Job Description

Overview

Term: 18 months

The Electronics Technologist \xe2\x80\x93 Structures, Materials, Concrete, and Fatigue provides support for the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, with a focus on Structures, Materials, Concrete, and Fatigue laboratories. Support encompasses assisting in the planning, implementation and management of the data acquisition systems and servo hydraulic controllers. The areas of research and the types of electronics used are continuously evolving and changing to keep pace with technology and institutional requirements, and the Electronics Technologist is expected to be responsive to these changing needs. Responsibility for the electronic equipment includes: electronic design, sourcing, programming application software, fabrication, troubleshooting, and maintenance of complex digital and analogue electronic testing equipment. This includes assisting faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and contract technicians working in the labs.

The Electronics Technologist \xe2\x80\x93 Structures, Materials, Concrete, and Fatigue is also expected to assist with the management of facilities, equipment, and supplies for a multi-user, multi-disciplined research area.

Responsibilities

Provide Technical Support for Research Activities

• Assist graduate students with their research and the use of laboratory equipment
• Assist in the assembly and commissioning of research apparatus
• Assist in the maintenance, service, and repair of research and teaching equipment
• Develop and demonstrate advanced operation of PID servo-hydraulic digital controllers which involve a PC based software controller interface, look after maintenance, trouble-shooting and calibration
• Be responsible for the maintenance, calibration and troubleshooting operations of legacy analogue controller electronics and equipment including upgrading to newer consoles, system cards and fabricating cable assemblies with connectors
• Be responsible for hydraulic manifold maintenance, changing of oil filters and hoses, test frame grip alignment, pump control interfacing
• Be responsible for programming servo-hydraulic and electromechanical controller software to meet user requirements and fulfill test program parameters and procedures
• Work with other technicians, students, and faculty to design and implement physical configuration of materials and structural test setups
• Operate the forklift and overhead cranes
• Provide technical assistance in all CEE labs, as required

Provide Technical Support for Students

• Supervise, instruct, and assist undergraduate and graduate students in the use of specialized testing equipment within the Structures, Materials, Fatigue & Concrete Laboratories
• Assist students to independently and efficiently perform test measurements using sophisticated instrumentation, including: voltage transducers (e.g., strain gauges, LVDT\xe2\x80\x99s, string pots, DCDTs), data acquisition hardware systems, LabVIEW\xe2\x84\xa2 programming, calibrations and setup
• Provide instruction and act a resource for strain gauge installation techniques, which include temperature compensation, strain limits, surface preparation, adhesive selection, gauge installation, soldering and clamping
• Maintain transducer inventory in good working condition signing in and out of equipment as it cycles through projects
• Provide expert assistance in the use of LabVIEW\xe2\x84\xa2 in order to ensure that standardized programming is utilized throughout projects and test set-ups
• Provide advice and guidance to graduate and undergraduate students in creating and modifying test instrumentation software applications as well as ordering and specifying National Instruments hardware for the specific application at hand
• Assist the Structures, Materials, Concrete and Fatigue (SMCF) Group with lab development
• Assist with the construction, fabrication, test set-up, repair, trouble-shooting, problem-solving, test modification, equipment calibration, evaluation and handling of research and test equipment, with guidance and oversight of senior staff
• Work with other technical staff and teaching assistants to ensure that all experiments in all courses work properly before classes meet
• Assist with the setup and running of departmental competitions and special events: Capstone Design Symposium, Design Days, Explorations, Open Houses, and student teams

General Accountabilities

• Promote and maintain safety standards
• Assist in the management of labs, including

• maintenance of Chemical and SDS inventory
• maintenance of equipment inventories
• supporting workplace inspections
• General consulting, design, assembly, and rework
• Be flexibly responsive to evolving research and teaching needs
• Complete and maintain all HSE training required for the position
• Responsible for the safety of all users of the Structures, Materials, Concrete and Fatigue (SMCF) labs. This includes ordering safety materials, cleaning up work areas, removal and proper disposal of refuse, and overseeing user clean up
• Other duties as assigned by the Technical Resources Manager

Qualifications

• 3+ year Technologist diploma in Civil Engineering Technology, Electronics Technology, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Several years of experience in a research or related industrial setting
• Experience in programming and configuring test instrumentation and data acquisition systems, servo hydraulics, destructive and fatigue testing
• Strong computer skills
• Ability to manage multiple, competing priorities
• Ability to maintain attention to detail in a fast paced, multitasking environment
• Flexible in assisting with new tasks as assigned
• Excellent written and oral communications
• Excellent organizational, time management, interpersonal, and analytical skills
• Experience working with hand and power tools
• Valid G Driver\xe2\x80\x99s License required
• Knowledge and experience in destructive structural testing and materials testing an asset
• Knowledge of instrumentation and data collection systems and methods an asset
• Experience in lab course development and instruction an asset
• First Aid Certification is an asset

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within our .

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, M\xc3\xa9tis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.

University of Waterloo