(This is an HTML rendering of  the UNR form, "Position Description Questionaire".  Page 1 of the form,
with instructions and procedures needed to obtain administrative approval for the postion have been removed
to improve readability.   The approved Position Description Questionnaire will be a primary statement of job
expectations and considered by supervisors in periodic assessments of job performance.)
 
 
POSITION DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRE
ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY
Title:  Systems Analyst, Seismic
Department:  Seismological Laboratory, Mackay School of Mines
 
 
1.
Summary Statement: State the major function(s) of the position and its role in the University.
The major function of this position is to manage and continuously improve the computer systems and software at the heart of Nevada Seismological Laboratory seismic network operations.  In detail,

To maintain and improve computer hardware, software, and networking required for seismic data acquisition, analysis, and preservation.

To develop and extend software and systems to monitor seismic data quality and seismic systems performance.

To maintain and extend systems for seismic data and meta-data availability, including real-time shares, automated and web access, and archives.

To develop reports on seismic data quality, availability, and completeness.
 
2.
List the major responsibilities, including percentage of time devoted to each.  Provide enough detail to enable a person outside the department to understand the job.
Overall responsibility is to maintain seismic network computers and systems in a state of operational efficiency for day-to-day operations and readiness for a significant earthquake.

a.)Maintain and administer Sun micro-computer hosts, operating systems, disk resources, application software, and system backups.  Hardware responsibilities include setup of new Sun workstations, and troubleshooting and repair of problems on SparcStation and newer workstations, disks, tape drives, printers, and networking equipment.  Install, upgrade, patch, and secure Solaris unix workstation software, drivers, and RAID systems.  Install and maintain shared application software for operations and research applications.  Configure NFS and NIS systems, and interface with campus DNS.(25%)

b.)Maintain and improve systems that manage seismic data flow and detect operational alarm and error conditions, and that notify NSL staff of earthquakes and problems.  This task requires editing and authoring c-shell and Perl scripts, evaluating the hardware and software contributions to operational efficiency, reducing spurious alarm conditions, and anticipating and resolving potential system failures.(10%)

c.)Develop and extend seismic data sharing capabilities within and outside the NSL.  Within NSL automate and improve methods for earthquake reporting, and for making earthquake information and seismic data available rapidly.  Maintain archives of seismic and meta-data for research and reporting applications.  Outside NSL, maintain real time data sharing with neighboring and national seismic networks.  Develop and maintain network operations aspects of the NSL web presence.(30%)

d.)Develop and maintain software to monitor incoming seismic data, improve completeness, and detect bad or deteriorating data quality.  This task entails monitoring acquired data channels, working with seismologists to develop quality metrics, and implementing measurement methods to evaluate station performance.(25%)

e.)Maintain PC connectivity to disks and other shared peripherals.(5%)

f.)Install, maintain, and upgrade application software used in a seismological analysis and research environment.  Obtain, install, and manage software licenses as needed for these applications.(5%)

Position Description

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3.
Describe how the decisions and judgments made by this position and the results of work performed impact the department, division, and/or University as a whole.
This job will be primarily one of computer and software systems development and support.  Day-to-day decisions ordinarily would impact NSL personnel.  Systems architecture decisions will impact seismic network performance and could affect preparedness of computing systems for a significant earthquake.  Errors may only be revealed in near-crisis situations.  Changes impacting seismic network operations or the NSL public web presence would normally be coordinated with supervisory level staff, but this position must provide computer and software expertise by which to recommend changes.
4.
Describe the knowledge, skills and abilities essential to successful performance of this job.
Solaris systems administration skills, including O/S configuration, maintenance, and optimization, NIS and NFS management, and system security.

Sun hardware troubleshooting and card-level hardware maintenance.

Ability to site-customize, compile, and install large software packages.

Programming capability in major Unix scripting languages.

Competence in the C programming language including Unix system-level programming.

Familiarity with installation and configuration of Unix-PC interface software.
5.
Describe the type of personal contacts encountered in performing the duties of the job.  Explain the nature and purpose of these contacts; i.e., to provide services, to resolve problems, to negotiate.
Work with seismologists to develop data monitoring techniques and advise on issues of performance and efficiency.  Provide user support for hardware and software.  Engage in occasional peer-level contact with data managers of other seismic networks and UNR campus systems administrators.

Position Description

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6.
Indicate the minimum qualifications which are necessary in filling this position ...
A.
Minimum educational level, including appropriate field, if any.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in computer science, software engineering, or a closely allied field, with two years of in-field experience; 

or

Master's degree from an accredited institution in computer science, software engineering, or a closely allied field, with one year of in-field experience.
B.
Minimum type and amount of work experience, in addition to the above required education, necessary for a person entering this position.
Bachelor's applicants must have one year of multi-computer Unix systems administration experience, two years total between programming and systems administration, and evidence of competence in C-language programming.

Masters degree applicants must have one year of multi-computer Unix systems administration experience and evidence of competence in C-language programming.

C.
Indicate any license or certificate required for this position.
None.