Associate’s Degree in a related field

Experience:

·        Associate's Degree in a related field and Three years of work experience in electronic and instrumentation repair OR

         Bachelor's degree plus two years of work experience in electronic and instrumentation repair OR

         High School diploma or vocational training with seven years of work experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

·         Requires excellent understanding of Electrical and Electronics theory to the component level.

·         Ability to quickly digest research needs and provide excellent problem-solving skills on unfamiliar equipment.

·         Excellent electromechanical aptitude.

·         Ability to read electronic and mechanical drawings.

·         Ability to design and/or modify electronic equipment.

·         Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

·         Excellent time management and record keeping in a CMMS system.

·         Ability to evaluate and make cost effective decisions regarding organizational labor rate, material costs and availability, and equipment downtime.

·         Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

·         Bachelor’s Degree

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

·         Working knowledge of Lab View software.

·         Understanding of SQL and ability to build analytical reports.

SALARY:

Commensurate with experience and other qualifications.

APPLICATION PROCESS: A review of all applications will begin upon posting and will continue until the position is filled.  For consideration, all applicants MUST submit a resume and the names, addresses and phone numbers of three references into the UT Human Resources online portal. Visit http://hr.utk.edu/recruitment/.

Review of Applications will continue until position is filled.

Job: Other Tech/Para-Professional
Primary Location: US-Tennessee-knoxville
Organization: Division Of Biology
Schedule: Full-time
Job Posting: Mar 25, 2024, 2:23:46 PM

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