Electronics Engineer, IS-0855-14

Smithsonian Institution•Cambridge, MA

5d•$141,041 - $183,353•Onsite

About The Position

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is seeking an experienced Electronics Engineer to provide expert-level electronics and electrical systems engineering support in the development of advanced instrumentation for ground-based and space-based astrophysical and astronomical data collection. This role is crucial for various Central Engineering supported projects, contributing to the forefront of scientific exploration of the universe. The engineer will work within the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), a world-renowned astrophysics center, involved in research, engineering, and development of scientific instrumentation.

Requirements

Degree in Professional Engineering from an ABET-accredited curriculum, OR a curriculum including differential and integral calculus and courses in five of seven specified engineering science/physics areas.
OR a combination of education and experience that furnished a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering and a good understanding of engineering sciences and techniques.
OR a Bachelor's degree in computer science or a Bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in mathematics, statistics, and computer science (at least 15 in math/stats including calculus).
All academic degrees and coursework must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.
At least one year of specialized experience at or above the grade 13 level.
Specialized experience includes architecting system-level electrical designs using both commercial and custom electronics, leading the electrical engineering effort, supporting project design reviews, and participating in reviews of other projects.
Mastery of advanced concepts, principles, and practices of electronics engineering for investigation, design, and consultation in the development of electronics for ground-based and space-borne instrumentation.
Significant professional experience in overall systems design including electrical systems design and analysis, system resource and error budgeting, documentation, proposal preparation, sophisticated computer modeling, and fabrication and test activities.
Ability to apply advanced principles and practices of electronics engineering to experimental theories and emerging technology for complex instrument design problems.
Extensive experience with electrical schematic and board layout CAD/CAM tools.
Expert knowledge of analog design techniques and design simulation tools (e.g., SPICE).
Experience with the development of FPGA based digital and analog signal processing systems.
Working knowledge of related engineering fields such as thermal, mechanical, optical, and/or structural.
Skill in project leadership and ability to provide technical direction to diverse engineering and scientific teams.
Ability to generate realistic project budgets and schedules and support multiple projects simultaneously.
Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to serve as a technical spokesperson.
Experience with proposal writing.
Must be a U.S. person (citizen, permanent resident, or national of an eligible country) due to access to export-controlled work.
Pass pre-employment background check and subsequent background investigation.
Complete a probationary period if applicable.
Maintain a bank account for direct deposit/electronic transfer.

Nice To Haves

Experience with servo-mechanical components.

Responsibilities

Apply broad knowledge of state-of-the-art to conceive, plan, and execute complex and varied assignments in electrical engineering for the development of cutting-edge instrumentation for astrophysical and astronomical data collection, as well as associated test, calibration, and ground support equipment.
Conceive, design, and oversee the development of complex state-of-the-art electrical/electronics systems, subsystems, modules, and components, providing expert technical consultation to scientists and other engineering staff.
Translate scientific objectives into achievable hardware, extending state-of-the-art technology, and collaborating with scientific investigators to establish electrical/electronics requirements for new projects.
Analyze scientific data collection requirements, translate them into instrument performance characteristics, and develop instrument concepts and preliminary systems diagrams.
Perform critical trade-off analyses of various design implementations and recommend optimum methods considering operating environments.
Evaluate manufacturers’ performance capability data for circuitry, components, and systems, and incorporate analysis results into design decisions.
Prepare cost and schedule estimates for hardware design, fabrication, test, and calibration, including supporting documentation.
Document work extensively in technical memoranda, reports, test plans, procedures, and presentations.
Defend proposals to funding agencies and/or scientific peer review panels.
Troubleshoot and analyze complex technical problems, identify and recommend solutions, and oversee their implementation.
Provide leadership in design, analysis, and documentation from conceptual design through project completion, maintaining a technical overview and responsibility for design and test integrity.
Choose appropriate technologies, establish technical priorities, and perform conceptual, systems level, and detail design.
Prepare cost estimates, schedules, plans, technical reports, and engineering input to project proposals.
Supervise engineers, designers, and technicians assigned to projects, and maintain engineering budgets and schedules.
Provide technical leadership and direction, and liaison with hardware contractors and sub-contractors.
Investigate, select, justify, and oversee procurement of critical electrical, electro-optical, and servo-mechanical components.
Make oral and written presentations to project scientists and technical representatives.
Write technical papers recording innovative design techniques and criteria, and present papers to technical symposia.
Travel domestically and internationally to telescope sites, vendor facilities, NASA centers, and other associated organizations for proposal, design, calibration, test, integration, and mission operations activities.
Perform other assignments as required.