Instrument Specialist

The Large Binocular Telescope Observatory (LBTO) seeks one Instrumentation Specialist to join the the Science Operations and Instrumentation Support Group.

The LBTO operates the 2 × 8.4 m LBT on the 3200 m summit of Mount Graham near Safford, Arizona. Our three facility instruments as well as the facility adaptive optics system have been commissioned and brought into routine use. Instruments include a pair of wide-field prime focus optical imagers (LBC), the multi-object double spectrograph (MODS), and an infrared imager/spectrograph capable of multi-object spectroscopy and utilizing the adaptive optics system (LUCI).

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for daily maintenance and nighttime configuration of the facility instruments as well as trouble-shooting and repair of the facility instruments under the direction and supervision of the Engineering Group and/or instrument teams.
• Prepare for and perform cryogenic mask exchanges for the LUCI and MODS instruments.
• Assist visiting astronomers.
• Assist partner instrument teams during the commissioning of facility instruments or other observatory systems.
• Responsible for the daily maintenance and support of auxiliary instrument related services and equipment such as cryogenics, vacuum systems, electro-mechanics, optics, instrument electronics, and detectors.
• Provide the first corrective actions on the instruments in case of malfunction.
• Prioritize projects and tasks by discussing the schedule with management and other stakeholders.
• Work weekends and/or extended periods of time on Mt Graham as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or related field AND two years of experience with astronomical instrumentation; OR six years of astronomical instrumentation experience: OR any equivalent combination of experience training and/or education.
• Capable of working at the 3200 m elevation of Mount Graham
• Able to lift 50 lbs

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience supporting and maintaining advanced 4-8 m class telescope optical and infrared instrumentation.
• Instrument or electronics test equipment experience is highly preferred.
• Cryogenic and vacuum experience.