Element Manager, Wavefront Sensing & Control

Giant Magellan Telescope; Pasadena (CA); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 285,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Dental insurance

Disability insurance

Job summary

Giant Magellan Telescope in Pasadena, CA seeks an Element Manager to lead the Wavefront Sensing & Control (WFSC) element, guiding design maturation and integration planning for AO subsystems. You will oversee a multidisciplinary team, coordinate with partner institutions, and manage testbeds, resources, costs, and schedules across international labs.

The role requires 10+ years in optical systems or adaptive optics, strong leadership, and travel to vendors and observatories.

Qualifications

• M.S. degree in optical science, astronomy, physics, or a related field
• Minimum of 10+ years of relevant experience in optical systems, adaptive optics, or related complex engineering programs
• Demonstrated ability to work in a cross-functional global collaborative team environment
• Experience in management and delivery of adaptive optics systems or astronomical instruments and key components such as cameras, detectors, deformable mirrors
• Optical Systems Engineering
• Hands-on experience developing adaptive optics systems and/or hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) optical testbeds
• Management on either the programmatic or people-management side
• Basic understanding of simulations, modeling techniques, components, and testing methods
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills
• Willingness to travel to foreign and domestic vendor and observatory locations as the need arises

Responsibilities

• Lead the WFSC team and collaborate with System Engineering to ensure technical designs are traceable to system-level requirements
• Work with the WFSC Senior Project Coordinator to plan, manage and track tasks, resources, and deliverables related to AO subsystem development
• Provide technical leadership and oversight of GMTO partner institutions and subcontractors responsible for executing GMTO’s outsourced designs, testbeds and prototypes
• Plan, convene and coordinate external independent reviews of WFSC final designs
• Supervise as well as prepare and deliver presentations at GMTO technical gate reviews and conferences
• Coordinate with other organizational elements across the GMT Project to mature interfaces and to identify and manage interdependencies between WFSC and other Project elements
• Review and understand test results of optical/electronic/mechanical prototypes designed to validate designs and/or burn down performance risks
• Own and ensure delivery of WFSC milestones including NSF reports, financial and schedule performance status. Delegate delivery of internal technical documentation of the GMT AO subsystem requirements, design and performance.
• Participate in the procurement and testing of AO-related subsystems such as wavefront sensors, calibration sources, real-time computer systems and/or laser guide star facility subsystems
• Lead the AO laboratory verification of the performance of the WFSC subsystems and the AO control algorithms correcting for atmospheric disturbances and segment phase piston errors as well as the final site acceptance testing and delivery of AO subsystems to telescope commissioning
• Contribute to key technical decisions impacting subsystem design, integration, and performance

Job description

Title: Element Manager, Wavefront Sensing & Control

Element: Wavefront Sensing & Control

Manager: Wavefront Sensing & Control Manager

Type: Full time

Location: Pasadena, CA

Job Summary

The Element Manager of the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) Wavefront Sensing & Control (WFSC) Element will assume a leadership role in bringing the WFSC subsystems design to full maturity and planning their final integration, test and delivery. The current phase of GMT’s WFSC development is opportunity-rich for creative solutions and significant contributions to the detailed design of a cutting edge Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) on the frontiers of astronomy. The WFSC Element Manager will be responsible for oversight of the team responsible for technical work while reporting to the GMT Project Manager. The EM will provide leadership in the execution and coordination of technical scope and schedule.

The WFSC Element Manager’s responsibilities include management and technical oversight of the AO system engineering and the design of the WFSC hardware subsystems under development both internally and by GMTO partner institutions and industrial vendors. The WFSC Element Manager will lead completion of the final designs of the seven hardware subsystems. The EM will also provide oversight of the testbed operations, allocation of resources across subsystems and systems engineering activities, planning and tracking of cost, schedule, risks and reporting of earned value to senior management. The WFSC final design phase includes review and update of subsystem requirements as well as maturation of the conceptual plans for assembly, integration, test (AIT) and performance verification of these subsystems and the AO control algorithms in the Adaptive Optics labs in Italy and at GMTO Las Campanas Observatory site.

Job Duties

• Lead the WFSC team and collaborate with System Engineering to ensure technical designs are traceable to system-level requirements.
• Work with the WFSC Senior Project Coordinator to plan, manage and track tasks, resources, and deliverables related to AO subsystem development.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight of GMTO partner institutions and subcontractors responsible for executing GMTO’s outsourced designs, testbeds and prototypes.
• Plan, convene and coordinate external independent reviews of WFSC final designs.
• Supervise as well as prepare and deliver presentations at GMTO technical gate reviews and conferences.
• Coordinate with other organizational elements across the GMT Project to mature interfaces and to identify and manage interdependencies between WFSC and other Project elements.
• Review and understand test results of optical/electronic/mechanical prototypes designed to validate designs and/or burn down performance risks.
• Own and ensure delivery of WFSC milestones including NSF reports, financial and schedule performance status. Delegate delivery of internal technical documentation of the GMT AO subsystem requirements, design and performance.
• Participate in the procurement and testing of AO-related subsystems such as wavefront sensors, calibration sources, real-time computer systems and/or laser guide star facility subsystems.
• Lead the AO laboratory verification of the performance of the WFSC subsystems and the AO control algorithms correcting for atmospheric disturbances and segment phase piston errors as well as the final site acceptance testing and delivery of AO subsystems to telescope commissioning.
• Contribute to key technical decisions impacting subsystem design, integration, and performance.

Essential Skills, Knowledge, And Abilities

• M.S. degree in optical science, astronomy, physics, or a related field
• Minimum of 10+ years of relevant experience in optical systems, adaptive optics, or related complex engineering programs.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a cross-functional global collaborative team environment
• Experience in the following areas:
• Management and delivery of Adaptive Optics systems or astronomical instruments and key components such as cameras, detectors, deformable mirrors
• Optical Systems Engineering
• Hands-on experience developing adaptive optics systems and/or hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) optical testbeds
• Management on either the programmatic or people-management side
• Basic understanding of simulations, modeling techniques, components, and testing methods
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills
• Willingness to travel to foreign and domestic vendor and observatory locations as the need arises

Desired Skills, Knowledge, And Abilities

• Ph.D. degree in optical science, astronomy, physics, or a related field
• Experience in technical management of state-of-the-art complex systems including creation of budgets and schedules
• Experience in Real time controls and Systems Engineering
• Experience operating in a laboratory environment with personnel and hardware safety protocol
• Hands-on experience developing and testing astronomical adaptive optics systems, astronomical instruments and/or laboratory optical testbeds
• Experience with earned value management techniques

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Normal office and clean room laboratory environments
• Hybrid with 2 days in office

Physical Requirements

No special requirements

DIRECT REPORTS

5-7 direct reports

Hiring Range

$210,000-$285,000

The salary for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, and training.

Featured Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact a Giant Magellan Telescope Corporation Human Resources Representative.