Lick Observatory Telescope Optoelectronics Technician

University of California; California; On-site; USD 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

UC Retirement Plans

Group Life Insurance

Legal Insurance

Pet Insurance

Paid Holidays and vacation/sick leave

Job summary

Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, CA, is seeking a Telescope Optoelectronics Technician for a full-time, 100% position. The salary budget is $42.44 - $46.84 per hour, and year-round housing is available for selected candidates.

Benefits include medical/dental/vision, UC retirement plans, life insurance, legal insurance, pet insurance, and generous paid holidays plus vacation and sick leave. The role emphasizes telescope operations and optics maintenance under supervision, with duties such as

Qualifications

• Experience with telescope operations and optics maintenance.
• Ability to configure observations and optimize observing time.
• Familiarity with astronomical finding charts and object positioning.

Responsibilities

• Telescope operations and optics maintenance.
• Set up observations based on instruction from astronomer/researcher.
• Optimize observing time and interpret finding charts to locate objects.

Skills

Telescope Operations

Optics Maintenance

Observation Planning

Instrument Calibration

Education

BS in Physics or Astronomy

Job description

Lick Observatory Telescope Optoelectronics Technician

THIS POSITION IS BASED AT LICK OBSERVATORY, MT HAMILTON, CA

Lick Observatory, located on Mount Hamilton, is the worksite for this position and is located 19 miles east of San Jose on Highway 130 at 4,200 feet elevation.

Year-round residential housing with nominal rent is available for the selected Telescope Optoelectronics Technician candidate. Residents are responsible for personal utilities costs.

Lick Observatory offers a friendly working environment with a diverse set of challenges, in addition to the incredible views of the surrounding areas.

Other benefits to working at UC Santa Cruz / Lick Observatory include:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Care Insurance Plans
• UC Retirement Plans
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Legal Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Paid Holidays plus accrued vacation and sick leave

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The University of California Observatories (UCO) is a Multi-Campus Research Unit (MRU) funded via the University of California Office of the President, Office of Research and headquartered on the UC Santa Cruz campus. UCO operates on behalf of astronomers, researchers, postdoctoral scholars, graduate and undergraduate students across the UC system who are engaged in research, education and training in optical and infrared astronomy. In addition to managing the technical, physical plant and public outreach operations of the Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, California, UCO provides the scientific and administrative liaison to the shared Keck Observatory on Maunakea, Hawai'i and the international collaboration for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project. UCO comprises extensive scientific and technical staff and facilities at UC Santa Cruz and Lick Observatory as well as administrative and business services. The Lick Observatory telescopes are scheduled 363 days per year, weather permitting. Additionally, Lick hosts about 30,000 members of the public via its summer programs and casual visitors.

INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $42.44 - $46.84 / Hourly. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Sunday (Variable)

Job End Date: None

Work Location: Mount Hamilton, CA

Union Representation: TX - Technical

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

60% - Telescope Operations & Optics Maintenance

• Sets up the relative parameters of an observation based upon instruction received directly from the astronomer or researcher. Optimizes observing time by accurate and timely computation of object positions and interpretation of finding charts to locate proper objects.