Research and Development Technician III Grade D

Clerical and Technical generic job description

Representative duties:

• Designs, constructs, assembles, tests, calibrates, modifies and installs existing and newly developed specialized equipment and systems. Uses blueprints, sketches and schematics
• Develops and evaluates performance and reliability of test equipment
• Determines types and number of tests to be performed on equipment. Recommends modifications to testing equipment. Analyzes results
• Instructs laboratory support staff in construction and modification techniques
• Develops time and cost estimates, material requirements and methodology. Orders materials and supplies
• May set up and operate machinery, hand and power tools, and other equipment for the fabrication, testing, and modification of instruments, equipment, components, and systems
• May oversee support staff
• Performs additional function incidental to research and development technicians

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
• Extensive knowledge of craft or trade
• Limited acquaintance with business, accounting or commercial procedures
• Limited acquaintance with University organizational policies 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
• Use of one or several standard reference works
• Files already labeled material using a straightforward alphabetical, numerical, or chronological system
• Summarizes, revises, or makes limited use of complex, technical, or specialized literature
• Writes simple internal memoranda, fills out complex forms
• Regular, skilled use of more complex machines; responsible of troubleshooting and maintenance necessary to ensure consistent operation at a high quality level; and/or sophisticated manipulation of a database

Office and administrative skills:

• Keyboards letters, memos, and other moderately complex material
• Enters and retrieves data from semi-finished source documents on a personal computer requiring both some interpretation of the source document and a basic understanding of software parameters
• Schedules appointments in allotted times
• 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 a high school level education; or four years of related work experience and an Associate degree; or little of 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
• Often coordinates or organizes the work of others

Interpersonal relations:

• Ongoing involvement outside the immediate unit
• Offers or obtains specialized information and provides assistance on complex matters
• Officially represents someone, whether a supervisor, faculty member, or the University

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 very rare instances

Independent judgment

• Established procedures/policies govern some work situations
• Regular exercises of independent judgment or initiative
• Problems cannot usually be solved by following established procedures; solutions must be found independently

Leadership responsibility

• Often provides work guidance, instruction, or orientation of others
• Often distributes and monitors work

Impact and consequence of error

• Work has significant impact both on more than one department and outside the University
• Errors are 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

• Occasional possibility of safety risks
• Regular multiple or conflicting demands, deadlines, emergencies, or time pressures
• Regular sustained concentration
• Considerable physical effort or a high degree of fine finger or hand dexterity

Example 1

General purpose:

Interfacing with the Director of Endolaparoscopic Laboratory and with outside vendors, responsible for the fabrication of prototypes of biomedical equipment. Train program participants in the proper use of this equipment.

Essential duties of position:

• Fabricate prototypes of conceptual biomedical equipment using blueprints, sketches, and schematics provided by outside vendors and Yale faculty
• Construct mechanisms to mate existing biomedical and/or computer equipment with proprietary products. Determine and perform tests on equipment. Analyze results and construct modification as necessary. Determine and perform tests on equipment. Analyze results and construct modification as necessary
• Evaluate performance of prototypes. Assist in the development of modifications
• Using in-house database, run analyses for ergonomics on new instruments
• Interface with outside vendors regarding materials, schematics
• Develop time and cost estimates, material requirements, and ensure grant compliance
• Represent the Yale Endolaparoscopic Laboratory in the field (Corporate offices, education programs, and presentations to new accounts)
• Instruct program attendees on suturing techniques in the use of state-of-the-art medical equipment and prototypes
• Travel will be required
• Other duties may be required

Education and 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

Skills and abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge and competency with electronic equipment, including computers
• Overtime, weekends, travel

Example 2

General purpose:

Oversee and monitor on-shift, the set-up, operation, maintenance and development of the Yale ESTU electrostatic accelerator, maintaining and analyzing the accelerated particle beam required for the experimental program of laboratory research. Provide technical support to experimental group.

Essential duties of the position:

• Set-up, operation maintenance and development of the Yale ESTU electrostatic accelerator in accordance with established procedures. Maintain, analyze and interpret data logs and operational records
• Enforces laboratory safety policies associated with the use of the ESTU, both conventional and radiological. Ensure compliance by users and support personnel
• Provide technical support to experimental groups. Diagnose and repair minor electrical and mechanical faults. Advise and assist other specialists in major repair and maintenance
• Travel to other research labs to assist with research projects
• Work inside the ESTU accelerator tank

Experience 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 work experience and an Associate’s degree, or little or no work experience and a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of experience and education
• Experience with computers
• Preferred: Experience with radiation protection

Skills and abilities:

• Must be able to travel on a short-term basis
• Must be able to work within a confined (enclosed) space