Digital Imaging Technician

Princeton University Library seeks a candidate to become a part of our digital imaging studio group, working with a variety of cultural heritage materials from our world-class collections. This opportunity to democratize access and help support academic pursuits of students and scholars from around the globe provides those with digital imaging skills the chance to work on the preparation and photography of manuscripts, artifacts, photographs, and artwork. This is a full-time, Monday to Friday position.

The successful candidate will principally use a custom copy camera system, consisting of a copy stand, studio lights and specialized high-resolution cameras. Additional work may include working with a bound material copy system, FX DSLRs, mirrorless camera systems, or flatbed scanners. In addition, the Digital Imaging Technician will have responsibility for image processing, editing, and organizing digital files on Macintosh and Windows systems, as well as photographically documenting conservation treatment when needed. The successful candidate will use bibliographic data from catalog/finding aid records to develop directory structure and potentially add structural data to items using customized repository tools.

New to the studio’s portfolio of work are specialized imaging services, which may include multispectral imaging, 3D photogrammetry or photometric stereo imaging. This work is done for researchers and scholars. The successful candidate will be familiar with these types of specialized imaging practices and will be capable of learning new techniques and practices with regard to these imaging services.

Digital Imaging Technicians are under the direct supervision of the Library Digital Imaging Manager and work both independently and collaboratively depending on projects. The successful candidate will document workflow, from retrieving and securing materials through image capture, processing, repository ingest and return of materials.

Those invited to interview should be prepared to demonstrate general image editing ability and show photographic skill through a small sampling of photographs, in analog or digital form.

Requirements:

Education: Bachelor’s degree

• Strong photographic background and experience with high-end digital imaging systems prominent in cultural heritage photography; high-resolution medium format digital backs, DSLRs, mirrorless digital camera systems, copy stands, and photographic lighting
• Experience with Capture One photographic software as well as Adobe image editing applications
• Familiarity with bibliographic systems to sufficiently identify descriptive elements of materials photographed
• Ability to work for extended periods in a low-light, color-managed environment
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary production team setting as well as independently
• Good decision-making, communication, record-keeping and basic math skills

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience handling special collections materials, including bound materials, graphic arts and manuscripts for digital library photography and conservation documentation
• Skill in using Macintosh and Windows computer systems and associated hardware and software, including Capture One, Adobe Creative Suite applications, calibration software, spreadsheet and database software
• Ability to discriminate tonal variations and color fidelity of digital reproductions in relation to original objects
• Ability to work accurately in a detail- and production-oriented environment

Additional experience:

• Facilitating preservation assessments and photographic documentation
• Recording, through an online registry, the incoming and outgoing items from the imaging studio
• Assisting in coordinating with curators and other stakeholders on the organization and preparation of original items for photography
• Assisting in consultation with stakeholders on the feasibility of digital photography of items approved for digitization

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS