Scientific Computing Specialist

Working Title: Scientific Computing Specialist

State Role Title: Information Technology Specialist II

Position Type: Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

 

College/Division: College of Science and Mathematics

Department: 100129 - Dean - College of Science and Math

 

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $65,500 - $70,000

 

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

 

Beginning Review Date: 07/29/2025

 

About JMU:

James Madison University is a publicly funded university with a beautiful campus and a supportive community that is committed to preparing students for the future. The university offers excellent comprehensive benefits which include paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave in addition to 19 paid holidays a year; affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System. We also offer a work-life balance and integration program, Balanced Dukes, that is designed to support the overall wellbeing of our employees and a Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.

Visit our Prospective Employee site to learn more about what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

 

General Information:

The College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) at James Madison University (JMU) is currently accepting applications for a Scientific Computing Specialist. This position aligns with the vision of JMU and the CSM Office of the Dean by providing technical, network, specialized software, and hardware support to the Departments of Chemistry & Biochemistry (CBC) and Physics & Astronomy (P&A). These Departments collectively employ 55 full-time faculty, 3 full-time staff, and 17 part-time faculty. CBC and P&A facilities include a dedicated computer lab, 11 teaching labs, and 13 research labs, 11 of which are equipped with specialized hardware and software requirements. These facilities are located in the Physics/Chemistry Building, Miller Hall, and Holland Yates Hall. The successful candidate will be part of a team of IT specialists within the college who collectively support faculty, staff, and students across the five academic units and college office. The successful candidate reports directly to the CSM Dean.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide software support, maintenance, research, testing, and problem resolution services to the faculty, staff, and students of CBC and P&A.
• Maintain and support enterprise network printing, including color and large format printers.
• Manage, maintain, and inventory departmental computing labs and equipment.
• Coordinate with vendors and instrumentation specialists to deploy specialized instrumentation interfacing and support equipment in teaching and research labs.
• Specify, price, install, and support computers, peripherals, software, and supplies for CBC and P&A department faculty and staff.
• Support faculty and students in the use of classroom computer technologies including portable computers and video projection equipment in tandem with Classroom Technology Services to resolve issues.
• Supervise and train student assistants.
• Coordinate with CSM IT Specialist peers and University IT for technology planning, coordination, and information exchange within CSM and the University at large. The successful candidate is expected to work closely with the department heads of CBC and P&A departments.

 

Qualifications:

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills are crucial, as is the ability to collaborate effectively with varied faculty, staff and students, and other CSM and JMU IT Specialists.
• Significant experience managing and supporting Windows and MacOS systems along with a working knowledge of Linux endpoint environments and instrument control interfaces.
• The ability to triage and prioritize pressing issues dealing with multiple departments.
• Experience in supporting Dell enterprise and Apple workstations would be beneficial.
• Significant knowledge of current technologies and