SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER (RESEARCH SCIENTIST – SENIOR)
Req #: | 161718 |
Department: | ASTRONOMY |
Job Location: | Seattle Campus |
Posting Date: | 10/30/2018 |
Closing Info: | Open Until Filled |
Salary: | Salary and benefits are competitive. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. |
Shift: | First Shift |
Notes: | As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. |
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for five consecutive years.
The University of Washington (UW) Astronomy Department has an outstanding opportunity for a senior mechanical engineer who will have responsibilities both with the Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC) 3.5m telescope, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) 2.5m telescope at Apache Point Observatory (APO), and Carnegie’s du Pont Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory (LCO). The 3.5m telescope at APO is owned and operated by a consortium of eight universities, whose members utilize the telescope for astronomical research covering a wide range of topics as well as student training.
For more information, please visit the observatory websites:
Apache Point Observatory: https://www.apo.nmsu.edu/
Sloan Digital Sky Survey: https://www.sdss.org/instrument/
The person in this position will hold a leadership role in the Telescope Engineering Group (TEG), the offsite technical group that contributes engineering support for the APO projects, within the Astronomy Department at UW. For SDSS, you will support the transition between SDSS-IV and SDSS-V as we move from fiber plug plates to a focal plane fiber positioning system to support two new mapper surveys coming on sky in 2020. For the 3.5m at APO, you will support the current spectrograph suite upgrade projects.
The ideal candidate should be a motivated self-starter who excels at managing multiple projects and priorities. Familiarity with systems engineering, scheduling, and budgeting will be crucial to success in this position.
Current projects on the 3.5m include several upgrade projects for the KOSMOS spectrograph including flexure analysis and stabilization, as well as mechanical design for a slit viewing camera and an internal calibration system. Design work is underway for a new spectrograph for the 3.5m and you will provide opto-mechanical design and testing support for that project as well. The TEG has long played a key role in SDSS and currently supports SDSS-IV in operations. The TEG is also responsible for the manufacture, assembly, and testing of the fiber system for SDSS-V. Projects related to the SDSS-V focal plane system including fiber routing and support, possible mounting scenarios for the BOSS spectrograph on the LCO telescope, and test system design in support of fiber integration. You will provide both design and implementation support for these projects.
Minimum Qualifications :
Masters level degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent experience. Minimum years of work experience: 6 years.
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 except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
Desired :
Ten years of experience with demonstrated increase in responsibility in engineering and design.
Previous experience in observatory or other astronomical instrumentation facility
Detailed expertise in opto-mechanical alignment
Experience with FEA analysis
Familiarity with opto-mechanical design
Familiarity with observing techniques, data analysis and software
Conditions of Employment :
The prospective candidate must be willing to travel occasionally (at least once a year) to Apache Point Observatory (NM) and Las Campanas Observatory (Chile). These sites are both at high altitude, and the position requires the ability to do physical work at these sites.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle or feel, and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop; kneel; crouch; or crawl.
• The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Must possess - sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands and both legs to a) reach upward, sideways, downward to work with paper files; b) sufficient mobility and dexterity to utilize computer systems, fax machines, copiers, and other office machines.
• Must possess – 1) ability to read and understand instructions, drawings, safety guides, and other written materials necessary to perform job; 2) sufficient visual capacity to perform the applicable functions without assistance of visual aids other than eye contacts or eye glasses; 3) sufficient spoken aural capacity to hear and understand instructions, warning bells, fire alarms, or shouted instructions without assistance of auditory aids other than a hearing aid; and 4) ability to impart information orally so that others understand and can respond appropriately
• Able to climb stairs and work at observatory altitude
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 Work 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.
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.