IT Laboratory Technician

Ontario University Athletics; Oshawa; On-site; CAD 81,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Ontario Tech University in Oshawa is seeking an IT Laboratory Technician to provide technical and operational support to students, staff, and faculty within the Faculty of Business and IT. The incumbent is one of two primary contacts for teaching and research laboratories and the technical needs in the Faculty.

Reporting to the Director of Planning and Operations, this role contributes to forward-looking planning, capital forecasting, and vendor engagement to ensure IT infrastructure and lab

Qualifications

• Completion of a four-year university program in Computer Science, Information Technology, Networking, or a closely related field
• An equivalent combination of education and related experience may be considered
• Minimum of three to five years of progressively responsible experience in IT infrastructure
• Experience with virtualization platforms and lab support in an academic environment
• Strong written and verbal communication and documentation skills

Responsibilities

• Facilities and Faculty IT support for teaching and research laboratories and related spaces/resources
• Maintain inventory, lifecycle planning, and capital forecasting for equipment
• Coordinate with IT Services, OCIS, Facilities, and other departments on technology needs
• Install, configure, and maintain lab computers and software for teaching labs and data centres
• Develop and maintain deployment scripts and lab environment configurations

Skills

Communication

Explain complex concepts

Organizational skills

Independent work

Attention to detail

Data analysis

Project management

Team collaboration

Education

Four-year degree in CS/IT/Networking

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

VMware

OpenStack

Proxmox

Hyper-V

Cisco networking

Windows server/ desktops

Linux

PowerShell

Python

Job description

IT Laboratory Technician

Tracking Code: req2238

Faculty/Department: Faculty of Business and Information Technology

Number of Positions: 1

Appointment Type: Full-Time Continuing

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week

Salary Range: Level 9- Starting Salary, Step 1$90,525

Posting Date: August 25, 2026

Closing Date: September 1, 2026(11:59 pm EST)

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Director of Planning and Operations (DPO), this position provides technical and operational support to students, staff, and faculty within the Faculty of Business and IT. The incumbent is one (1) of two (2) primary points of contact for all teaching and research laboratories and technical needs in the Faculty.

Working proactively with the DPO, the role contributes to forward-looking planning, capital forecasting, and vendor engagement, ensuring Faculty IT infrastructure and lab environments are aligned with current and future academic and research requirements. Information, analysis, and recommendations flow to the DPO to inform Faculty decision-making.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Faculty Support & Liaison:

• Support the logistics and resource management behind Faculty space, furniture, equipment and other related resources/tools as it relates to the laboratories and related spaces/resources for teaching and research purposes
• Maintain a comprehensive inventory system covering all Faculty-managed equipment, including acquisition dates, life expectancy, replacement values, warranty records, and assignment status
• Work proactively with the DPO to develop and maintain a multi-year equipment lifecycle and capital forecast, incorporating replacement values, warranty status, and curriculum requirements
• Gather requirements from program directors, faculty, and staff to determine teaching and research technology needs; research solutions and obtain vendor quotes to support Faculty budget planning
• Represent Faculty IT interests in dealings with IT Services, OCIS, Facilities, and other university departments; facilitate logistics for Faculty space, furniture, and equipment initiatives
• Compile and present analysis, status reports, and inventory data to the DPO to support informed operational and strategic decision-making
• Assist the DPO and Program Directors with the implementation and monitoring of University and Faculty policies and procedures
• Liaise with Recruitment and Advancement to support tours, donor visits, and events that showcase Faculty laboratories and technology
• Work with student societies to support Faculty engagement initiatives, provide meeting space, and connect students with vendor and industry partners

2. IT Infrastructure & Network Support:

• Install, configure, and maintain servers, networking equipment, and data centre systems, including switches, firewalls, UPS, and virtualization platforms (including but not limited to VMware, OpenStack, Proxmox, Hyper-V)
• Manage IP address allocation, VLAN configuration, network security protocols, system patching, and firmware upgrades across Faculty-managed infrastructure
• Monitor system health, review logs, and proactively address capacity, performance, and redundancy concerns; elevate enterprise-scope issues to university IT Services through defined pathways
• Source and procure hardware, software, and services not provided by central IT; coordinate warranties, vendor repairs, and technology refresh cycles
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with vendors and manufacturers to stay current on relevant technologies and secure advantageous pricing and support
• Provide technical analysis and recommendations to the DPO to support infrastructure planning, capital forecasting, and budget preparation

