Electronics Engineer,(IS-855-12)

Smithsonian; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 101,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, MA seeks an Electronics Engineer (IS-855-12) to provide electrical engineering support for advanced instrumentation and Central Engineering projects.

The role involves designing electrical systems, creating PCB layouts and documentation, evaluating options, and supporting cost/schedule estimates and procurement. Travel to telescope sites and facilities is required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of electronic concepts and practices for design, build, and test.
• Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB layout tools including Altium Designer.
• Experience with industrial automation technologies and control interfaces.
• Working knowledge of thermal, mechanical, or optical engineering related to instruments.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for scientists and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop electrical systems, subsystems, modules, and components.
• Create PCB designs, block diagrams, closures, and interconnect docs.
• Evaluate design options; advise on parts, fabrication, and implementation.
• Support cost and schedule estimates; maintain project documentation.
• Assist procurement of specialized electrical and electro-optical components.
• Contribute to presentations for stakeholders and the scientific community.
• Travel domestically and internationally to telescope sites and facilities as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Electrical concepts

Schematic capture

PCB layout

Altium Designer

Industrial automation

Thermal/Mechanical/Optical knowledge

Technical communication

Education

ABET-accredited engineering program

Tools

Altium Designer

SPICE

Job description

Electronics Engineer,(IS-855-12)

Application Deadline: 24 September 2026

Department: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Cambridge, MA

Compensation: $101,375 - $131,790 / year

Description

OPENING DATE: August 24, 2026

CLOSING DATE: September 24, 2026

SERIES/GRADE: 0855/12

TYPE OF POSITION: Trust Indefinite (Non-Federal)

DIVISION: Central Engineering

LOCATION: Cambridge, MA

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S.person (citizen, permanent resident, approved asylee, or refugee) or a national of a country eligible to be approved for an export license who is eligible to work in the US.

This position requires access to export-controlled work.

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation, as required.
• Complete a Probationary Period if applicable.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. SAO combines its resources with those of the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). The CfA is the best-known astrophysics center in the world. Its programs range from ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research to space-based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch and use in large ground-based facilities, and research designed to improve science education. The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support. Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriations or the form of contracts and grants from other agencies. In contrast, Institution funds are available to SAO through grants from the Institution's Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities, and non-Federal contracts and grants.

SUMMARY

The purpose of the position is to provide electrical engineering support for the development of advanced instrumentation and other Central Engineering projects as assigned.

MAJOR DUTIES

1. Design and develop electrical and electronics systems, subsystems, modules, and components for advanced instrumentation.
2. Create PCB designs, electrical block diagrams, electronic closures, and cable and interconnect documentation.
3. Evaluate design options and make recommendations on parts selection, fabrication approaches, and implementation methods suited to complex instrumentation environments.
4. Support cost and schedule estimates for hardware design, fabrication, tests, and calibration; maintain technical documentation throughout project lifecycle.
5. Support procurement of specialized electrical, electro-optical, and mechanisms.
6. Contribute to oral and written presentations for stakeholders and the broader scientific community.
7. Travel, both domestically and internationally, to telescope sites, vendor facilities NASA centers, and the facilities of other associated organizations in support of proposal, design, calibration, test, integration, and mission operations.
8. Other duties assigned

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Basic Requirements

(A) Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum

or

(2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress‑strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR

(B) Combination of education and experience--college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering.

Additional Requirements

Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or above the grade 11 level in similar positions. Specialized experience is experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position would include significant experience in general electrical engineering, experience supporting architecting system level electrical designs using both commercial and custom electronics and supporting project design reviews and participating in other projects’ reviews.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required

• 1. Knowledge of electronic concepts and practices sufficient to design, build, and test electrical systems.
• 2. Proficiency with electrical schematic capture and PCB layout tools including Altium Designer and familiarity with analog and digital design simulation tools such as SPICE.
• 3. Experience with industrial automation technologies including motion control systems, actuators, detectors, and control interfaces.
• 4. Working Knowledge of related engineering principles such as thermal, mechanical, or optical engineering to support integrated instrument design and packaging.
• 5. Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to effectively present technical work to scientists, engineers, and project stakeholders.

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [e-mail]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer. Please visit the SAO website at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/.