Part-Time Technical Specialist II: College of Arts & Sciences Technical Services - UTK

The Electronic Specialist II is a 75%, part-time position within the College of Arts and Sciences Technical Services department. This position provides technical support, maintenance, repair, calibration, and design services for complex research, medical, and teaching instrumentation supporting the Division of Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Institute of Agriculture. This position works with a wide range of laboratory and technical equipment, including microscopy, chromatography, spectroscopy, centrifugation, water purification, patient-monitoring equipment, balances, biological safety cabinets, incubators, autoclaves, environmental chambers, and other electronic and electromechanical instrumentation. The role also maintains and calibrates microscopy equipment and analytical balances, designs prototypical instruments, retrofits or redesigns existing equipment, and installs, maintains, and programs emergency telephone data-dialing systems. 

The position maintains, repairs, and calibrates complex microscopy equipment, including compound, stereo, fluorescence, inverted, and polarizing microscopes. Calibration responsibilities include optical and Köhler alignment, parfocality, phase-contrast calibration, parcentration, stage tracking, and fluorescence-beam alignment. The position also maintains and calibrates analytical balances to Class 1 standards.

In addition, the Electronic Specialist II designs unique prototypical instruments for teaching and research applications, retrofits or redesigns existing instrumentation requiring repurposing, and installs, maintains, and programs emergency telephone data-dialing systems. Successful performance requires knowledge of electronics theory, strong problem-solving skills, mechanical, electrical, and electronic aptitude, the ability to read and design electronic and mechanical drawings, effective communication skills, and the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

Repair and Technical support:

• Provides technical support and repair for complex research, medical, and teaching instrumentation.

• Supports equipment including microscopy, chromatography, spectroscopy, centrifugation, water purification, patient monitoring, balances and scales, laminar flow hoods, biological safety cabinets, CO2 incubators, ovens, furnaces, shakers, electronic pipettes, microtomes and cryostats, gel documentation systems, syringe pumps, peristaltic pumps, autoclaves, environmental-controlled chambers, electronic controllers, X-ray generators, bioreactors, pH meters, vortex mixers, and water baths.

• Repairs clean hoods and biological safety cabinets.

Maintenance and Calibration:

• Maintains, repairs, and calibrates complex Microscopy equipment to include compound, stereo, fluorescence, inverted, and polarizing microscopes.

• Calibrations include optical alignment, Kohler alignment, parfocality, phase contrast cal. parcentraton, stage tracking, including fluorescence beam alignment.

• Maintains and calibrates analytical balances to class 1 standards.

Design and installation:

• Designs unique prototypical instruments that are utilized in various teaching and research fields.

• Retrofit or redesign existing instrumentation in need of repurposing.

• Installs, maintains, and programs emergency telephone data dialing systems.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Education:

• High school diploma or GED
• Vocational or technical training

Experience:

• Two years of experience in electronic repair

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of electronics theory
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Excellent mechanical, electrical, and electronic aptitude
• Ability to read and design electronic and mechanical drawings.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville, TN

• Onsite 

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR07

• Anticipated hiring range: $34,500 - $38,250

• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here

• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments:

• Resume

• Ability to provide up to 3 professional references

About the Department:

CAS Tech provides comprehensive technical services to support the College of Arts and Sciences and the broader university system, including the repair, modification, relocation, and maintenance of teaching and research equipment. The department works closely with faculty, staff, and students to minimize downtime, control costs, and deliver reliable in-house service. We seek colleagues who are committed to teamwork, professionalism, and quality customer service in support of the college's academic mission.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service. 

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.  

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone. 

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.  

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!