Lead Astronomical Instrumentation Engineer

Giant Magellan Telescope; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k)

Dental Insurance

Disability Insurance

Job summary

The Giant Magellan Telescope Corporation in Pasadena, CA seeks an Instrumentation Engineer to lead technical aspects of GMT instrument development across design, construction and commissioning phases. You will coordinate between instrument teams and the Project Office and help standardize solutions.

Travel to GMTO sites, vendor premises, and the GMT Chile site will be required. Strong communication, leadership, and systems engineering experience are essential.

Qualifications

• MS degree in Engineering or related field.
• 7+ years post-degree experience developing astronomical instrumentation on ground-based telescopes.
• Broad technical competency in astronomical instrumentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with scientists, engineers, and managers.
• Excellent organizational, leadership, and project management skills.
• Experience creating RFPs, SOWs, technical specs, and vendor evaluation procedures.
• Experience developing costs and schedule estimates.
• Thorough understanding of systems engineering principles.
• Experience creating integration, testing, and commissioning plans.
• Experience deriving technical/operational requirements from higher-level requirements.

Responsibilities

• Guide the instrument program with the Science Instruments Manager.
• Serve as the technical contact between instrument groups and the Project Office.
• Assist in preparing contracts documents (RFPs, SOWs, specs) for instrument development.
• Monitor progress of instrument teams through meetings and reviews.
• Oversee instrument assembly, integration, and test activities at partner sites and telescope.
• Deliver presentations at technical reviews and conferences.
• Evaluate cost and schedule estimates for technical feasibility.
• Assist teams in assessing instrument performance, maintenance, and operation strategies.
• Help specify and develop interfaces between instruments and GMT systems.
• Support integration, test, and commissioning plans with instrumentation teams.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Project management

Organization

Vendor coordination

Education

MS in Engineering or related field

Job description

The Giant Magellan Telescope Corporation in Pasadena, CA seeks an Instrumentation Engineer to lead technical aspects of GMT instrument development across design, construction and commissioning phases. You will coordinate between instrument teams and the Project Office and help standardize solutions.

Travel to GMTO sites, vendor premises, and the GMT Chile site will be required. Strong communication, leadership, and systems engineering experience are essential.