RESEARCH SCIENTIST ENGINEER
Req #: | 173812 |
Department: | AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS |
Job Location: | Seattle Campus |
Posting Date: | 11/04/2019 |
Closing Info: | Open Until Filled |
Salary: | Salary is commensurate with experience and education |
Limited Recruitment: |
Other
|
Shift: | First Shift |
Notes: | As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For detailed information on Benefits for this position, click here. |
The William E. Boeing Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Washington has an opening for a Research Scientist Engineer.
The William E. Boeing Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics in the College of Engineering at the University of Washington offers the only aerospace degree program in the Pacific Northwest, a region whose aerospace industry has been a major contributor to the technological development, economic vitality and the security of the United States. Our students and faculty push the boundaries of air and space flight every day. From exploring the mechanics of biological flight to testing new designs for more durable, lightweight structures, research in our department is opening doors to cutting-edge technology that will define the future of air and space travel.
Our staff not only enjoy outstanding benefits and professional growth opportunities, but also an environment noted for diversity, community involvement, intellectual excitement, artistic and scientific pursuits and natural beauty. We are a highly engaged and collaborative community based on trust, transparency and mutual respect. We believe in the importance of quality of life, embracing diversity, and making a difference.
The ideal candidate for this position must exhibit an appreciation of, a sensitivity to, and respect for a diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty and staff of many social, economic, cultural, ideological, racial and ethnic backgrounds.
General Characteristics:
This is a fully functional professional level - may be entry level for PhD who has been in a Post-doc position for one/two years or has equivalent experience related to area of specialization. Independently evaluates, selects and applies standardized scientific or engineering procedures and techniques to assignments of moderate complexity, involving potentially conflicting design requirements, unavailability of materials or processes, etc. Incumbent seeks continual improvement of work practices from experience with moderate-sized projects; develops extensions to existing methods and protocols. Performance at this level requires developmental experience in a professional position, or equivalent graduate level education.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Manages projects of moderate size and scope; makes substantial contributions to determining feasibility of goals and objectives. Identifies problems and related technical issues leading to long-term, generic solutions; identifies technical approach for solving problems and meeting customer/grantor needs. Performs tasks of a larger scope and often leads specific tasks within the project scope. Sought out for contributions to reports and publications; author/co-author on papers, proposals, presentations and reports; gives invited papers. Interacts in a collaborative manner with other team members to accomplish organizational goals; provides ideas to improve organizational efficiency at group and department levels. Creates, monitors and implements effective plans; takes lead for scoping tasks/projects; assembles research team members. Influences important customer and UW decisions; recognized for technical contributions by external peer network. Maintains external research relationships to identify and develop new funding sources; makes significant contributions to technical proposal preparation and/or presentations. Contributes to positive co-worker/customer/investigator relationships through efficient interaction on current grants/projects. In particular, this role will involve operation and data analysis of a spheromak based magnetic confinement experiment. Design, implementation, and operation of advanced feedback control systems for inductive driver circuits for this experiment. This role will also require performing numerical simulations using the NIMROD and PSI-Tri codes in support of theoretical understanding of experimental results and the development and verification of predictive models of plasma behavior, based on xMHD, in the experiment. Responsibility for directing others: May supervise several scientists, engineers or technicians on assigned work; provides major input to staffing of overall project teams; builds teams and staff to optimize efficiency and cost effectiveness. Identifies and evaluates candidates for open positions; mentors/trains staff in development of technical, project and business development skills.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Master’s Degree in engineering, plasma physics and magnetic confinement fusion energy.
• Three or more years’ experience in a related area or equivalent combination of education/experience.
• Possesses and applies a comprehensive knowledge of particular field of specialization to the completion of complex assignments; advances state-of-the-art research in field of specialization.
Successful candidates will require knowledge and experience in the following areas:
1) thorough knowledge of magnetic fusion energy and spheromak magnetic confinement;
2) extensive experimental plasma physics experience, including experience with operation and analysis of plasma devices based on inductive helicity injection and the design, installation, and operation of related diagnostic systems;
3) computational plasma physics experience applying extended-magnetohydrodynamics (xMHD) models to simulate inductive helicity injection in spheromak experiments, including implementation of appropriate boundary conditions;
4) experience with the development of advanced feedback control systems for application to plasma experiments.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE
• PhD in plasma physics or related field.
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.
The University of Washington is a leader in environmental stewardship & sustainability, and committed to becoming climate neutral.
The University of Washington is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 / 206-543-6452 (tty) or dso@uw.edu.