Mechanical Engineer, McDonald Observatory

The University of Texas at Austin • Austin, UT

43d • Hybrid

About The Position

The McDonald Observatory is a major astronomical research observatory located 16 miles from Fort Davis, Texas (440 miles from the UT Austin campus). This position is located on the UT Austin campus and will require occasional travel to the observatory. The engineering work from this position will be part of the application of a wide range of disciplines including, mechanical, optical, electronic, vacuum, cryogenic, and software engineering, used together to build state-of-the-art research instrumentation for astronomy. The research with those instruments includes the discovery and characterization of exoplanets, understanding how the elements and their various isotopes were formed, understanding how the successive generations of stars have changed the chemical composition of the universe, understanding the mechanisms that change the galaxies with time, and understanding the history of the expansion of the universe itself. The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff, including: Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%) Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan) Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax-sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b) Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses For more details, please see https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards . Purpose This position is part of the McDonald Observatory's instrumentation group and exercises broad independent judgment to design, analyze, build, test, and support optomechanical and electromechanical subsystems for the McDonald Observatory's instrument and telescope development projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or field related to the work performed and at least six (6) years of related experience, or a master's degree in a field related to the work performed and at least four (4) years of related experience.
• Experience writing specifications to provide the technical basis for your work.
• Experience in designing mechanical parts and assemblies.
• Experience using CAD applications to design mechanical assemblies.
• Experience with FEA applications to validate the performance of mechanical structures and assemblies.
• Experience with the use of 3D printing techniques for the construction of prototypes and finished parts where appropriate.
• Experience specifying, tolerancing, and procuring custom-machined parts resulting from your work.
• Experience sourcing and procuring off-the-shelf parts and hardware required for your work.
• Experience in assembling, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical systems resulting from your work.
• Experience writing detailed specifications for outsourcing mechanical systems.
• Experience with the use of engineering and scientific equipment typically used in a technology development setting for mechanical, optical, and electronic assemblies used in research.
• Experience and knowledge of engineering and scientific methods for research, design, assembly, and commissioning of precision mechanical systems.
• Experience using or designing specialized equipment as required for technologically advanced projects.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience writing and presenting reviews to coworkers and managers to explain the technological merits of your work.
• Effective organizational skills.
• Ability to be adaptable, work independently, and serve as an integral project team member.
• Demonstrated experience troubleshooting and recovering from unexpected results, mistakes, and failures in past projects and/or challenging work environments.
• Experience in diagnosing and recovering from mechanical failures.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering with six years’ work experience in a related field, or bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering with eight years of experience in a related field.
• Additional experience handling, assembling, and troubleshooting astronomical instrumentation or closely related work in a lab setting and at telescopes.
• Experience in precision measurements and in the use of tools and technologies for precision metrology.
• Demonstrated learning of new disciplines beyond those studied during formal education.
• Interests, hobbies, and passions outside your career that complement and enhance your job skills.
• Familiarity with the electronic systems used for mechanical motion control.
• Experience assembling and handling precision optical components.
• Experience with vacuum and cryogenic systems.
• Project management training and/or experience.

Responsibilities

• Designs and develops scientific instrumentation and mechanical equipment, often iteratively, including detailed requirements, design, modeling, and analysis, with wide latitude for independent action and decision-making.
• Works with project leadership and staff to substantially contribute to the development of design concepts and requirements for new projects.
• Builds prototypes, conducts supporting analyses, and writes reports.
• Produces fabrication drawings.
• Procures, monitors, and supports the fabrication of designed parts in machine shops and other manufacturing resources.
• Directs, coordinates, and assists with the assembly, deployment, commissioning, and field support of developed instrumentation and mechanical equipment.
• Documents and submits technical reports and project results to management.
• Participates in design reviews and, as appropriate, in the publication of journal articles.
• Continues to develop the engineering skill set and identifies new technologies valuable to instrumentation.
• Performs other functions as required to support business needs.

Benefits

• Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%)
• Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan)
• Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax-sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior