The UT Libraries seek a collaborative, detail-oriented, highly motivated individual to manage our LTO archive, which contains over a decade’s worth of valuable digital collections material and is always growing. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical skills to operate independently in Linux command line environments; an understanding of data integrity, its importance, and the skills and practices that maintain it; and a desire to lead improvements to our digital preservation infrastructure and workflows.

 

This position provides technical expertise and performs operations supporting digital preservation workflows, including LTO (Linear Tape-Open) tape archive administration and distributed storage management; disk/server space administration; digital forensics software/hardware configuration and management; and support for processing of born-digital archival collections.

 

Responsibilities

• Perform LTO tape archive operations, including: server building and maintenance; write preservation data to tape; manifest searching and data restoration; migrate older generations of tape; and manage off-site tape storage vendor relationship
• Advance and support digital preservation practices at UT Libraries, including: provide technical expertise and training to UT Libraries staff to improve digital preservation workflows; develop and implement scripts/commands (Linux, Python, bash, Perl, etc.) to improve processes; investigate new storage technologies; and implement redundant/distributed digital preservation storage.
• Advance and support processing and long-term stewardship of born-digital archival collections, including: collaborate with various stakeholders to develop guidelines and training resources for management of born-digital archival collections; provide support processing born-digital archival collections; and provide technical support for digital forensics equipment and software used in digital archives workflows.
• Manage and contribute to documentation within the unit; including: maintaining records of LTO tape archive operations and documenting preservation processes.
• Liaise with UT Libraries DevOps to manage unit’s working disk space.

 

Required Qualifications

• Systems administration training and experience, or equivalent experience, such as:
  • Broad knowledge of server, database, and storage infrastructures both on-premise and in the cloud, and ability to perform hands-on administration/engineering.
  • Strong scripting/command line skills (Linux, Python, bash, Perl, etc.)
  • Familiarity with information security and IT service management concepts and processes.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and sleuthing abilities. Understanding of LTO archives.
• Meticulous organizational and recordkeeping skills. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Evidence of high level of initiative and self-motivation.
• Strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility; awareness of professional discourse about DEI and representation in digital preservation and archiving practices.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Library or Information Studies (or equivalent); or a Master's degree in Archival Studies (or equivalent).
• Experience working in a technical role in an academic or research library, archive, or other institution in the cultural heritage sector.
• Knowledge of digital curation and preservation techniques, technologies, and standards, including sustainable file formats, preservation packaging formats such as BagIt, and preservation metadata.
• Ability to research and make recommendations about emerging and industry-standard data storage products, tools, and practices. Experience administering AWS cloud storage.
• Experience administering or using Archivematica or other digital preservation systems.
• Knowledge of techniques and technologies for recovering data from a wide variety of physical media, including floppy disks, hard drives, and other media of various ages and conditions.