Technical Assistant III, Digital Fabrication

Job Summary

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) seeks a Technical Assistant III to lead our Technology lab and digital fabrication in the Industrial Design department. Drawing on its historic contributions to responsible and human-centered design, Industrial Design (or ID) teaches students to use critical thinking and the design process to bring new value to companies, communities and citizens. Professors with expertise in a wide range of areas guide students in researching user experiences to create well-conceived and executed objects, products and systems that make everyday tasks easier.   

We seek a culturally competent candidate who will thrive in a campus environment that is committed to advancing the principles of social equity and inclusion, environmental and climate justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities.

Essential Functions:

• Advise, train, guide and assist faculty, students, and others in the proper and safe use of machinery, tools, equipment, supplies and materials available in digital technology labs, and all digital equipment and peripherals located within the department. Provide advice and guidance to students on the technical and conceptual parameters of academic projects. Proactively work with faculty to understand the technical needs of the educational curriculum and to help support the same. 

• Assess, clean, repair, refurbish, and maintain and or replace machinery and other related digital fabrication equipment used in ID. Ensure shop is operational, available, neat, orderly and supportive of the design process. Diagnose hardware and software issues. Support faculty computers and peripherals, including, but not limited to: departmental monitors, printers, laser cutters, 3D printers, scanners, projectors, tablets, copy machines, connections to RISD networks, audio equipment, digital cameras and associated photo equipment, and VR/AR equipment.

• Administer and set up, and/or remove, equipment for computer labs, digital photo lab, and faculty and staff. Such services shall be provided in person. Responsibilities include system updates, re-imaging individual systems and or labs, ordering and installing associated software, the physical setup of equipment. 

• Hire, train, and supervise student monitors to work in the labs and with digital equipment. Manage student usage and distribution of any electronic and digital equipment via a checkout system. Schedule full shop coverage with well-trained monitors. 

• Coordinate with RISD's Environmental Health & Safety Department to suggest, develop, promote and implement best safety practices, systems, and standards. Advise and train faculty and students on these same practices, systems and standards. Report all related incidents. 

• Identify hardware failures through diagnostic examination, and refer hardware problems to outside vendors for actual warranty service and repair. Troubleshoot software related issues. Help evaluate and consider future equipment for integration into a department’s curriculum, including researching and evaluating new and alternative digital equipment availability, specifications, and prices and make recommendations based on findings. Work with various vendors to identify, research, evaluate, test, and/or suggest improvements to or modifications of, or replacement of, the facility, machines, equipment and tools. Develop in depth understanding of product features, functionality, specifications, and limitations.

• Regularly visit and review operations in ID related digital fabrication labs. Monitor budget, including capital requests and expenditures. Order supplies, maintain proper inventory levels, and monitor ID Research and Prototyping lab expenditures in consultation with the department heads. Help the department-heads' plan, complete paperwork, and obtain quotes regarding the Capital Funding request.

• Manage student usage and distribution of any electronic and digital equipment via a checkout system. 

Required Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in appropriate technical discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience.  

• Four to six years practical experience in the appropriate field, no prior teaching required.  

• Excellent interpersonal communications skills.  Previous experience as a RISD technician preferred.

• Ability to quickly learn new pieces of technology, including digital fabrication equipment and design software

• Experience with additive a