Telescope Instrumentation Engineer

California Institute of Technology; Palomar Mountain (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 112,700; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings plans

Paid time off

Job summary

Caltech is seeking an observatory technician to support Palomar Mountain telescope operations and instrument setup. You will verify nightly installations, train users, and troubleshoot critical telescope systems in a demanding, 24/7 environment.

The role requires an undergraduate STEM degree, strong scripting and software troubleshooting skills, and the ability to lift 50 pounds. Applicants should be comfortable working at high altitude and around sensitive instrumentation.

Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree in a scientific, technology, engineering, or mathematics field required.
• Computing and software trouble shooting skills required.
• Proficient with Windows and Linux operating systems.
• Experience with scripting languages such as Python, MATLAB, and IRAF.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds.
• Ability to work safely in confined or elevated environments.
• Ability to safely work at 5,600 foot altitude.
• Must have a valid driver's license at the time of hire and maintain it throughout the course of employment.

Responsibilities

• Confirm the proper daily installation and performance of scientific instrumentation on the P200 telescope. Confirm the proper operation of scientific instrumentation on the remotely operated P60 and P48 telescopes as needed.
• Design, troubleshoot, and test critical telescope, scientific instrumentation, and subsystem software and hardware components. Develop problem solutions and upgrades to critical systems as needed.
• Train and support the astronomical scientist customers in the efficient use of the installed scientific instrumentation.
• Troubleshoot and repair problems with scientific instrumentation, telescopes, and other critical observatory systems.
• Contribute to all observatory engineering activities, such as the planning, design, and implementation of critical sub-system upgrades.
• Respond to problems with telescopes, scientific instrumentation, and other critical systems at any time, day or night.
• Develop and analyze observatory optical throughput and reflectivity measurements, to include the testing and cleaning of critical telescope optical components.
• Other duties as assigned, which may include telescope operation, snow/ice abatement using observatory vehicle, diagnosis of telescope and/or dome mechanical problems, etc.

Skills

Python scripting

Windows OS

Linux OS

IRAF

C programming

Education

Undergraduate degree in science/engineering/math

Astronomy degree (preferred)

Tools

IRAF

Job description

Caltech is seeking an observatory technician to support Palomar Mountain telescope operations and instrument setup. You will verify nightly installations, train users, and troubleshoot critical telescope systems in a demanding, 24/7 environment.

The role requires an undergraduate STEM degree, strong scripting and software troubleshooting skills, and the ability to lift 50 pounds. Applicants should be comfortable working at high altitude and around sensitive instrumentation.