What are the responsibilities and job description for the Electronics Specialist position at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
Posting Information
Department
ES CW-227310
Career Area
Facilities and Skilled Trades
Is this an internal only recruitment?
No
Posting Open Date
12/05/2025
Application Deadline
12/22/2025
Position Type
Permanent Staff (SHRA)
Position Title
Electronics Specialist - Advanced
Salary Grade Equivalent
NC10 / GN12
Working Title
Electronics Specialist
Position Number
00031650
Vacancy ID
P020683
Full-time/Part-time Permanent/Time-Limited
Full-Time Permanent
If time-limited, estimated duration of appointment
Hours per week
40
Work Schedule
Primarily Monday – Friday 6:30am to 3:00pm.
This position is ADVERSE WEATHER, EMERGENCY EVENT and COMMUNICABLE DISEASE MANDATORY ON-SITE PRIMARY. (This means the employee in this position is expected to report to or remain at work during adverse weather and emergency events and, if deemed necessary, to work a differing schedule or shift than normally assigned).
Participation in On-Call rotation.
This position is ADVERSE WEATHER, EMERGENCY EVENT and COMMUNICABLE DISEASE MANDATORY ON-SITE PRIMARY. (This means the employee in this position is expected to report to or remain at work during adverse weather and emergency events and, if deemed necessary, to work a differing schedule or shift than normally assigned).
Participation in On-Call rotation.
Work Location
CHAPEL HILL, NC
Position Location
North Carolina, US
Hiring Range
$37849 - $81,000
Pay Band Information
To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet.
Position Summary Information
Be a Tar Heel!
A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.
One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.
University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
The purpose of Chilled Water Systems (CWS) is to produce and distribute chilled water for approximately 155 buildings located at the main campus and two (2) satellite campuses in a cost effective, efficient and reliable manner. Chilled water is produced in two ways. One is by an extensive chilled water generating system – the single, virtual chilled water plant, comprised of four (4) networked chiller plants that are operated as a single virtual system and the second is by stand-alone chillers that are building specific. Additionally, Chilled Water Systems provides electric and steam load balance for Cogeneration Systems. CWS is part of UNC Energy Services.
Position Summary
This position is responsible for an assigned area of distributed control system and instrumentation installation, commissioning, maintenance and repair. This position must commission and operate existing and new plants and bridges. The control systems and associated instruments operate large-scale chilled water plants, a sophisticated Thermal Energy Storage System and Free Cooling Heat Exchanges, future plant/facility growth and on-going upgrading of existing controls and power electronics. The plants must operate continuously:
- Maintenance, troubleshooting, repair and calibration of existing plant and chilled water bridge controls and instrumentation, large variable frequency drives and uninterruptible power supplies at chiller plants and campus buildings.
- Installation, calibration and commissioning of new and retrofit chiller plant and chilled water bridge instrumentation and final control elements.
- Configure and operate the District Cooling Systems to include system starts after major outages, problem diagnosis and solutions, trend analysis, graphics, alarms and reports for the SCADA system.
- This is an Emergency Duty position which requires incumbent to work during periods of adverse weather or other University or Chilled Water Systems emergency.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Associate’s degree in electronics; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
Associates Degree in electronics; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Experience troubleshooting, maintaining, and installing large variable frequency drives and control systems in an industrial setting or for a district energy system.
Combination of related progressive on-the-job training, self-study, and experience in a similar environment using similar control systems and tools.
Position is:
Valid NC Driver’s License.
Position participates in an On-call Rotation within the I&C workgroup.
Required:
Experience troubleshooting, maintaining, and installing large variable frequency drives and control systems in an industrial setting or for a district energy system.
Combination of related progressive on-the-job training, self-study, and experience in a similar environment using similar control systems and tools.
Position is:
- Emergency Duty (example – active shooter or equipment failure).
- Communicable Disease Mandatory Primary On-site (example – pandemic or other health emergency).
- Severe Weather (example – hurricane or snow).
Valid NC Driver’s License.
Position participates in an On-call Rotation within the I&C workgroup.
Required:
- Extensive knowledge of wiring diagrams, process, and control diagrams as they relate to distributed control systems such as is used in the chilled water plants.
- Working knowledge of continuous process control principles and practices.
- Working knowledge of wide variety of test equipment such as digital meters, oscilloscopes, and calibrators.
- In-depth understanding of the effects and methods of resolving problems with large PWM motor drives, harmonics, standing wave phenomena, electromagnetic and radio frequency interference, control system grounding, and transient mitigation techniques.
- Proficiency in the use of CAD drawing programs, Microsoft Office.
- Ability to work successfully on multiple projects within limited time periods and/or accelerated schedules.
- Excellent analytical ability required.
- Ability to plan and work independently and take responsibility for plant and system operation.
- Ability to assess situations and make decisions, taking responsibility for those decisions.
- Good verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
Associate’s degree in Industrial Electronics, Instrumentation, and Process Controls. Related technical degree in computer programming, electrical or mechanical engineering may be considered.
Combination of related progressive on the job training, self-study, and experience in a similar environment using similar control systems and tools.
Combination of related progressive on the job training, self-study, and experience in a similar environment using similar control systems and tools.
Required Licenses/Certifications
Valid Drivers License
Special Physical/Mental Requirements
Position will work in a very noisy environment requiring hearing protection. Some work must be performed in high places such as cooling towers.
Employee works in close proximity to high voltages found in large horsepower machinery while operating. Position is expected to work on energized electrical equipment as deemed necessary by management. May be exposed to hazardous substances.
Multiple priorities, changing weather conditions, manpower, equipment availability, unexpected emergencies, and cascading failures, short periods of time to analyze and take action. Equipment availability affects scheduled maintenance and retrofit projects for instruments. Daily, weekly, monthly and annually activities must adjust to weather induced changes in operation. New types of cooling technology and operating procedures require on-going changes to the instrumentation. New proprietary vendor equipment and upgrades to existing equipment require learning new procedures and techniques to install and maintain control systems.
Employee works in close proximity to high voltages found in large horsepower machinery while operating. Position is expected to work on energized electrical equipment as deemed necessary by management. May be exposed to hazardous substances.
Multiple priorities, changing weather conditions, manpower, equipment availability, unexpected emergencies, and cascading failures, short periods of time to analyze and take action. Equipment availability affects scheduled maintenance and retrofit projects for instruments. Daily, weekly, monthly and annually activities must adjust to weather induced changes in operation. New types of cooling technology and operating procedures require on-going changes to the instrumentation. New proprietary vendor equipment and upgrades to existing equipment require learning new procedures and techniques to install and maintain control systems.
Campus Security Authority Responsibilities
Not Applicable.
Position/Schedule Requirements
Evening work occasionally, Exposure to Hazardous Materials, Night work occasionally, Overtime occasionally, Valid NC Driver’s License, Weekend work occasionally
Salary : $37,849 - $81,000