GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CLASS

The SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN 2 diagnoses user requirements and equipment malfunctions, and designs, fabricates, modifies, calibrates, and maintains a wide variety of complex scientific instruments and systems.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is the second and senior level of a two-level series and is responsible for planning, assigning, training, and reviewing the work of lower-level Scientific Instrument Technicians. Responsibility for approving purchase orders and contract release orders and for designing scientific instruments and systems distinguishes this class from the lower level. At this level, employees work with considerable independence on original project design and developmental work often with only the equipment users verbal concept of what the equipment is to accomplish.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties listed below are not inclusive but characteristic of the type and level of work associated with this class. Individual positions may perform all or some combination of the duties listed below as well as other related duties.

1. Design where vendor equipment is unavailable or must be modified, design instruments and systems of considerable intricacy, which may be of an original nature (no previously designed equipment available to modify).
2. Purchasing. Determine specifications required for the part, instruments, and equipment to be purchased or constructed. Determined components to be stocked and initiate and approve purchase orders and contract release orders.
3. Administration. Review forms and reports of lower-level Scientific Instrument Technicians to ensure consistency and accuracy with all departmental rules and regulations, including Highway Bureau policies and procedures and Federal Highway test and calibration procedures. Provide training for the lower-level technicians, assign and coordinate their work and advise the supervisor regarding the performance of lower-level technicians.
4. Consultation. Consult with and advise end users on use of instruments and of alternative systems. Confer with manufacturers about their equipment. Estimate job completion dates and cost. Provide consultation and recommend which instruments to purchase.
5. Miscellaneous. Perform all the duties required in the fabrication, calibration, and maintenance of scientific instruments and systems.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

Employees in this class have daily contact with other departments and users of various equipment. Employees have frequent contact with private contractors and manufacturers to discuss equipment operation and specifications.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Employees in this class work independently, frequently at remote locations, and receive minimum supervision. The Scientific Instrument Technician 2 is considered the expert on design and maintenance of electronic equipment. Frequently, operator and maintenance manuals are not available or not adequate to provide guidance requiring employees to rely on their own extensive experience and knowledge to perform tasks.

GENERAL INFORMATION

This position requires travel through the state to various specific locations to repair and maintain equipment. Much of this work is performed out of door, year-round, in all types of weather conditions and is subject to high volume traffic conditions. Positions require the willingness to work safely around potentially hazardous fumes, chemicals, radiation, tools, machinery, voltages, and to work in noisy environments due to machinery.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Two years of experience, equivalent to a Scientific Instrument Technician 1, performing scientific instrument modification, adaptation, fabrication, and intricate design work; AND
• One of the following:
  - an Associate's degree in Electronics;
  - a Bachelor's degree with 30 quarter hours or 20 semester hours in Electrical Engineering AND one year of experience fabricating and repairing electronic scientific instruments and equipment in an instrument shop.
  - Two additional years of instrument shop experience fabricating and repairing electronic scientific instruments and equipment.