The Exhibit Technician performs maintenance, repair and upkeep on exhibitions at NYSCI.

The primary function for this role is to maintain and repair exhibits on the museum floor. The technician works with the Exhibit Experience and Operations team to field radio calls about broken exhibits and fix them in a timely manner.

Specific tasks include the following, there are four kinds of repair this position will be responsible for:

1. Short-term fixes, such as something that can be fixed with power cycling or changing a fuse.
2. Medium-term fixes, which might require sourcing and replacing new parts, painting, refinishing exhibit surfaces, or changing variables in a software program to affect its play.
3. Long-term iterations which would require collaboration with the rest of the exhibits team– Design Development, Experience Operations and Fabrication to identify and design an iteration or upgrade to the experience itself. Design support, observational and operational support, and fabrication support all exist within our team and we perform these tasks collaboratively.
4. Routine maintenance

1. Identify and implement solutions to repair exhibits. Sometimes fixes require following a manual and prescribed instructions, sometimes they require flexible thinking and borrowing a solution from another realm.
2. Respond to radio calls that identify exhibit issues on the museum floor.
3. Record broken exhibits into an existing tracking system. We use MONDAY.COM
4. Work with others on the Exhibits team to identify solutions to complete repairs.
5. Identify and purchase materials related to repairs; track spending in the existing tracking system.
6. Record steps to fix things, maintain manuals, and train others to support exhibit repair.
7. Prototype ideas for repairs and upkeep where needed.
8. Create and keep up to date schedules of routine exhibit maintenance.

The technician will work with colleagues across the Exhibits team to design, fabricate and implement design upgrades to existing exhibits that pose experiential, operational or chronic maintenance challenges. This will include:

1. Identify, scope, research and design solutions to chronic exhibit maintenance problems.
2. Work with colleagues in the fabrication shop to fabricate solutions to chronic exhibit maintenance problems as assigned.
3. Work with the Exhibit Operations team and Shop Director to help identify opportunities to improve chronic weaknesses in exhibit functions and maintenance.

The technician should have a strong knowledge of the following:

Materials, tools and techniques:

1. Knowledge of carpentry, metal and plastics, AV systems, electronics, electro-mechanical repair.
2. Knowledge of basic software programming – enough to competently alter variables or values in existing code.
3. Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, and material uses as they apply to existing exhibits in need of repair.
4. Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the repair of exhibits, buildings, or other structures.
5. Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
6. Maintain onsite tools, equipment and parts and pieces to repair exhibits in a timely manner.
7. Knowledge, experience, (patience and curiosity) with problem solving AV, electronic and electromechanical systems. (You will be troubleshooting out-dated AV configurations (from the 1990s and beyond).

Troubleshooting:

1. Bring a design-thinking perspective to troubleshooting broken exhibits.

Collaboration and team support

1. Commitment to maintaining engaging, accessible, inclusive hands-on exhibit experiences.
2. Support NYSCI’s mission, to nurture passionate learners, critical thinkers, and active citizens through an approach called Design, Make, Play, and participate in the process of translating that mission into the design of NYSCI's exhibits. Design, Make, Play in exhibits translates to free-choice, user focused, user-driven, inclusive and accessible play environments that foster collaboration, creative risk taking, wonder, curiosity, delight and visitor agency.
3. Balancing the priorities of repair, maintenance, exhibit experience and audience safety.
4. Train and support learning of, by and with teammates as it relates to repair, maintenance and shop tools.
5. Create and maintain documentation to support the needs of repair and maintenance collectively and into the future.
6. Draw on an existing passion and knowledge about the use of technologies to support creative, engaged learning to identify potential solutions to exhibits in need of repair, maintenance and iteration.
7. Draw on strong communications skills to express ideas clearly in written, oral and visual communications.
8. Listen actively to what others are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate.
9. Experience considering the needs and interests of diverse audiences of children.

None at this time. This position could potentially include supervision of interns or floor staff (part-time, high school and college-aged NYSCI employees).

This position requires expertise with both furniture, mechanical systems and electronics; a combination of flexible thinking with a hacker mindset and an ability to follow guides and manuals; willingness to collaborate with team members and other departments; and the ability to support a vision of educational and creative excellence for NYSCI’s exhibition spaces.

Education: Associates degree or Trade School Certificate, BA or BS in a field relevant to physical computing, engineering, design and fabrication or equivalent experience.

A minimum of two years continuing to technical support of an event, building or system. Other relevant knowledge and skills include the following:

1. Demonstrated ability to repair things with and without a manual.
2. Demonstrable ability to solve problems and implement solutions flexibly and thoroughly.
3. Experience or at least tolerance of working in chaotic or loud environments that serve families and children.
4. Experience as a collaborator in the design and the fabrication of interactive science exhibits is a plus.

Customer Service

1. Ability to communicate effectively with persons outside the organization, represent the organization to customers, the public and other external audiences, through writing, telephone or in-person.
2. Ability to actively listen to what others are saying, take time to understand points being made, ask questions as appropriate and be a responsive, reflective participant in complex discussions.
3. Ability to provide up to date information to supervisors, co-workers, and other internal personnel.

• Experience in a role with mechanical and technical maintenance or troubleshooting.
• Lift driving, forklift driving and moving things via a pallet jack is a big plus.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs.

Full-Time, salaried. Must be available to work weekends as part of a weekly schedule and some holidays.

Commensurate with education, skills and experience; includes an excellent NYSCI benefits package. Anticipated salary range: $52,000 to $58,000.

• Pension plan and 401k plan
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare, dependent care and commuter benefits
• Health, dental and vision insurance options
• Free life insurance coverage
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 13 paid holidays off
• Flexible work schedules
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free onsite parking

Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@nysci.org. Please include the job title in the subject line. No phone calls.

The New York Hall of Science is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and innovative environment with the best employees. We provide employment opportunities without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military service, marital status or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. We support a drug-free workplace.

If there are preparations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please let us know.