Job Description
Title:
Technical Staff Associate
Job Class Code:
4311
Summary:
Function & Scope: Performs highly skilled, technical support tasks in field engineering operations and in machine and equipment design. Responsible for serving as the technical representative of the research program or project while in the field, including equipment installation and testing, interpreting and evaluating field data, and performing liaison responsibilities with sponsors, or for executing design documentation and serving as the design engineers' representative in the laboratory and/or shop. Supervises work of subordinates.
Essential Functions:
Typical Essential Functions include but are not limited to the following:
- Participates in the design and development of highly specialized and experimental equipment, with particular emphasis on the design, field engineering, and field operations phase of the research work.
- Closely supervises work of subordinates.
- Travels to sponsors' sites as a technical representative of a research program or project, and conducts field tests, interprets and evaluates field data, and serves as a liaison with industrial, governmental, and other research sponsors.
Marginal Functions:
Performs other duties as assigned.
- Prepares reports for research projects, describing the results of field experiments and/or inspections.
- Collaborates with research scientists and engineers, who may have overall responsibility for the research projects, in the design and functional application of research equipment.
Supervision:
Received: General supervision from professional staff members regarding the overall effectiveness of a particular work group.
Given: May supervise technical staff assistants, scientific instrument makers, drafting technicians, construction/maintenance workers, student employees, and other laboratory employees associated with field operations projects.
Education:
Required: High school graduation or GED. Technical training in areas related to the specific research activity, college-level courses in physics, electrical engineering, and related disciplines, or completion of associate degree in electronics.
Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in related field.
Experience:
Required: Six years of experience in the skilled construction, operation, and maintenance of sophisticated electronic equipment. Three years of experience in scientific research and field operations in the particular branch of technology or science involved.
Preferred: Six years of the above experience. Five years of experience in scientific research and field operations
Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Skill in the use of scientific research laboratory instruments and methods.
Demonstrated ability to write reports, papers, and pamphlets describing results of field experiments for research projects. Maintenance of equipment or apparatus of the type related to the requirements of sponsored research agencies such as NASA, NSF, HEW, etc.
Knowledge of cost controls of materials and time. Scientific research laboratory instruments, including computer-based data collection/acquisition systems or computer-aided design systems.
Special Job Requirements (such as hours, accuracy, special equipment and/or working conditions):
Proficiency in all phases of the duties performed. Engineering shop, electronic shop, and scientific laboratory conditions. Travel to off-site areas.
Other:
If this is a supervisory position, the incumbent is expected to complete required supervisory training; orient, train and develop subordinates; provide appropriate coaching, guidance and supervision to subordinates; and complete annual performance evaluations.
Specific job requirements or physical location of some positions allocated to this classification may render the position security sensitive; thereby subject to the provisions of Section 51.215 Texas Education Code.
Responsible for duties as assigned relating to internal controls including safe-guarding of department assets, reliability of department financial information, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior written approval of the Assistant Vice President, Human Resources Management.
Last Updated: July 24, 2007
