Distinguished Astronomical Instrument Engineer
About The Position
Draper is seeking a scientist or engineer with deep experience in astronomy, optical engineering, optomechanics, or astrophysics, along with hands-on experience using optics-based celestial imaging instruments and astronomy-based data reduction and analysis. The successful candidate will contribute to complex technology development efforts by proposing, capturing, and leading large-scale astronomical instrumentation projects; conceptualizing, designing, and modeling novel, complex observing instruments; and building, training, and mentoring engineering teams. A proven record of engineering achievement, proposal development and business capture, external business and vendor management, technical directorship, and team leadership is expected. The candidate must also be able to quickly learn new skills on the job. The role independently formulates hardware instrument solutions to complex multidisciplinary problems, helps customers define needs and requirements, and serves as a subject matter expert in hardware instrument device development. It leads large, technically diverse hardware instrument projects; designs experiments and experimental hardware; collaborates on prototype and production hardware development and system integration; and prepares and presents technical documentation, reports, and test results. Applicants selected must obtain and maintain a government security clearance; a clearance is preferred. The position is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The posted US base salary range is $75,000 to $220,000. Draper describes workplace flexibility and several employee activities and programs intended to support work-life balance.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Engineering.
- 15 or more years of experience in Hardware Instrument Engineering or a related field.
- Deep experience in astronomy, optical engineering, optomechanics, or astrophysics.
- Hands-on technical experience with optics-based celestial imaging instruments and astronomy-based data reduction and analysis.
- Proven track record in engineering excellence and achievement, proposal development and business capture, external business and vendor management, technical directorship, and team leadership and mentorship.
- Ability to quickly learn skills on the job.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Understanding of the design, development, and application of a wide variety of instruments.
- Understanding of processes used in fabrication of precision instrument hardware.
- Thorough understanding of applied mathematics and physics.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency with general modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB, CAD software, FEA software, and/or other discipline-relevant design and analysis tools.
- Applicants selected for the position must obtain and maintain a government security clearance.
Nice To Haves
- Master's or Ph.D. degree.
- Government security clearance.
Responsibilities
- Independently formulate hardware instrument solutions to complex, multidisciplinary problems while understanding customer strategic priorities.
- Help customers shape their needs and develop hardware instrument requirements for programs addressing challenging technical problems.
- Serve as a subject matter expert in hardware instrument device development, with broad knowledge across related technical disciplines.
- Lead large, technically diverse hardware instrument projects.
- Design experiments and experimental hardware to determine which design concepts are viable and optimal.
- Collaborate with engineers to design and develop prototype and production hardware for application needs.
- Collaborate with other groups to integrate precision instruments into larger systems and meet performance metrics.
- Draft and present formal technical documents, reports, and testing results.
- Propose, capture, and lead large-scale astronomical instrumentation projects.
- Conceptualize, design, and model novel and complex observing instruments.
- Build, train, and mentor engineering teams and team members.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Workplace flexibility.
- Employee clubs, including photography and yoga.
- Health and finance workshops.
- Off-site social events.
- Discounts to local museums and cultural activities.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
