Research Support Specialist II

Cornell University is Seeking a Research Support Specialist:

Cornell is a private Ivy League University and the land grant University for New York State. The Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science’s mission is to foster research among astronomers, engineers, geologists and other researchers with interests relevant to space sciences. Connected to, and contained within, the Department of Astronomy, the Center administers research grants and contracts across several Cornell departments. The Center also aims through public outreach to disseminate information about space science to students and the general public.

The Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science (CCAPS) is seeking candidates to fill a Research Support Specialist II position expected to be available this summer. The successful candidate is expected to support a three to four year project to design, construct, install and commission a 40-beam cryogenically cooled phased array feed system operating at a frequency of 1.4 GHz (20 cm wavelength) intended for use on the 305 m Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico. The responsibilities of the successful candidate will be to assist in refining the current design of the 1.4 meter diameter dewar and its associated cooled dipole and low noise amplifier arrays, take a leading role in organizing the fabrication and procurement of the dewar, its internal components and the monitor and control system, and assist with testing of the instrument and planning for its installation on the telescope. This project is one of several cryogenically cooled instruments being designed and built in the Center. The following skills are particularly relevant to the project:

1. Mechanical engineering skills including computer aided design (CAD) and thermal analysis (Such as Solid Works) and the preparation of fabrication drawings.
2. Experience with cryogenics and low temperature (20K) refrigerators.
3. A good appreciation of machining issues and the low temperature behavior of materials.
4. Good organization skills and the ability to interact professionally with machining and fabrication firms.
5. Some knowledge of electronics at least at the level of designing and implementing a monitor and control system for the cryostat primarily using off the shelf components. 

   Qualifications and Education Requirements

   Bachelor’s Degree with 3-5 years of Experience

   CAD Design such as Solid Works Required

   Familiarity with Windows

   Mac OS X

   Linux Systems