Desktop Engineer—Scientific Application Support

Details•San Diego, CA

10h

About The Position

This position requires proficiency in managing, and troubleshooting various operating system, system configurations, user management and system optimization. Providing a full range of services essential to USD faculty and students in support of specialized scientific software products and services. This is a technical position, supporting technology with expertise with STEM application installations, license server, download server and deployments such as ArcGIS, MATLAB, SAS, SPSS, SolidWorks, Mastercam, and more. The incumbent will be a bridge of support between the desktop and enterprise level applications, systems and services. Duties include level 2 and 3 support of the software and their associated hardware components. Deployment of enterprise applications such as Adobe, MS and others associated with the license server, integrated systems, and tracking devices. The incumbent will research, analyze, pilot and repair scientific software problems with focus on clear communication and collaboration in team environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required from an accredited higher education institution in Computer Science, Information Systems or related field
5 years’ experience supporting IT hardware, software and services required, combined with a minimum of 3 years’ system administration experience.
Experience with scientific software installations and deployments such as ArcGIS, Matlab, SPSS, and Engineering software (Solidworks, Mastercam, etc.)
Working knowledge and familiarity with use of artificial intelligent tools to improve efficiency
Strong knowledge and experience with Windows, Macintosh, Linux, iOS, and Android operating systems, complex software products, and virtual servers
Exceptional communication skills (written and oral) with a diverse set of people
Understands networking concepts at an intermediate level: IPv4, subnets, routing.
Understands fundamental enterprise IT concepts: Active Directory, LDAP, Firewall, Enterprise System architecture, Kerberos, cloud computing.
Familiar with Windows, Mac or Linux command line operations.
Basic knowledge of at least two scripting languages, such as Windows Batch files, Power Shell, bash or Python.
Has supported at a Help Desk or more major client server applications.
Strong troubleshooting skills with hardware and software.
Understanding of web-based mapping technologies and their software
Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information in non-technical settings
Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with supervisors and colleagues in a team environment
Strong enthusiasm to explore, learn, and maintain currency with the ever-changing scientific software for onsite or remote access.
Exceptional team player, with strong customer-centered philosophy.
Excellent interpersonal, communication and documentation skills.

Nice To Haves

Five or more years of professional employment that demonstrates progressive responsibility in information systems,
Two or more years of experience in a higher education environment
CompTIA and or any Microsoft Certification
Has knowledge and experience with FlexLM.
Has working knowledge of - JSON-formatted data files, Jupyter Notebook, R, Basic Python
Is familiar with fundamental licensing concepts, including node-locked, named user and concurrent licenses.
Previous experience in a customer focused role.
ITIL Foundation certificate.
Successfully interact with faculty, students, and staff with excellent customer satisfaction and teamwork ratings.
Provide high quality work deliverable within schedule and within budget.
Developing an expert-level understanding of scientific software on Macintosh, Windows, and Linux computers.
Solid knowledge of active directory, server and network infrastructure configuration.
Ability to research IT related products, services and solutions.
Ability to configure and innovate processes and workflows for endpoint lifecycle
In-depth knowledge of IT ticketing system.
Knowledge of system/software development life cycles.
Knowledge of application and database integration techniques.
Knowledge of relational database design.
Familiarity with common and GIS-related information system architecture, best practices, implementation and maintenance.
Skill in communicating with people, ability to troubleshoot and work on several projects at one time.
Provide technical support and expertise for various types of applications including MATLAB, ESRI, SAS, SPSS, and engineering applications such as Solidworks and Multisim.
Administer desktop user accounts and access to servers using Active Directory.
Provide training, documentation, and 1-on-1 consultation sessions to faculty and others.
Knowledge of science software applications, Unix, Windows, iOS, and Android platforms.
Experience in data and text mining (R, SPSS,SAS), cognitive computing (Watson) data visualization (Tableau), Notebooks (R-Markdown, Jupyter), code management (Github, SVN), Web development (HTML5, CSS3), SQL and NoSQL platforms (Hadoop, Cassandra), and Financial Tools (i.e. Bloomberg), HPC and remote system support (Guacamole).

