WFSC Element Lead — Adaptive Optics & Telescope Systems

Giant Magellan Telescope; Pasadena (CA); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 285,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Dental insurance

Disability insurance

Job summary

Giant Magellan Telescope in Pasadena, CA seeks an Element Manager to lead the Wavefront Sensing & Control (WFSC) element, guiding design maturation and integration planning for AO subsystems. You will oversee a multidisciplinary team, coordinate with partner institutions, and manage testbeds, resources, costs, and schedules across international labs.

The role requires 10+ years in optical systems or adaptive optics, strong leadership, and travel to vendors and observatories.

Qualifications

• M.S. degree in optical science, astronomy, physics, or a related field
• Minimum of 10+ years of relevant experience in optical systems, adaptive optics, or related complex engineering programs
• Demonstrated ability to work in a cross-functional global collaborative team environment
• Experience in management and delivery of adaptive optics systems or astronomical instruments and key components such as cameras, detectors, deformable mirrors
• Optical Systems Engineering
• Hands-on experience developing adaptive optics systems and/or hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) optical testbeds
• Management on either the programmatic or people-management side
• Basic understanding of simulations, modeling techniques, components, and testing methods
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills
• Willingness to travel to foreign and domestic vendor and observatory locations as the need arises

Responsibilities

• Lead the WFSC team and collaborate with System Engineering to ensure technical designs are traceable to system-level requirements
• Work with the WFSC Senior Project Coordinator to plan, manage and track tasks, resources, and deliverables related to AO subsystem development
• Provide technical leadership and oversight of GMTO partner institutions and subcontractors responsible for executing GMTO’s outsourced designs, testbeds and prototypes
• Plan, convene and coordinate external independent reviews of WFSC final designs
• Supervise as well as prepare and deliver presentations at GMTO technical gate reviews and conferences
• Coordinate with other organizational elements across the GMT Project to mature interfaces and to identify and manage interdependencies between WFSC and other Project elements
• Review and understand test results of optical/electronic/mechanical prototypes designed to validate designs and/or burn down performance risks
• Own and ensure delivery of WFSC milestones including NSF reports, financial and schedule performance status. Delegate delivery of internal technical documentation of the GMT AO subsystem requirements, design and performance.
• Participate in the procurement and testing of AO-related subsystems such as wavefront sensors, calibration sources, real-time computer systems and/or laser guide star facility subsystems
• Lead the AO laboratory verification of the performance of the WFSC subsystems and the AO control algorithms correcting for atmospheric disturbances and segment phase piston errors as well as the final site acceptance testing and delivery of AO subsystems to telescope commissioning
• Contribute to key technical decisions impacting subsystem design, integration, and performance

Job description

Giant Magellan Telescope in Pasadena, CA seeks an Element Manager to lead the Wavefront Sensing & Control (WFSC) element, guiding design maturation and integration planning for AO subsystems. You will oversee a multidisciplinary team, coordinate with partner institutions, and manage testbeds, resources, costs, and schedules across international labs.

The role requires 10+ years in optical systems or adaptive optics, strong leadership, and travel to vendors and observatories.