Part-Time Lab Assistants (x5)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Key performance areas include, but are not limited to

• Conduct and support weekly practical laboratory sessions with students on campus in accordance with approved module requirements and practical activities.

• Assist in preparing, upgrading, adapting, and configuring laboratory setups to support experimentation, demonstrations, and practical learning activities.

• Guide students in the correct procedures for simulation, programming, circuit design, testing, debugging, and fault-finding exercises.

• Provide technical support to students during practical activities involving Arduino, ESP32, embedded systems, electronic circuits, and related development platforms.

• Support students during project-based learning, providing technical guidance within the scope of prescribed projects.

• Facilitate student access to relevant computing, programming and simulation

• Assist students with the use of software and development environments required for practical and project activities.

• Assist lecturers during practical evaluation and assessment sessions.

• Maintain accurate records of equipment usage, equipment faults and damages, maintenance activities, and laboratory interventions.

• Maintain appropriate practical and assessment records for experiments and laboratory sessions.

• Assist with the preparation, testing, and readiness of laboratory equipment and practical workstations before scheduled sessions.

• Report equipment faults, software issues, infrastructure requirements, and other laboratory-related matters to the relevant academic or technical staff.

• Ensure that laboratory workspaces, equipment, and student workstations are maintained in a safe, clean, functional, and orderly condition.

• Perform other reasonable technical and laboratory support duties related to the position as assigned.

APPLICATION CRITERIA

Qualification

• Advanced Diploma/BTech Engineering Electrical: Computer Systems Engineering

• Advanced Diploma/BTech: Mechatronics

• BEng: Mechatronics/ Computer & Electronic Engineering/ Computer Engineering

Experience

• A minimum of one to two years of relevant technical experience in an institute of higher education, OR two (2) years of professional industrial experience.

• Worked as a lab technician or assistant (an advantage)

• Worked as a tutor before (an advantage)

Skills

• A high level of discipline and reliability.

• Excellent understanding of ESP32 and Arduino architecture

• Excellent communication (report-writing and verbal) skills.

• Expertise in CAD simulation software (e.g. Multisim, Proteus, Wokwi, KiCad, etc).

• Expertise in programming languages such as C, C++ and Python

• Ability to deploy a lab environment using open-source software such as VS Code, PyCharm, and Code::Blocks

• Good understanding of computer networks

• Proficient in operating systems (Windows and Linux)

• Good interpersonal skills (Collegiality, team player and time management).

• Problem-solving and critical thinking Skills.

Please email applications to recruitment11@vut.ac.za and quote the post reference and post description in the subject line.