Electrical Engineer

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy•Tucson, AZ

12d•Onsite

About The Position

NSF NOIRLab is seeking an Electrical Systems Engineer to support operations at Kitt Peak National Observatory, with primary responsibility for the Mayall 4-meter Telescope electrical infrastructure. This position is responsible for assessing, maintaining, improving, and ensuring the reliability of the telescope’s power systems, including generators, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, and power distribution networks. The Engineer will evaluate the current electrical infrastructure and develop and implement necessary upgrades to ensure stable and continuous power delivery to critical telescope systems. A key responsibility of this role is the design and implementation of robust backup power strategies to ensure operational continuity during critical events. The position is based in Tucson, Arizona, with regular work at the Kitt Peak summit. Transportation between Tucson and the summit is provided.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
Minimum of 7–10 years of professional experience in design, operation, and maintenance of industrial or mission-critical electrical systems.
Demonstrated experience with generator systems, UPS systems, power distribution systems, and switchgear.
Experience assessing and upgrading legacy electrical infrastructure.
Knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC) and applicable safety standards.
Ability to work effectively both independently and in cross-disciplinary technical teams.
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and documentation skills.
Proficiency with electrical design and documentation tools (e.g., EPLan, AutoCAD or equivalent) and Microsoft Office applications.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting scientific, research, or mission-critical facilities.
Experience with high-reliability infrastructure in remote or mountaintop environments.
Professional Engineer (PE) license.
Familiarity with SCADA or power monitoring systems.

Responsibilities

Evaluate the current electrical power infrastructure supporting the Mayall Telescope, including medium- and low-voltage distribution systems.
Update and maintain accurate electrical documentation, drawings, and schematics to reflect as-built conditions and system modifications.
Develop and implement upgrades and improvements to ensure stable, high-quality power delivery to telescope and facility systems.
Lead the design, specification, and integration of backup power systems for critical operational continuity (e.g., generator redundancy, UPS improvements, automatic transfer systems).
Monitor performance, reliability, and load characteristics of generators, UPS systems, switchgear, panels, and distribution systems.
Analyze power quality issues and implement mitigation strategies.
Develop preventive maintenance strategies and long-term infrastructure reliability plans.
Prepare technical documentation, system drawings, reports, and upgrade plans.
Manage and oversee external electrical contractors, serving as the technical representative for NOIRLab.
Ensure compliance with applicable electrical codes and safety regulations, including NEC and relevant state and federal standards.
Collaborate closely with telescope engineering, facilities, safety, and operations teams to minimize operational impact during maintenance and upgrades.
Participate in on-site troubleshooting of complex electrical issues requiring engineering-level expertise.
Provide electrical engineering support to other telescopes and facilities at Kitt Peak National Observatory as required.
Contribute to long-term strategic infrastructure planning for Kitt Peak facilities.