Scientific Instrumentation Engineer

GMTO Corporation; 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

Giant Magellan Telescope Corporation seeks an Instrumentation Engineer to lead GMT instrument development across design, construction, and commissioning phases. You will be the primary technical contact between instrument groups and the Project Office, guiding technical solutions and interfaces while coordinating with GMT Systems Engineering.

The role requires travel to GMTO member locations, vendor premises, and the GMT site in Chile.

Qualifications

• M.S. degree in Engineering or related field.
• 7+ years post-degree experience in astronomical instrumentation on ground-based optical/IR telescopes.
• Broad technical competency in astronomical instrumentation.
• Ability to communicate with diverse scientists, engineers, and managers.
• Excellent organizational, leadership, and project management skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience creating RFPs, statements of work, 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 and operational requirements from higher-level specs.

Responsibilities

• Guide the instrument program for GMT with the Science Instruments Manager.
• Serve as the technical contact between instrument groups and the Project.
• Assist in preparing contract documents (RFPs, SOWs, specs) with GMTO Contracts/Procurement.
• Monitor progress of instrument teams across all development phases.
• Oversee instrument assembly, integration, and test 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 operations.
• Specify and develop interfaces for instruments and GMT systems.
• Support integration, test, and commissioning plans with instrumentation teams.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Project management

Organizational skills

Written and oral communication

Education

M.S. degree in Engineering

PhD in Engineering

Job description

Job Summary

The Instrumentation Engineer will play a key role in the development of the first generation of GMT instruments during their design, construction, and commissioning phases. The successful candidate will be a primary technical point of contact between the instrument development groups and the Project Office.

In addition, the Instrumentation Engineer will provide technical guidance to the instrument teams regarding GMT designs and interfaces, monitor contracted work, manage progress reviews, help to standardize engineering solutions between the instruments, and work with the GMT Systems Engineering team to establish acceptance and commissioning procedures.

The Instrumentation Engineer will also be responsible for writing reports and proposals related to instrument development and making presentations to the GMT Science Advisory Committee, at conferences, and at project reviews.

This position will require travel to various GMTO member locations vendor premises, and the GMT site in Chile.

Job Duties

• Work with the Science Instruments Manager in guiding the instrument program for GMT.

• Be the technical point of contact between the instrument groups and the Project.

• Assist the Instrument Manager in working with the GMTO Contracts/Procurement department to prepare contract documents such as Requests for Proposals, statements of work, technical specifications, and other documents related to the instrument development.

• Monitor the technical progress of instrument teams during all phases of an instrument's development via regular progress meetings and reviews.

• Monitor instrument assembly, integration, and test activities (at the partner institution site and at the telescope).

• Prepare and deliver presentations at technical reviews and conferences.

• Evaluating cost and schedule estimates for technical feasibility.

• Assist instrument teams in assessing instrument performance on the telescope, maintenance strategies, and operational strategies.

• Assist the instrument and GMT teams in specifying and developing interfaces.

• Support the preparation of integration, test, and commissioning plans in consultation with the instrumentation teams and other systems within the GMT.

Qualifications (Required):

• M.S. degree in Engineering or related field.

• Minimum of 7 years of post-degree, hands‑on experience with the development of astronomical instrumentation on ground‑based optical/infrared telescopes.

• Broad technical competency/knowledge in the development of astronomical instrumentation.

• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups of scientists, engineers, and managers.

• Excellent organizational, leadership, and project management skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Experience creating requests for proposal, statements of work, technical specifications, and evaluation procedures for vendors.

• Experience developing costs and schedule estimates.

• Thorough understanding of the principles of systems engineering.

• Experience creating integration, testing, and commissioning plans,

• Experience developing technical, operational, maintenance, and performance requirements for instruments flowing from higher‑level requirements.

Qualifications (Preferred):

• Engineering domain expertise in opto‑mechanical, mechanical, or structural engineering.

• D. in Engineering or related field with 7 years post‑degree, hands‑on experience with the development of astronomical instrumentation on ground‑based optical/infrared telescopes.

Working Conditions:

• Normal office environment. Open space office layout.

• Flexibility to work outside of core business hours and travel to GMTO Founder institutions, vendor facilities, and the GMT site in Chile when necessary to accomplish goals.
• This role is ideally expected to work onsite in Pasadena at least two days per week.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work at an altitude of 8000 feet for extended periods of time.

Direct Reports

None

Featured Benefits

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

Hiring Range

$145,000- $175,000

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.

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.