Maker Expert (Technical Mentor - Hardware & Networking)

Nasscom Foundation

Experience - 4+ years’ as IoT/full-stack developer, maker, leader of maker communities

Reports to - Technology Head

Program: Social Innovation for Youth (SIFY)

The Social Innovation for Youth aims students to learn emerging technologies and work on their start-up ideas to build an MVP by the end of the program. The program offers opportunities for students to experience the journey of idea to product development and testing stages with support.

Skills/Knowledge

• Hands-on skills on maker platforms - Arduino, RPi, ESP. Hands-on experience in building electronic prototypes. Familiarity with IoT tech - Wi-Fi, BLE, LoRa, GSM
• Hardware System Design, Firmware, PCB Design, RF Design, CAM, CAD, DFM
• Communication systems and protocols - SPI, I2C, USART etc
• Deep understanding of Networking, OSI model, TCP/IP stack
• Maker and innovator at heart with a passion to help other makers/innovators
• Generalist, quick learner, abreast with latest trends in technology
• Strong communication skills visible in writing, conversation and presentations
• Traits: Motivator and facilitator, curious, self-driven, empathetic, flexible, high integrity, cross-functional organizational ability
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail in all tasks.
• Startup bent of mind, interest & knowledge of the startup & investor ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

• Supports and mentors student community across a network of virtual makerspaces, through video conferences, online forums
• Facilitates the creativity of student participants by demonstrating a genuine interest in their ideas, helps them define a minimum viable prototype and helps them build the MVP as a hands-on mentor
• Work closely with hardware vendor to ensure high quality product deliver to start-up teams.
• Ensure proper documentation and reporting by the hardware vendor
• Mentor’s participants in the program for presentation in the demo day
• Maintains constant contact with makerspace managers across India to understand operational/technical challenges and works with them to resolve
• Evaluate feasibility and quality of the teams at various stages in the program and evaluate and approve prototyping expenses for the teams
• Identify key industry experts for deep-dive workshops to be conducted & coordinate the workshops, webinars, hackathons, & other events along with Maker Managers
• Collate best practices in makerspace operations and innovations in various thingQbator makerspaces and disseminate them across the community
• Inspires program participants by building maker projects in new and emerging areas and sharing the experience over the thingQbator
• Research to identify new and emerging technology areas for the makerspace
• Work as a team member to support and further the goals of the Department.

Other Remarks

• Salary as per experience and organizations norms
• Fixed-term contract until March 2025, extendable depending on the performance of the individual and renewal of the program

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