Systems Engineer

GMTO Corporation; Pasadena (CA); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Dental insurance

Disability insurance

Job summary

GMTO Corporation is seeking a Systems Engineer to support Science Instrument Teams across all development stages in Pasadena, CA. You will help maintain interface consistency, guide SE processes, and contribute to AIT planning and product documentation.

The role requires at least a BS degree and 3+ years in SE for large instruments or observatories, with travel to GMTO sites and Chile as needed. Strong collaboration and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Physics, Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline.
• 3+ years of systems engineering for complex instruments or observatories.
• Experience with integration and testing of complex systems.
• Experience writing integration and test procedures.
• Experience with PDM systems and configuration control.
• Willingness to travel to GMTO locations and Chile when needed.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide Systems Engineering (SE) support to the Science Instrument Teams through development and construction phases.
• Collaborate on SI team deliverables for major gate reviews, ensuring alignment with SE standards.
• Advise on SE processes including change control, hazard analysis, risk management, requirements and interface management, V&V.
• Track non-compliances and develop dispositions with SI Teams.
• Present SE processes and findings during SI reviews.
• Collaborate to update ICDs, Requirements Documents, and related change requests.
• Support development of Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) plans for each instrument.
• Coordinate with SE and AIVC teams to ensure lower-level verification supports AIVC objectives.
• Periodically update GMT Product Tree and agree on naming conventions for deliverables.

Skills

Systems engineering

Electro-opto-mechanical systems

Space telescope experience

Documentation & PDM

Change control

V&V procedures

Cross-functional teamwork

Technical writing

Hazard analysis

Risk management

Education

BS degree in Physics, Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline

MS degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering

Tools

Product Data Management (PDM) systems

Interface Control Documents (ICDs) management

Systems engineering tools

Job description

Title: Systems Engineer

Element: Systems Engineering

Manager: Lead Systems Engineer

Type: Full-Time

Location: Pasadena, CA

Job Summary

Reporting to the Lead Systems Engineer, the successful candidate will provide Systems Engineering (SE) support to the Science Instrument Teams throughout all phases of development. This includes reviewing Science Instrument Team deliverables prior to major gate reviews and providing guidance on SE processes to ensure consistency, traceability, and alignment with project SE standards. The engineer will track non‑compliances, work with teams to develop dispositions, and present SE processes and expectations at Science Instrument reviews.

The candidate will collaborate with the Science Instrument Teams to update their Interface Control Documents (ICDs), Requirement Documents, and associated change requests. The candidate will also support the development of Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) plans for each Science Instrument, ensuring that lower‑level verification activities properly support System‑Level AIVC objectives. This will require regular coordination with the Systems Engineering organization and the Assembly, Integration, Verification, and Commissioning (AIVC) team.

This position plays a key role in maintaining system‑level consistency across Science Instruments by ensuring that interfaces, requirements, and verification artifacts meet programmatic and technical expectations. The selected candidate will also prepare technical reports and present them in their area of responsibility at project reviews and conferences.

The candidate will periodically update the GMT Product Tree and work with the project to agree on naming conventions for product deliverables. This includes coordination with the subsystems to update higher level deliverables and ensuring that the product names are consistent across the project documents.

Job Duties

• Provide Systems Engineering (SE) support to the Science Instrument Teams throughout all development and construction phases.
• Collaborate on Science Instrument Team deliverables in preparation for major gate reviews, ensuring alignment with project standards and SE best practices.
• Provide guidance and recommendations to Science Instrument Teams about Systems Engineering processes including change control, hazard analysis (HA), risk management, requirements and interface management, verification and validation (V&V), to ensure consistency, traceability, and compliance with program requirements.
• Track non‑compliances and collaborate with Science Instrument Teams to develop appropriate dispositions.
• Present SE processes, expectations, and findings during Science Instrument reviews.
• Collaborate with teams to update Interface Control Documents (ICDs), Requirements Documents, and process associated change requests.
• Support the development of Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) Plans for each Science Instrument.
• Work closely with the Systems Engineering (SE) and the Assembly, Integration, Verification, and Commissioning (AIVC) teams to ensure lower‑level verification activities properly support overall AIVC objectives.
• Periodically update the GMT Product Tree and work with the project to agree on naming conventions for product deliverables.

Essential Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• A minimum of a BS degree in Physics, Engineering, or an equivalent technical discipline
• A minimum of 3 years of relevant experience with systems engineering for electro-opto-mechanical systems or large astronomical observatories with similar complexity
• Experience with subsystem level integration and testing of complex systems
• Experience writing subsystem level integration and test procedures
• Previous experience of Product Data Management systems to manage documentation and maintain configuration control of systems
• Flexibility to work outside of core business hours and travel to GMTO member locations, vendor premises, and the GMT site in Chile when necessary to accomplish goals
• Excellent communication skills, capable of writing clear technical documents and presenting to stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a group setting with our international partners
• Demonstrated critical thinking
• Organized and detail-oriented with the ability to handle multiple competing priorities

Desired Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• M.S. degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline
• Experience with space or ground-based optical/infrared telescopes or relatable systems
• High-level, direct, expertise with systems engineering tools and processes appropriate to the development of large (6-10m) optical/IR telescopes and/or astronomical science instruments
• Knowledge and experience executing systems engineering efforts according to international standards e.g., INCOSE (International Council On Systems Engineering), ISO (International Organizational Standards)/ IEC (International Electrical Technical Commission 15288:2008) (establishes a common framework for describing the life cycle of systems)
• Develop and maintain system level technical budget and requirements flow down to Science Instrument for image quality, pointing, flexure, and optical alignment.
• Travel to GMTO member locations, vendor premises, and the GMT site in Chile when necessary to accomplish goals.

Working Conditions

Hybrid office environment. Travel as needed by the project.

Direct Reports

No direct reports.

Featured Benefits

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

Hiring Range

$115,000- $165,000

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.