3. Teaching & Research Lab Support:

• Install, configure, and maintain lab computers, specialized equipment, and software for undergraduate teaching labs, research labs, and data centre environments
• Develop and maintain software images, deployment scripts, and station configurations to ensure consistent and current lab environments for each academic term
• Maintain specialized lab systems, including game development workstations (Unity3D, Maya), financial data platforms (Bloomberg, Capital IQ, Qualtrics, Rotman, SAS Viya), and research computing resources
• Perform routine maintenance tasks including password resets and assignments, software updates, hardware testing, IP address management, and resolution of day-to-day technical issues
• Liaise with IT Services and OCIS to coordinate computer replacements, software image development, lab upgrades, and shared service requests
• Work with Facilities Management to address power, climate control, and physical lab upgrade needs

4. Documentation & Knowledge Management:

• Develop and maintain tutorial videos, how-to guides, and programming/platform demonstrations to support faculty, teaching assistants, and students' use of lab equipment and software
• Create and maintain a repository of Faculty policies, procedures, standard operating procedures, and technical workflow documentation
• Maintain communications platforms (e.g., Discord server for Game Development Lab) and shared information repositories; keep content current and remove outdated material

5. Lab Operations & Student Coordination:

• Hire, schedule, and supervise student lab monitors and University Works positions; assign tasks, approve timesheets, and ensure adequate lab coverage
• Manage lab scheduling and room allocation for Faculty-managed spaces; resolve scheduling conflicts and coordinate with the Registrar’s Office where required
• Coordinate lab access permissions and ensure spaces are appropriately configured and resourced for scheduled teaching, research, and student activities

Required Education:

• Completion of a four-year university program in Computer Science, Information Technology, Networking, or a closely related field
• An equivalent combination of education and related experience may be considered

Experience:

• Minimum of three to five years of progressively responsible experience in IT infrastructure, systems administration, or a closely related technical role
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with peers and senior administrators to identify and address technology needs
• Demonstrated experience in an academic or research environment is strongly preferred
• Proven proficiency with Cisco networking hardware and operating systems; Cisco certification (CCNA or CCNP Data Center) is preferred
• Experience with Microsoft server and desktop products; Microsoft certification is an asset
• Experience with virtualization platforms (VMware, OpenStack, Proxmox, or Hyper-V)
• Experience with IT security practices, cloud environments, and data centre operations
• Exposure to game development platforms (Unity3D, Maya) and/or financial data systems (Bloomberg, Capital IQ, SAS Viya) is an asset

Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of data centre environments: infrastructure, rack design, traffic management, compute, storage, redundancy, and physical security
• Working knowledge of virtualization, automation, and orchestration concepts
• Understanding of networking fundamentals, including switching, routing, VLANs, firewalls, and network security
• Proficiency with Windows client/server operating systems; familiarity with Linux is an asset
• Working knowledge of scripting or automation tools (e.g., PowerShell, Python, Bash) to support configuration management and workflow automation
• Familiarity with the academic environment in a Business and/or IT faculty and the intersection of IT infrastructure with teaching and research activities

Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to exercise a high degree of professionalism, good judgment, and discretion
• Must able to explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple competing priorities, deadlines, and interruptions in a service-oriented environment
• Ability to work independently and proactively, anticipating Faculty needs and escalating issues or opportunities appropriately to the DPO. Must be able to take initiative and anticipate the needs of a diverse client group
• Strong attention to detail; high levels of accuracy in documentation, inventory management, and technical configuration
• Experience with data collection, analysis, and report preparation to support operational and capital planning
• Demonstrated ability to initiate and manage projects from requirements gathering through to completion
• Ability to work well in a team environment; collegial, professional, and service-oriented disposition

Physical Effort:

• Combination of desk work and hands-on activity; includes lifting, moving, and installing computers, servers, networking equipment, and other lab hardware
• Periodic work in server room and data centre environments

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• Willing and able to work flexible hours to meet deadlines and to attend evening or weekend events and activities

Ontario Tech University respects people's different needs and therefore will take all reasonable steps to ensure accommodation for applicants where appropriate. The University is also committed to ensuring that confidentiality is maintained throughout all aspects of the recruitment cycle.

If you require accommodation, please contact Julie Day, Health and Disability Management Specialist. For more information about the universities policies for accommodating employees with disabilities please review the university’s Accessibility Policy

The university acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation which is covered under the Williams Treaties. We are situated on the Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation which includes Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi.

Job Location:

Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Expected Start Date:

9/8/2026