Responsibilities

Scientific and specialized Application Support User Support: Provide technical support to university faculty, staff, and students.
Assist users with troubleshooting hardware and software, including desktops, laptops, and mobile devices.
Hardware Management: Working closely with the desktop staff on installation, diagnosing and repairing hardware problems, and maintenance of hardware devices such as servers, desktops, laptops, printers, and peripherals.
Software Installation and Configuration: In working closely with the Software Team, install and configure software applications, including operating systems, productivity software, and specialized academic software used by students and faculty.
Installs and maintains software that run instruments
Managing the enterprise hardware and software inventory management tool employed for campus wide software and hardware inventory and automation.
Interact with faculty: to understand their current and future software needs and translating their needs into action items for ITS team.
Actively research, configure, and test potential new scientific software products
Troubleshooting and learning skills- analytical approach to solve and troubleshoot
Organize and develop application testing procedures to provide for stability and performance
Communicate design requirements to technical and non-technical faculty, students, and staff.
Documentation and design- ability to create and use a variety of tools in making technical or non-technical demonstrations- Able to create the diagram and architecture of the services and for user training
Troubleshooting: Investigate and resolve complex technical issues that may arise in the desktop and integrated environment.
Ability to diagnose hardware failures, debugging software problems, or dealing with network connectivity issues.
Technical knowledge: Understanding of AD, GPO for managing desktop systems and how it relates to other integrated systems and services
Update classrooms and labs: in working with the classroom support team perform maintenance and installation of software and hardware.
Security monitoring: Stays abreast of the new security, patches and desktop trends.
Inventory Management: Assist ITAM and ITAS with the oversight of the enterprise hardware and software inventory management tools employed for campus-wide software and hardware inventory and automation.
Improve services: bring forward initiatives and creativity to improve efficiency
Triage and log: Use proper judgment to triage and log problems and request for support.
Develop preventive maintenance procedures to avoid system failures.
General Technical Responsibilities Configures, installs, maintains, and provide customer support for Windows, Macintosh, Linux, computer equipment and software in science departments, including advanced industry-specific hardware and software related to primary assigned science unit.
Utilize tools to deploy, track, identify and locate university assets.
Create and enforce policies to ensure IT deployments are secure and running optimally.
Endpoint systems, solutions and configurations and troubleshooting Installation of Complex Software for Desktop Management: This includes the implementation and use of SCCM to deploy specialty scientific, engineering and academic software to PC endpoints. In addition to software packaging for MacOS endpoint for distribution via Mobile Device Management (MDMO
Diagnoses- repairs, and maintains various computer devices, network connections, workstations hardware and software on-site or in the repair facility.
Inventory Management: Assist with ITAM and ITSM in keeping track of IT assets and equipment inventory.
Assist in asset procurement and disposal.
Compliance: Ensure that IT Desktop systems and practices adhere to university policies and relevant regulations, including data privacy laws.
Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve hardware, software, and network issues.
Escalate complex problems to senior administrators when necessary.
Research and Evaluation: Stay updated on emerging technologies and trends in the IT field.
Evaluate new software and hardware solutions for potential adoption.
User Account Authentication: Create, modify, and delete user accounts and manage access permissions for faculty and their students.
Configuration and troubleshooting of network printers and other peripherals.
Provides resolution of calls to meet SLO (Service Level Objectives).
Assists clients in account and user management, system security, and system backups.
Resolve and update existing requests, deployment of new equipment and computer replacement process.
Evaluation of products and services, creating matrix to perform side by side assessment of technology solutions.
Scripting and Automation: Ability to write scripts (e.g., PowerShell, Bash) to automate repetitive tasks, server automation and streamline processes
Security: Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices and the ability to implement security measures to protect endpoint devices and services offered.
Project Management: Skills to plan and execute desktop-related projects, such as OS upgrades or hardware refreshes, and adoption of new technology
Communication: Strong communication skills to interact with end-users, colleagues, and vendors effectively and providing summaries and proposals
Problem-Solving: Analytical and problem-solving skills to diagnose and resolve technical issues.
Image and Deployment: Develop and maintain standardized desktop computer images for various departments or user groups.
Deploy and manage these images across the organization using deployment tools like SCCM or similar solutions.
Customer Service: A customer-focused approach to providing support and assistance to end-users.
Set an example by raising standards and practices.
Managing Projects and tasks assigned efficiently with productively Technology Consultative Services
Good problem-solving skills, hands-on, quick learner, proactive, high data affinity, detailed oriented, critical thinking, innovative mind, high sense of ethics, responsibilities, and discipline.
Maintains a current and thorough knowledge of advances and developments in computing technology, software, hardware, and peripherals, data communications equipment, printers, scanners, etc. workstation security and maintenance issues, and operating systems.
Actively engaged with the CSS technical team with campus rollouts and projects; make recommendations; help with planning and execution of upgrades and migrations.
Analyze and resolve complex end-user escalation incidents or issues from other IT support staff
Proactive in offering solutions to improve technical services; deploying software and systems improving the services of ITS within the community.
Requires strong and complex desktop troubleshooting experience responsible for hands-on client-side remediation efforts
Tests and evaluates and makes recommendation for hardware and software acquisitions
Participates in Desktop Support Services and ITS meetings to provide higher level ITS support.
Assists in planning and execution of major campus wide migrations, projects and initiatives.
Follow policies and procedures related to how problems are identified, received, documented, distributed, and corrected.
Recommend effective strategies to improve performance and meet customer and supervisor(s) expectations.
Prioritize all tasks, projects, job duties and responsibilities and work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced work environment.
Act as liaison in transmitting, disseminating and communicating information between the technical team, networking team, systems team and the management.
Maintain accurate documentations for system installations, configurations, upgrades and disaster recovery activities.
Proficiency in documentation, project timeline and tracking work.