| Department: |
Systems Design Engineering Department
|
Effective Date: |
November, 2013 |
| Grade: |
USG 11
35 hr/wk
|
Reports to: |
Laboratory Director |
General Accountability
The Computer Systems Specialist directly responsible for the management, operation, security and performance of the information infrastructure and support of sustainable secure information technology systems of the Systems Design Engineering Department.
The Computer Systems Specialist [CSS] is responsible for the daily operation and system administration of all computer and information systems and provides some consulting services related to this operation and administration.
The CSS is directly responsible for the maintenance of the department web pages.
The CSS deals directly with laboratory staff, administrative staff, faculty, department-hired co-op students and other department computer system and network administrators.
The CSS will act as a technical resource for undergraduate students in the department.
The CSS is expected to comply with and promote the University’s policies and directives related to information technology.
The CSS reports to the Lab Director for the department.
Nature and Scope
The department of Systems Design Engineering maintains a diverse computing environment for its faculty, staff and students. The department has undergraduate computer labs, multimedia lab, undergraduate teaching lab, graduate student research computing labs, along with faculty and staff office computers.
The Computer System Specialist is responsible for the daily operation and systems administration of all computer systems and network systems in the department. The CSS is also responsible for providing consulting services related to this operation and administration for all department personnel including faculty, staff and students and visiting scholars. The CSS is required to collaborate with other departmental personnel to provide advice, assistance and expertise for departmentally sanctioned projects.
In addition, the CSS is required to:
- Diagnose system emergencies when they arise and persevere until they are resolved and advice staff, faculty and students on technical issues.
- Plan the installation and implementation of new hardware and software.
Liaise with vendor representatives when resolving software and hardware problems
Statistical Data
The Department of Systems Design Engineering currently has 27 faculty, 9 staff, 400+ undergraduates and 110+ graduate students.
Computer workstations = 300+
Servers =6+
Specific Accountabilities
The Computer System Specialist is responsible for broad and overlapping areas, all of which are critical to the Systems Design Engineering department.
1. Administration and maintenance of computer systems.
- Software installation
- Performance monitoring
- System monitoring
- Security maintenance
- Trouble shooting
- End-user consulting
- Installation and/or setup of workstations
- Installation and/or setup of servers.
- Evaluation of new operating systems and application programs.
2. Active directory management and backup user data.
- Manage active directory objects and values.
- Create user and computer accounts.
- Setup and apply group policies.
- Uncover unwanted permission and remove
- Manage server operation, backup, storage and retrieval functions.
3. Administration of the department network infrastructure.
- Monitor the design of the network and recommend improvements.
- Assign and register IP addresses for new computing devices.
- Connect various computing platforms to the network and configure for optimum communications performance.
- Install and/or configure network switches.
- Install and configure network printers and other network appliances.
- Trouble-shoot communications problems.
- Maintain communication with other network administrators on campus.
4. Network system security and evasive forecasting.
- Manage network security across the department.
- Install and monitor malware and anti-virus software.
- Proactively apply patches from vendors for hardware and OS.
- Implement network security measures proactively.
- Install SSL certificates.
5. Computer hardware installation, configuration, repair and maintenance.
- Evaluate, recommend, and install interface cards and other internal peripherals as requested and/or required.
- Evaluate, recommend and install external peripherals, such as printers, USB devices, GPIB devices, etc., as requested.
- Trouble-shoot and repair system problems.
- Provide advice and direction to faculty and other staff members on matters relating to the maintenance, upgrade and/or repair of IT hardware.
6. Maintain the departmental database.
- Ensure appropriate infrastructure exists for development and production databases.
- Participate in the evaluation and selection of database systems, tools and methodologies, etc.
- Provide technical guidance and support for development activities.
- Troubleshoot application problems related to database or application infrastructure.
7. Maintain the departmental webpage.
- Monitor the accuracy and relevance of the information presented on the department web pages.
- Update the content and presentation of the content as required.
- Ensure that the department web pages appear fresh and new.
- Evaluate new technologies that may benefit the design, creation, maintenance, and presentation of web pages.
- Provide advice and direction to department faculty and staff on matters relating to the design, creation, maintenance, and presentation of web pages.
8. Manage IT procurements.
- Evaluate and recommend purchase of new and replacement hardware and software.
- Generating purchase orders, following up with vendors on shipments.
- Act as resource person and consultant to faculty members, staff and students on matters relating to general computing hardware matters.
- Communicate product problems to vendors and participates in investigation of solutions.
8. Deploy and maintain multi-media equipment for faculty, staff and students.
- Ensure data projectors and laptops are available for meetings, seminars, and graduate student presentations.
- Ensure video and audio equipment are available for student projects.
10. Represent the department on Engineering Systems Administrator Group [ESAG].
- Share information and discuss upgrades and long-term planning.
11. Supervise and manage co-op students.
- Create co-op jobs, and guide and advise the students on their projects.
- Evaluate students work and report to Co-operative Education and Career Services.
12. Manage, maintain, and update Computer lab, Workshop labs and classrooms.
- Ensure computer labs available for students have updated software.
- Upgrade computer labs hardware when it is necessary.
- Maintain computer lab printer.
- Ensure laboratory safety procedures are followed by all users.
- Envision, initiate, research, write and present funding proposals to maintain, update and improve technical aspects of Computer lab, Workshop labs, and classrooms.
Core Competencies:
- Proficient level of knowledge of supported desktop computing environments and standard desktop applications. Possesses a good understanding of the advanced features of operating systems such as MS Windows XP/7/8, Linux and Mac OS X.
- Proficient level of understanding of common workplace software applications. Ability to maintain an established network of desktop systems and their user interfaces through standard tools. Able to perform security related tasks such as patching and firewall configuration and diagnose common problems.
- In-depth level of knowledge to perform routine software and network problem diagnosis and repair.
- In-depth level of knowledge to perform operating system upgrades of production devices such as database server, webserver and email server. Perform advances problem diagnosis and repair of upgraded systems.
- In-depth level of problem solving skills.
- Proficient level of knowledge of understanding the capabilities and limitations of computer hardware.
- Proficient level of knowledge and understanding of network protocols, port numbers and etc., and basic knowledge of the UW campus network. Able to carry out basic troubleshooting of systems attached to the network.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize.
Qualification
- Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent education and experience.
- Microsoft System Engineer, Current Cisco Network Professional certifications are preferred.
Other Responsibilities
- Assist as a Lab Instructor as the need arises (i.e. as a backup for illness, absence, or shortage of such expertise);
- Provide instruction to staff, faculty, and students on the use of operating systems, and business and scientific application programs;
- Other tasks as assigned by the Lab Director.
Working Conditions
- May be stressful at times. For example, if a critical system breaks down, rapid and intensive action will likely be required.
- Some lifting and transporting of heavy and/or awkward equipment will be required.
