Laboratory Technician

ontariotechu•Oshawa, ON

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Planning and Operations (DPO), this position provides technical and operational support to students, staff, and faculty within the Faculty of Business and IT. The incumbent is one (1) of two (2) primary points of contact for all teaching and research laboratories and technical needs in the Faculty. Working proactively with the DPO, the role contributes to forward-looking planning, capital forecasting, and vendor engagement, ensuring Faculty IT infrastructure and lab environments are aligned with current and future academic and research requirements. Information, analysis, and recommendations flow to the DPO to inform Faculty decision-making.

Requirements

Completion of a four-year university program in Computer Science, Information Technology, Networking, or a closely related field
An equivalent combination of education and related experience may be considered
Minimum of three to five years of progressively responsible experience in IT infrastructure, systems administration, or a closely related technical role
Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with peers and senior administrators to identify and address technology needs
Proven proficiency with Cisco networking hardware and operating systems
Experience with Microsoft server and desktop products
Experience with virtualization platforms (VMware, OpenStack, Proxmox, or Hyper-V)
Experience with IT security practices, cloud environments, and data centre operations
Strong understanding of data centre environments: infrastructure, rack design, traffic management, compute, storage, redundancy, and physical security
Working knowledge of virtualization, automation, and orchestration concepts
Understanding of networking fundamentals, including switching, routing, VLANs, firewalls, and network security
Proficiency with Windows client/server operating systems
Working knowledge of scripting or automation tools (e.g., PowerShell, Python, Bash) to support configuration management and workflow automation
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to exercise a high degree of professionalism, good judgment, and discretion
Must able to explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders
Strong organizational skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple competing priorities, deadlines, and interruptions in a service-oriented environment
Ability to work independently and proactively, anticipating Faculty needs and escalating issues or opportunities appropriately to the DPO. Must be able to take initiative and anticipate the needs of a diverse client group
Strong attention to detail; high levels of accuracy in documentation, inventory management, and technical configuration
Experience with data collection, analysis, and report preparation to support operational and capital planning
Demonstrated ability to initiate and manage projects from requirements gathering through to completion
Ability to work well in a team environment; collegial, professional, and service-oriented disposition
Combination of desk work and hands-on activity; includes lifting, moving, and installing computers, servers, networking equipment, and other lab hardware
Periodic work in server room and data centre environments

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience in an academic or research environment is strongly preferred
Cisco certification (CCNA or CCNP Data Center) is preferred
Microsoft certification is an asset
Exposure to game development platforms (Unity3D, Maya) and/or financial data systems (Bloomberg, Capital IQ, SAS Viya) is an asset
Familiarity with Linux is an asset
Familiarity with the academic environment in a Business and/or IT faculty and the intersection of IT infrastructure with teaching and research activities

Responsibilities

Support the logistics and resource management behind Faculty space, furniture, equipment and other related resources/tools as it relates to the laboratories and related spaces/resources for teaching and research purposes
Maintain a comprehensive inventory system covering all Faculty-managed equipment, including acquisition dates, life expectancy, replacement values, warranty records, and assignment status
Work proactively with the DPO to develop and maintain a multi-year equipment lifecycle and capital forecast, incorporating replacement values, warranty status, and curriculum requirements
Gather requirements from program directors, faculty, and staff to determine teaching and research technology needs; research solutions and obtain vendor quotes to support Faculty budget planning
Represent Faculty IT interests in dealings with IT Services, OCIS, Facilities, and other university departments; facilitate logistics for Faculty space, furniture, and equipment initiatives
Compile and present analysis, status reports, and inventory data to the DPO to support informed operational and strategic decision-making
Assist the DPO and Program Directors with the implementation and monitoring of University and Faculty policies and procedures
Liaise with Recruitment and Advancement to support tours, donor visits, and events that showcase Faculty laboratories and technology
Work with student societies to support Faculty engagement initiatives, provide meeting space, and connect students with vendor and industry partners
Install, configure, and maintain servers, networking equipment, and data centre systems, including switches, firewalls, UPS, and virtualization platforms (including but not limited to VMware, OpenStack, Proxmox, Hyper-V)
Manage IP address allocation, VLAN configuration, network security protocols, system patching, and firmware upgrades across Faculty-managed infrastructure
Monitor system health, review logs, and proactively address capacity, performance, and redundancy concerns; escalate enterprise-scope issues to university IT Services through defined pathways
Source and procure hardware, software, and services not provided by central IT; coordinate warranties, vendor repairs, and technology refresh cycles
Cultivate and maintain relationships with vendors and manufacturers to stay current on relevant technologies and secure advantageous pricing and support
Provide technical analysis and recommendations to the DPO to support infrastructure planning, capital forecasting, and budget preparation
Install, configure, and maintain lab computers, specialized equipment, and software for undergraduate teaching labs, research labs, and data centre environments
Develop and maintain software images, deployment scripts, and station configurations to ensure consistent and current lab environments for each academic term
Maintain specialized lab systems, including game development workstations (Unity3D, Maya), financial data platforms (Bloomberg, Capital IQ, Qualtrics, Rotman, SAS Viya), and research computing resources
Perform routine maintenance tasks including password resets and assignments, software updates, hardware testing, IP address management, and resolution of day-to-day technical issues
Liaise with IT Services and OCIS to coordinate computer replacements, software image development, lab upgrades, and shared service requests
Work with Facilities Management to address power, climate control, and physical lab upgrade needs
Develop and maintain tutorial videos, how-to guides, and programming/platform demonstrations to support faculty, teaching assistants, and students' use of lab equipment and software
Create and maintain a repository of Faculty policies, procedures, standard operating procedures, and technical workflow documentation
Maintain communications platforms (e.g., Discord server for Game Development Lab) and shared information repositories; keep content current and remove outdated material
Hire, schedule, and supervise student lab monitors and University Works positions; assign tasks, approve timesheets, and ensure adequate lab coverage
Manage lab scheduling and room allocation for Faculty-managed spaces; resolve scheduling conflicts and coordinate with the Registrar’s Office where required
Coordinate lab access permissions and ensure spaces are appropriately configured and resourced for scheduled teaching, research, and student activities