Adaptive Optics Technical Project Manager

Background
The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project has been established to design, build and operate a 30-meter diameter aperture optical/infrared telescope with fully integrated adaptive optics to lead to the next generation of telescopes with observation at the diffraction limit of its large aperture. TMT will be one of the successors of the present day 8-10 meter world class telescopes and when complete will be the most advanced optical/infrared telescope in the Northern Hemisphere providing the capability to study exciting astronomical problems from the nature of extra-solar planets to the first stars in the universe. An international collaboration consisting of the University of California, the California Institute of Technology, Canada, Japan, India and China has been formed to deliver this exciting observatory.

The first light Adaptive Optics (AO) System for TMT is a multi-conjugate laser guide star adaptive optics system, which provides uniform diffraction-limited light to up to 3 instruments and operates at -30°C to reduce thermal emission. It includes two deformable mirrors (DMs), one tip/tilt stage, six laser guide star wavefront sensors, one high order natural guide star wavefront sensor for operation without lasers, a real-time controller, and all components necessary for calibration, alignment and testing. The first light Adaptive Optics System is developed by the Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics (HAA) of the National Research Council of Canada. The AO components, in particular the deformable mirrors which include several thousand actuators with large stroke and low hysteresis, are being sub-contracted to vendors in Europe, in the U.S. and in Canada. The laser guide stars are generated by the Laser Guide Star Facility and include six commercial sodium lasers. For more information, please see www.tmt.org.

Job Summary
The Adaptive Optics Technical Project Manager will be a key member of the TMT Adaptive Optics Group and will report to the TMT Adaptive Optics Group Leader. The Adaptive Optics Technical Project Manager will oversee and monitor either a work-package agreement and/or contract(s) with vendor(s) for either a first light AO system or AO components and will be responsible for the successful delivery of the system and/or components to TMT. It is expected that his/her first assignment will be the technical management of the deformable mirror contract (sub-contracted to CILAS, France).

The TMT project office is located in Monrovia, CA, USA. The primary work location for the Adaptive Optics Technical Project Manager will be the TMT Project office in Monrovia, California. The position will require frequent travels to the AO partner(s) and/or sub-contractor(s) location in France, U.S. and in Canada where the first light AO system and components are designed, manufactured, tested and integrated.

Job Duties
The following is a list of job duties, qualifications, and skills for the Adaptive Optics Technical Project Manager:

• Oversee and monitor a work-package for a first light AO system and/or contract(s) for an AO component. This includes the technical monitoring of the partner/vendor, the inspection of the work performed by the partner/vendor, the review of the technical partner/vendor documentation, and ensuring that the partner/vendor work is in accordance with the TMT requirements.
• Work with the first light Adaptive Optics System Canadian partner to maintain the requirements and interface requirements of the first light system and AO components.
• Work closely with the AO partner/vendor to assess risks and develop mitigation strategies for each step of the manufacturing process of the first light AO system and AO components.
• Work closely with the AO partner/vendor to ensure that each step of the manufacturing process of each component of the AO system including the AO components follows high standard of quality assurance and control.
• Organize, coordinate and document the reviews for the AO system or AO components.
• Participate in the tests of the AO system or AO components at the partner/ vendor site and at the Adaptive Optics System integration site in Canada.
• Report to the TMT project management on the technical and programmatic progress of the partner/vendor in terms of performance, schedule, cost, risk, and earned value.
• Prepare requirements and statements of work for new AO system and AO component development for future adaptive optics systems for TMT.
   

Job Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline, advanced degree preferred.
• A minimum of ten years’ experience with a combination of engineering, product design, product manufacturing, product testing, project management and/or technical contract management responsibilities.
• Strong familiarity with the design and/or manufacturing and/or tests of deformable mirrors or precision electro-opto-mechanical components.
• Experience with product manufacturing and Quality Assurance and Control.
• Experience with Failure Mode Effects Analysis.
• A broad multi-disciplinary engineering background.
• The project office is located in Monrovia and residence in the area is required.
• Frequent travels to the sub-contractor location in France and to Canada where the deformable mirrors will be tested and integrated are required.
   

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent organizational skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to write clear and concise technical documents
• A cooperative team-player who strives to make the team successful
• Practical problem solving skills
• Development and management of schedule and budget
• Knowledge of earned-value reporting
   

Desired Qualifications and Skills

• Demonstrated experience of successfully leading and delivering challenging and technically complex engineering products.
• Experience with adaptive optics system.
• Fluency in French is a strong positive factor

TMT is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.