Job Description

Job Title: Lab Technician

Driven. Engaging. Innovative. Do these words motivate you? If so, then we want to talk with you. Academy of Art University offers a rewarding employment experience for those who excel in a dynamic environment and who can consistently deliver high-caliber customer service. We thrive on ingenuity and pursue ideas every day that lead to extraordinary opportunities for tomorrow.

Academy of Art University is seeking a Lab Technician for the School of 3D Animation and VFX for the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters. The Lab Technicians provide professional customer service by communicating and troubleshooting directly with the students, faculty, and staff on a variety of matters that ensure efficient and effective utilization of resources within the University's labs, equipment facilities and shop spaces. The Lab Technicians are responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting software issues, investigating new solutions, and streamlining process of various software systems.

This is a full-time, fixed term position working ONSITE in San Francisco up to 40 hours per week.

Responsibilities:

• Support students, staff, and instructors to resolve academic/technical issues in the onsite lab & rLab (virtual lab).
• Provide excellent customer service. Provide a cordial and friendly presence to students, faculty, and staff.
• Monitor student use of the onsite lab and rLab. Use the WCO tools to check-in/check-out students. Communicate and coordinate with the Campus Hosts to ensure smooth workflow.
• Ensure that defaulting students are not attending classes or using equipment.
• Assist students with software/equipment troubleshooting in-person, through email, Discord, or Zoom.
• Collaborate with IT- Classroom Support Group to assist instructors and students with computer and software issues, to ensure that teachers can get back to instruction in the classroom as quickly as possible.
• Assist with department run exhibitions and festivals.
• Help maintain departmental aesthetic (change and update displays within department), including desktop publishing (fliers, videos, and other promotional media).
• Check the status of all equipment in the lab and the classrooms.
• Protect equipment from theft and vandalism.
• Maintain a clean, functional, and productive learning environment.
• Providing support and assistance to the Department Director.
• Maintain guidelines set forth by the Academy of Art University

Qualifications:

• Expert knowledge in one of more of the following software's: Autodesk Maya, Z Brush, Mari, Unreal Engine, Substance Painter, Houdini, Nuke, Arnold, Adobe CC Suite.
• Must be able to work onsite in San Francisco (there will be opportunities to work remotely as well)
• Flexible and willing to work weekends and various hours.
• Possess strong troubleshooting skills in both hardware and software on PC/Windows 10.
• Working knowledge of video editing, audio mixers.
• Excellent customer service skills and be safety-minded always.
• Friendly and patient personality and enjoy working with a diverse student population.

Compensation: $22.00/hr

Academy of Art University offers full-time employees health insurance, 401k options, paid vacation based on years of service (15 days' accrual at start), paid holidays, paid sick leave and a commuter benefit program. The Academy also offers full-time employees an opportunity to take one undergraduate course tuition free each semester.

Application Deadline: September 5, 2025

Academy of Art University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered regardless of age, Aids or HIV positive status, marital status, domestic partnership, medical condition or genetic characteristics, race or national origin, pregnancy, religion, sex, gender identity, gender or sexual orientation, name change, citizenship, physical or mental disability, veteran status or other status protected by federal, state, local or other law. Academy of Art University will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. Equal access to the hiring process, services, and employment is available to all persons. Applicants requiring accommodations to the application and/or interview process should contact the Human Resources Department at HR@academyart.edu.

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