Technical Specialist

**Classification & Regular Hours**: Hours per Week: 40 Salary Grade: Level P **About Western**: Since 1878, Western University has been committed to serving our communities through the pursuit of academic excellence and by providing students, faculty, and community members with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth. We seek excellent students, faculty, and staff to join us in what has become known as the "Western Experience" - an opportunity to contribute to a better world through the development of new knowledge, new abilities, new connections, and new ways to make a difference. **About Us**: The Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) is one of four departments in the Faculty of Engineering. Faculty and staff in the department support and foster the educational and research pursuits of undergraduate and graduate engineering students, while providing the best student experience. **Responsibilities**: The Technical Specialist ensures a state of research and teaching readiness by independently providing hands-on technical support and assistance in the operation of specialized hardware and software for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) program in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. The role provides direction to students, teaching assistants, staff, faculty and other stakeholders, and responds to inquiries of a highly technical nature related to specific research projects, undergraduate laboratories and courses. The Technical Specialist procures, installs, troubleshoots, and repairs hardware, software, and equipment, and will collaborate with other technical and IT staff to design, enhance and modify parts, apparatus, hardware and/or equipment as necessary to facilitate the achievement of the research and teaching objectives. The role will also assist with training and overseeing students to ensure the safe and effective use of equipment and will ensure that compliance with safety standards is maintained. **Qualifications**: - Education: - 3 year Community College Diploma in an Information Technology field (such as IT Infrastructure, Computing) **Experience**: - 4 years of technical experience with IT infrastructure to support computing including experience with programming languages, big data technologies, and data visualization tools - Experience working in a client-facing role, providing technical support to stakeholders/users - Experience supporting faculty, staff and students in an academic environment preferred - Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: - Knowledge of machine learning and cloud computing - Understanding of data structures and algorithms, sensor networks and IoT - Expertise in data processing and ETL - Ability and willingness to stay abreast of technological developments with a continuous learning mindset - Knowledge and understanding of computers (hardware and software) and of industrial sensors and data acquisition - Familiarity with virtual machines and resources, AI deployments and platforms, and network management and virtualization would be a strong asset - Familiarity with preventative maintenance techniques and practices with troubleshooting ability along with hands-on expertise in technical support - Familiarity with blueprints and technical drawings - Ability to collaborate across internal and external boundaries to meet common objectives, improve outcomes and support work beyond one's own unit - Verbal and written communication skills to describe technical concepts effectively to both novice and sophisticated users - Ability to provide solutions and ideas for improvement by using imaginative approaches where constructive thinking and innovation are required - Customer service skills to understand customer needs and expectations, with a desire to deliver helpful and reliable service to the University community - Detail-oriented with an ability to function and process information with high levels of accuracy - Ability to take responsibility for own work and ensure that deadlines are met and outcomes are achieved - Ability to be forward thinking, anticipate possible errors, and take preventative measures - Personable and courteous in working relationships with colleagues, students and the public - Ability to identify opportunities for improvement, while being open to trying new ideas and working methods **Union Statement**: **Western Values Diversity**: **Please Note**: We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.