Electronics & Detector Engineer

Submission Information
Publish Date: 
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Archive Date: 
Saturday, February 4, 2023
Job Summary
Job Category: 
Science Engineering
Institution Classification/Type: 
Other
Institution/Company: 
AURA/NOIRLab
City: 
Hilo, La Serena
State/Province: 
Hawaii, Chile
Country: 
United States of America
Announcement
Job Announcement Text: 

NSF’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab) is the US national center for ground-based astronomy. NOIRLab is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) which operates as a matrix organization, providing services across a range of programs with facilities in three geographic locations: Arizona, Hawaii, and Chile.

We are seeking two CCD/IR Detector Engineers (either junior-level engineer to mid-level engineer, depending on experience and qualifications) to be part of the Electrical Engineering (EE) group of NOIRLab Engineering Services (ES), a distributed team of electronics engineers providing services of maintenance, design and test of Telescope electronics control systems, instruments and equipment. The CCD/IR Detector Engineers will assume responsibilities in the specification, procurement, integration and testing and routine operations and maintenance activities of electronics associated with CCD/IR detectors, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.

This position provides a unique opportunity to work in an international collaborative environment and to participate in a wide variety of projects for large and mid-scale observatories. Within the Electrical Engineering group, the CCD/IR Detector Engineers will be primarily assigned to the Gemini Observatory, a Program of NOIRLab composed of two twin telescopes, one in Hawaii (Gemini North, GN) and other  in Chile (Gemini South, GS), with regular collaboration with other NOIRLab programs as CTIO in Chile, that comprises Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope (SOAR) and the Small and Medium Astronomical Research Telescope System (SMARTS) on Cerro Tololo. International travel may be required to other NOIRLab or vendor facilities for short periods of time.

Essential Functions:

  • Execute electronic projects associated with procurement, testing, characterization and optimization of CCD and IR detector devices for astronomical instruments, and development of new technologies and improvements.
  • Perform regular operations, maintenance and troubleshooting tasks on astronomical instruments used in the observatory.
  • Support and contribute to proposals in the field of advanced electronics, detection electronics, and data acquisition to design and build new systems or improve/optimize existing ones.
  • Participate in project planning, scheduling, cost estimates and design reviews.
  • Work independently in small projects or as a team member in larger groups of Scientists and Engineers from various disciplines.
  • Perform circuit simulation analysis and support PCB layout activities related to electronic components requirements and design improvements.
  • Analyze design challenges to attain optimal performance/cost trade-offs meeting technical requirements.
  • Support off-site testing of detectors and its components, and design, simulation, construction and commissioning of new instruments.
  • Maintain technical competence and state of the art expertise in detectors and related electro-optical components.

Education/Experience/Skills/Ability:

  • Master’s degree or higher preferred in Electronics Engineering or related discipline with 5 years of relevant experience.
  • Deep understanding of state-of-the-art detectors, science requirements to operate astronomical instruments, and the instrumentation engineering requirements.
  • Experience working on electronics projects and troubleshooting associated with detector devices in a multidisciplinary team environment.
  • Excellent demonstrated hands on skills in high speed, low noise analog circuit design technique and analog circuit simulation tools such as PSpice and schematic capture tools such as Altium. 
  • Proficiency in digital, mixed circuit, and embedded systems design.
  • Software development skills using C/C++, Visual Basic and Fortran are desirable. 
  • Desired knowledge of programs and tools such as VHDL, Verilog, Cadence Allegro, and LabVIEW. 
  • Experience in field programmable Gate Array FPGA firmware development using VHDL or Verilog language, DSP techniques, and embedded system design using FPGA with hard or soft CPUs.
  • Good understanding of cryogenic and vacuum technology
  • High degree of professionalism and discretion; sound business ethics.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and written and verbal communication.

Other Functions:

  • Perform other electronic-area related duties and tasks as assigned.

Physical Demands:

  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.
  • The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop; kneel; crouch; or crawl.
  • The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
  • Must possess - sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands and both legs to a) reach upward, sideways, downward to work with paper files; b) sufficient mobility and dexterity to utilize computer systems, copiers, and other office machines.
  • Must possess – 1) ability to read and understand instructions in English and Spanish, drawings, safety guides, and other written materials necessary to perform job; 2) sufficient visual capacity to perform the applicable functions without assistance of visual aids other than eye contacts or eye glasses; 3) sufficient spoken aural capacity to hear and understand instructions, warning bells, fire alarms, or shouted instructions without assistance of auditory aids other than a hearing aid; and 4) ability to impart information orally so that others understand and can respond appropriately
  • 1) Cerro Pachon: ability to work at 2,700 meters altitude, sometimes during inclement weather. 2) Cerro Tololo: able to climb stairs and work at 2,200 meters altitude; 3) Mauna Kea: able to climb stairs and work at 4,214 meters altitude.
  • Required to pass medical examination (post offer and potentially at specified intervals while employed if medically necessary).

AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off and retirement plan contributions, competitive salary commensurate with experience, and a very attractive work environment.

Details on benefits can be found at https://hr.aura-astronomy.org/employee-benefits-guide/

Please list 3 professional references in your application (references will only be contacted later in the recruitment process) and attach: a cover letter and a CV or resume, PDF files preferred. Please name any attachments with the following format: Lastname Docname. Application documents that are not uploaded as part of the application may be sent to [email protected].

The position will remain open until filled. To be considered in the first round of reviews, please submit your application by January 20, 2023.

COVID-19 Policy Update: AURA has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy that requires all employees to be vaccinated including being up to date on boosters, unless qualified for an exemption based on medical or religious reasons.  All new employees will be required to comply with this policy and will be required to present proof of full vaccination or submit a completed request (including supporting documents, if applicable) for an exemption at least five (5) business days prior to their start of employment.  Individuals who fail to meet this deadline may have their employment start date delayed. 

This is a requirement for all employees working onsite or from home (telework or hybrid remote work schedule).  Currently the vaccination requirement does not apply to any future AURA employees working in Chile, regardless of their nationality or type of contract.

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), is a consortium of over 40 US institutions and three international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories. AURA’s role is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research. AURA is responsible for managing the operations of the NSF’s NOIRLab, the National Solar Observatory, and the construction of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory  under cooperative agreements with the National Science Foundation and operations of the Space Telescope Science Institute under contracts with NASA. 

Application Deadline: 
Saturday, February 4, 2023
Current Status of Position: 
Accepting Applicants
Apply to Job
Attention To: 
AURA Human Resources
Institution/Company Job ID or Reference Code: 
ELECT004384