Meteorological Electronic Technician

NCSL International; San Jose, Northern (CA, KY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Meteorology and Climate Science is seeking a Meteorological Electronic Technician to support teaching and research programs. The role involves repair, maintenance, calibration, installation, and modification of meteorological equipment across laboratories, rooftops, field locations, and vehicle-mounted applications, including mobile Doppler lidar and Ka/X-band radars.

Key responsibilities include calibrating and repairing instruments, deploying equipment in the field, and

Qualifications

• Three years of journey-level or skilled experience with maintenance, repair, and operation of scientific equipment.

Responsibilities

• Maintain, repair, install, troubleshoot, and calibrate sophisticated scientific instrumentation.
• Diagnose and repair Doppler radar, lidar, weather stations, cameras, and air-quality instruments.
• Install instrumentation on fixed and mobile platforms and participate in field deployments.
• Maintain data communications between instruments, data loggers, and campus websites.
• Design, develop, modify, and fabricate specialized equipment for faculty and student research.
• Maintain equipment inventories and work with vendors for quotes and information.

Education

BS in a field related to electronic instrumentation (e.g., Physics, Engineering, Meteorology)

Job description

Department of Meteorology and Climate Science is seeking a Meteorological Electronic Technician to support the department’s teaching and research programs. This position works independently to perform skilled repair, maintenance, calibration, installation, and modification of meteorological equipment, with a primary focus on meteorological surface instrumentation used in laboratories, research, rooftop observatories, field locations, and vehicle-mounted applications; and mobile Doppler lidar and Ka and X-band radars.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain, repair, install, troubleshoot, and calibrate sophisticated scientific instrumentation
• Diagnose and repair equipment such as Doppler radar, lidar, weather stations, cameras, and air-quality instruments
• Install instrumentation on fixed and mobile platforms and participate in occasional scientific field deployments
• Maintain data communications between instruments, data loggers, and campus websites.
• Design, develop, modify, and fabricate specialized equipment for faculty and student research and instruction
• Maintain equipment and component inventories and work with vendors to obtain quotes and technical information

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner
• General awareness of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), and a willingness to develop skills in their appropriate, responsible, and ethical use in a higher education environment, consistent with institutional policies and practices
• Thorough knowledge of methods and procedures of electronic equipment
• Thorough knowledge of workings of standard electronic equipment used in various scientific enterprises
• Thorough knowledge of electronic diagnostic equipment with high and low voltage shock hazards
• Thorough knowledge of equipment repair, maintenance, troubleshooting and overhaul
• Ability to understand the basic concepts of physics and mathematics, and knowledge and experience in digital electronics
• Ability to analyze and troubleshoot equipment problems and determine what repairs are needed
• Ability to review and prepare specifications for technical equipment
• Ability to install, repair, and maintain a wide variety of equipment
• Thorough knowledge of all safety methods, procedures and practices
• Knowledge of basic software applications (word processing, spreadsheet, etc.) and ability to work with instrument-specific software applications
• Ability to perform accurately in a detail-oriented environment
• Ability to handle multiple priorities, organize and plan work and projects
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive communications with employees and external agencies
• Strong oral communications skills. Must possess excellent customer service and public relations skills

Required Qualifications

• Equivalent to three (3) years of progressively responsible journey-level or skilled experience in the maintenance, repair and operation of scientific or technical equipment in the specialty area to which assigned, including one (1) year involving design modifications and fabrication of complex and highly technical equipment or equivalent to two (2) years of semi-skilled experience maintaining and repairing scientific or technical equipment or related equipment experience as part of instructional support activities may be substituted for one year of the required experience or equivalent to two years of trade school or technical arts training with specialization in the type of equipment repair to which assigned.
• Completion of an apprenticeship program or completion of a full military specialization in the required type of equipment maintenance and repair may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
• A Federal Communications Commission license is required for some positions

Preferred Qualifications

• BS in a field in which electronic instrumentation is widely used (e.g., Physics, Engineering, Meteorology or a related field), or comparable military experience
• Experience in calibration, testing and repair of such electronic equipment
• Experience in weather station surface networks, data management and data communications systems
• Experience working with radar and/or lidar remote sensing systems
• Knowledge of radar and lidar theory