Research Scientist/Engineer 2 (E S UAW Research)

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

6d•$68,736 - $113,580

About The Position

The University of Washington (UW) Astronomy Department has an outstanding opportunity for a researcher who will have responsibilities in the design, development, construction, and testing of space-based and ground-based instrumentation, including the upcoming Ocotillo Spectrograph and the DISCO Small Mission Explorer satellite project. This position works closely with the Apache Point Observatory (APO), which will be the home of the Ocotillo spectrograph (and other instruments built and maintained by the group). For more information, please visit the observatory website: Apache Point Observatory The successful candidate will work in the Tuttle Lab on instrument projects including but not limited to Ocotillo and DISCO. The successful candidate is expected to participate in the deployment and commissioning of the hardware and software both at Apache Point Observatory and Las Campanas Observatory. The successful candidate will work in the Tuttle Lab on instrument projects including but not limited to Ocotillo and DISCO. The successful candidate is expected to participate in the deployment and commissioning of the hardware and software both at Apache Point Observatory and Las Campanas Observatory. The successful candidate will become part of the Telescope Engineering Group (TEG) at University of Washington where they will be able to collaborate with other scientists and engineers working in the development of instrumentation and software for Apache Point Observatory and other facilities. The TEG fosters an inclusive climate where innovation and creativity are encouraged. The ideal candidate should be a motivated self-starter who excels at managing multiple projects and priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field (Astronomy, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering)
2 years of relevant experience included industry work in optical or mechanical design as well as work at an astronomical observatory in a technical capacity.
Fluency with Unix systems, and at least one programming language
Fluency with at least one CAD program (Solidworks, Autocad, etc)
Ability to solve technical problems independently and creatively.
Ability to speak and write effectively, including the writing of technical proposals and reports.
Ability to communicate and cooperate with others
Familiarity with systems engineering approaches, project scheduling, and budgeting.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with astronomical observations.
Electrical Engineering experience with low-level controllers, embedded systems, programmable logic controllers, etc.
Familiarity with Zemax or other optical design toolsFamiliarity with data tools and methods.

Responsibilities

External optomechanical design work with collaborators and vendors (partial and full instrument systems, from fiber handling to spectrograph channels) (25%)
Design and assembly work for Apache Point Observatory. Includes fiber optics, bulk optics, and infrastructure support (electrical, ventilation, etc.), as well as optomechanical system design and building. (50%)
Either extended APO work (with Ocotillo, an optical spectrograph for the 3.5m telescope) or design work for upcoming projects (ultraviolet or optical designs and their support systems - electrical and mechanical) (25%)