Artificial Intelligence Special Projects Developer (1 year-term)

Date Posted: 10/30/2024
Req ID: 40329
Faculty/Division: Ofc of the Chief Information Officer
Department: Academic, Research & Collaborative Tech
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00057292

Description:

About us:
The Enterprise Academic, Research & Collaborative Technologies (ARC) group is a partnership between the Chief Information Officer’s (CIO) division and the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation (CTSI). ARC is a central department responsible for all matters pertaining to the development, operation, maintenance and effectiveness of core teaching and learning systems and enterprise collaborative technologies at U of T. Included within these responsibilities are the academic toolbox (the learning management system and associated applications), web hosting services (CMS), collaborative applications (i.e., MS Teams), enterprise video-mediated applications (i.e. Zoom), and generative artificial intelligence solutions (i.e. Copilot). This responsibility includes vendor relationship management with both for-profit suppliers as well as non-profit and consortium partners. ARC also serves as the main connector between the CIO's portfolio and library technology services.

Your opportunity:
The Ontario Council of University Libraries is working in collaboration with University of Toronto and Scholars Portal to explore opportunities for enhancing library collections and services through adoption of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AIML) technologies. We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented Artificial Intelligence Special Projects Developer to join our team and contribute to this exciting field within the library sector. Reporting to the AIML Technical Manager and working closely with Scholars Portal librarians and technical staff, the ideal candidate will have a passion for technology and its application in academic libraries, with a focus on enhancing user experience and operational efficiency through innovative AIML projects. As a core member of the project team, the candidate will be tasked with data analysis and visualization to support decision-making processes; as well as developing and applying AIML techniques to curate and enhance library data sets, ensuring adherence to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). The candidate will have an opportunity to work collaboratively on initiatives that aim to transform research libraries through innovative AIML applications, including but not limited to the following potential projects:

• Audio-to-Text Transcription: Exploration of possible open-source transcription models that convert spoken audio files into accessible text, enhancing the discoverability and usability of audio archives.
• Metadata Creation: Explore the use of AIML to automate the creation of metadata for e-resource collections, improving the accuracy and completeness of library catalogues.
• Data Curation: Explore the automation of data curation tasks to ensure research datasets meet FAIR principles, leveraging AIML to enhance the efficiency of dataset reviews.

Other strategic initiatives and projects focusing on infrastructure development, capacity building, and the application of AIML to enhance library services and operations.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Writing complex technical code
• Designing, testing, and modifying programming code
• Analyzing and writing programming code structures based on user requirements
• Evaluating programming code to ensure it has validity, compatibility, and that it meets appropriate standards
• Developing technical application implementation plans
• Commenting on programming code for the purposes of standardization and consistency
• Creating complex and technical documentation and user support guides
• Serving as a resource on specific issues to a group of specialists

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Studies, Computer Science or equivalent combination of experience and education
• Minimum four years related experience working in web development of applications and systems administration
• Experience with programming languages, specifically but not limited to, Python, SQL, Java and HTML
• Experience with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.
• Familiarity with natural language processing (NLP) concepts and libraries (e.g., NLTK, spaCy).
• Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and software design principles.
• Proficiency in version control systems (e.g., GitHub/GitLab).
• Experience in authoring technical documents
• Proficiency with graph, relational and NoSQL databases
• Demonstrated initiative, creativity and problem solving skills
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritize competing priorities and meet deadlines
• Commitment to accuracy and attention to detail while meeting overall project goals and deadlines
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team and to present, assess, understand, and respond to user needs
• Commitment to ethical AI practices and data privacy.
• Enthusiasm for continuous learning and professional development in the rapidly evolving field of AIML.

Assets (Nonessential):

• Experience in a university or post-secondary environment
• Understanding of library operations and the role of AIML in transforming library services.
• Practical experience in AI development with Python coding and with techniques including Large Language Model (LLM) inference, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and model fine-tuning.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Adaptable
• Motivated self-learner
• Multi-tasker
• Problem solver

NOTE: This is a 1 year-term position.

Closing Date: 11/17/2024, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: USW Pay Band 12 - $79,874. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $102,147. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Information Technology (IT)
Recruiter: Khristen Sivaramalingam

Lived Experience Statement:
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.