Programming Assistant II Grade D

    Clerical and Technical generic job description

    Family: Data Processing
    Job Code: 554

    Representative duties:

    • Develops flow charts and programming specifications. Writes programs
    • Tests, debugs, and modifies programs. Configures systems and equipment
    • Develops written materials and documentation related to programs
    • Operates computer and related equipment
    • Serves as principle source of information for program specifications, requirements and development
    • Instructs users and support staff
    • Performs additional functions incidental to programming activities

    The job duties listed above are representative and characteristic of the duties required and the level of the work performed in the job title. The duties will vary from incumbent to incumbent in the job title.

    Required knowledge:

    • Specialized college-level coursework; detailed but narrow knowledge in one or several work-related areas; substantial knowledge of broader field of learning
    • General knowledge of craft or trade
    • Limited acquaintance with business, accounting or commercial procedures
    • Limited knowledge of University organizational policies and procedures generally; detailed knowledge of a narrow area of University rules and procedures

    Required skills:

    • Extracts and compiles a range of data from written sources, from individuals by asking questions, or from one or several given databases, limited interpretation of data
    • Uses a dictionary
    • Classifies material for filing; use of a straightforward or complex filing system
    • Screens complex, technical or specialized literature for referral
    • Composes and proofreads routine formal letters or memoranda for internal or external circulation
    • Regular, skilled use of more complex machines, including word processors or personal computers; responsible for basic troubleshooting and repair or manipulation of data using published software

    Office and administrative skills:

    • Keyboards statistics, graphs, manuscripts, manuals, slide presentations, and other complex material
    • Merges, edits and manipulates data on a personal computer to generate complex reports
    • Schedules and coordinates appointments
    • Screens and refers callers and visitors to the appropriate individual

    Experience, education, and formal training:

    • Six years of related work experience, four of them in the same job family at the next lower level, and high school level education; or four years of related work experience and an Associate degree, or little or no work experience and a Bachelor degree in a related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education

    Complexity and organization:

    • Wide variety of complicated job tasks requiring coordinating numerous processes/methods

    Interpersonal relations:

    • Ongoing involvement outside immediate unit
    • Offers or obtains specialized information and provides assistance on general matters
    • Understands and conveys more complex messages and instruction, and takes action accordingly

    Supervisory guidelines:

    • Work is subject to general review on an occasional basis
    • Incumbent plans and schedules own work and/or work of others based on the understanding of broadly defined objectives and priorities, supervisor reviews work after completion
    • Instruction provided only in new situations, methods, procedures that are not clearly related to existing tasks and duties

    Independent judgment:

    • Established procedures/policies govern many work situations
    • Regular exercise of independent judgment or initiative
    • Problems solved by choosing solutions from among several alternatives that are not necessarily governed by established procedures

    Leadership responsibility:

    • Occasionally provides work guidance or orientation for non-routine procedures/ policies

    Impact and consequence of error:

    • Work affects outside immediate work unit, but rarely outside the University
    • Errors are somewhat difficult to recognize and correct and can cause harm or financial loss to individuals, departments and the University or to other individuals and groups

    Working conditions:

    • Very little possibility of safety risks
    • Stable and predictable
    • Regular sustained concentration
    • Some physical effort or dexterity
     

    Example 1

    General purpose:

    Provide programming assistance.

    Essential duties of the position:

    • Develop flow charts and programming specifications. Write programs in various computer languages including C++, Matlab, and Visual Basic
    • Modify, test, and debug programs. Configure hardware systems and equipment
    • Develop written materials and documentation related to programs
    • Interact with users of the programming system. Translate the needs of the users into programmatic modifications and then effect those changes
    • Serve as principal source of information for programmatic specifications, requirements and development
    • Perform additional functions incidental to programming activities
    • Install and operate computer, laboratory and related equipment
    • Instruct users and support staff

    Education and training:

    • Six years of related work experience, four of them in the same job family at the next lower level, and a high school level education; or four years of related experience and an Associate degree; or little or no work experience and a Bachelor degree in a related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education
    • Knowledge of PC computers and programming languages such as Visual Basic, C++, or Matlab, or demonstrated aptitude in learning these languages
    • Preferred: Background knowledge and/or experience relating to neurological and ultrasonic research enabling interaction with researchers and neurologists

    Skills and abilities:

    • Demonstrated intricate problem-solving and analytical skills
    • Well developed and mature communication skills
    • Excellent organizational skills
    • Ability to work effectively and independently
    • In-depth knowledge of computer software and hardware
     

    Example 2

    General purpose:

    Assist with a variety of programming tasks needed for a multifaceted neuroimaging laboratory that focuses on brain structure and brain structure can brain function in neurodevelopment disorders. This person would work under the supervision of the Laboratory Director, with additional day-to-day supervision by faculty and postdoctoral fellows in electrical engineering, computer science, diagnostic imaging, and neuropsychology.

    Essential duties of position:

    • Under the direct supervision of Ph.D. level computer scientists, write code for a medical image analyses program that combines a variety of tools for analyzing structural and functional MRI data
    • Instruct new users on these programs
    • Under the direction of the Lab Director, program tasks to be given to patients that test their ability to recognize faces and other similar type tasks. These might best be programmed in Psyscope or some other interpreted language
    • Occasionally serve as a source of information on equipment problems, software needs, and cost estimates for the purchase of new equipment
    • Occasionally help to take the lead in installing disk drives, memory, video cards, etc.
    • Work with others to insure that data is promptly transferred to the lab after each MRI scan
    • Work with others in the lab to insure the data is efficiently stored, backed up, and processed
    • Periodically order lab supplies and equipment

    Education and training

    • Six years of related work experience, four or them in the same job family at the next lower level, and a high school education; or four years of related work experience and an Associate degree; or little or no work experience and a Bachelor degree in a related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education
    • Proficiency in C or C++
    • Experience with Linux
    • Experience with image editing programs, such as Adobe Photoshop.
    • Preferred: B.A. or B.S. in Computer Science or related field with computer training; experience with Psyscope and Matlab; experience with medical image analysis

    Skills and abilities:

    • Strong interest in applying computer skills to studies of the brain
    • Ability to learn interpreted languages such as Psyscope and Matlab
    • Outstanding initiative and creative problem solving ability; ability to work independently (on several projects at once) with minimal supervision, while still being able to accept supervision, and work well within a team culture