Digitization Technician – Historical Document Preservation

About Ancestry

When you join Ancestry, you join a human-centered company where every person’s story is important. Ancestry®, the global leader in family history, connects everyone with their past so they can discover, preserve, and share their unique family stories. With our unparalleled collection of more than 65 billion records, over 3.5 million subscribers, and over 27 million people in our growing DNA network, customers can discover their family story and gain a new level of understanding about their lives. Over the past 40 years, we’ve built trusted relationships with millions of people who have chosen us as the platform for discovering, preserving, and sharing the most important information about themselves and their families.

We are committed to our location flexible work approach, allowing you to choose to work in the nearest office, from your home, or a hybrid of both (subject to location restrictions and roles that are required to be in the office- see the full list of eligible US locations HERE).

We will continue to hire and promote beyond the boundaries of our office locations, to enable broadened possibilities for employee diversity.

Ancestry encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.

Job Description

We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Digitization Technician to join our team of Contractors, supporting our mission to preserve and provide access to invaluable historical records. This position is ideal for people who are passionate about family history, preservation, and digitization.

The Digitization Technician will be responsible for the high-quality digital capture of historical materials using cameras, microfilm/microfiche scanners, and other digitization tools. This work requires careful handling of fragile records, strong technical skills, and a deep respect for the historical value of the materials.

This contract-based role involves on-site work at the Ancestry building located in Draper, UT. The position is part-time, Monday to Friday 9am-3pm, 30 hours a week and runs for one year. $16 per hour.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate camera stations and scanning equipment (including microfilm and microfiche scanners) to accurately digitize historical materials according to established guidelines.
• Handle delicate documents, film, and fiche with care and respect, ensuring preservation during the digitization process.
• Collaborate with project managers, technical staff, and production team members to ensure high-quality digital outputs.
• Troubleshoot and report technical issues with imaging hardware or software and work with IT for timely resolution.
• Maintain organized records of daily work and submit digitized files according to schedule and quality expectations.
• Absorb and ship/receive microfilm, microfiche, and physical paper content in an organized and efficient manner.
• Able to lift and move boxes up to 50 lbs and stand/sit for extended periods while operating equipment.
• Participate in regular team check-ins and status updates to track project progress.

Required Skills And Qualifications

• A demonstrated interest in history, or genealogy, with a strong desire to learn digitization standards and preservation skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Educational qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills for working with on-site and remote teams.
• Technical proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
• Experience or training in careful handling of historical documents is strongly preferred.

Why Archivist Traits Matter For This Role

• Preservation Mindset: A strong sense of responsibility toward safeguarding irreplaceable historical records for future generations.
• Meticulousness: Exceptional attention to detail to ensure every image captured is of the highest quality and adheres to archival standards.
• Respect for Historical Materials: A deep appreciation for the fragility and significance of the documents being digitized, as well as adherence to proper handling protocols.
• Organizational Skills: The ability to manage workflows, maintain accurate records of digitized items, and coordinate between on-site and remote teams.
• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with imaging technology and archival standards, ensuring that digitization efforts meet or exceed expectations for accuracy and quality.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• The ideal candidate is a motivated, process-oriented individual who excels in a focused environment and maintains a high standard of accuracy.
• This position is well-suited for those seeking to gain hands-on experience in the preservation field or for students looking to apply technical skills toward professional imaging and digitization.
• While a background in history or archival studies is beneficial, the primary requirements are patience, strong attention to detail, and a proactive willingness to learn new workflows.

Additional Information

Ancestry is an Equal Opportunity Employer that makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, mental or physical disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, citizenship, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

In addition, Ancestry will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

All job offers are contingent on a background check screen that complies with applicable law.

For candidates who live in San Francisco, CA, pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Ancestry will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.