Electronics Engineer (IS-0855-14)

Job Description

Job Description

Description

OPENING DATE : January 31, 2025

CLOSING DATE : March 7, 2025

SERIES / GRADE : 0855 / 14

TYPE OF POSITION : Trust Indefinite (Non-Federal)

DIVISION : Central Engineering

LOCATION : Cambridge, MA

AREA OF CONSIDERATION : This position is open to all eligible candidates.

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit / Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Childcare), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation, as required.
• Complete a Probationary Period if applicable.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit / Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States.  Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. SAO combines its resources with those of the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). The CfA is the best-known astrophysics center in the world. Its programs range from ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research to space-based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch and use in large ground-based facilities, and research designed to improve science education. The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support.  Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriations or the form of contracts and grants from other agencies. In contrast, Institution funds are available to SAO through grants from the Institution's Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities, and non-Federal contracts and grants.

SUMMARY

The purpose of the position is to provide expert electronics / electrical systems engineering support to the development of advanced instrumentation for ground-based and space-based astrophysical and astronomical data collection on various Central Engineering projects.

MAJOR DUTIES

1.      Architect and oversee the development of electrical systems, subsystems, modules, and components.

2.      Provide leadership in the development of embedded software for spaceflight subsystems.

3.      Provide technical consultation to CfA scientists and other engineering staff in instrument electrical design.

4.      Work with scientific investigators to establish the electrical requirements of new projects, translate scientific objectives into instrument performance characteristics and achievable hardware.

5.      Prepare cost and schedule estimates for electrical hardware and / or embedded software design, fabrication, test, and calibration; manage the resources required to accomplish the goals; and maintain a technical overview of the project.

6.  Document work in technical memoranda, reports, test plans, and procedures and present work to scientists and engineers.

7.  Provide hands-on support of the build, test, and integration of new electrical hardware designs for instruments and support existing instrument hardware in the field.

8.  Provide technical leadership and direction to, and liaison with, hardware contractors, sub-contractors, and internal SAO engineering teams as required.

9.  Investigate, select, justify, and oversee procurement of critical electrical, electro-optical, and servo-mechanical components used in astrophysical instrumentation and its development.

10.  Plan and direct the activities of technicians and designers in areas related to the design and fabrication of electronic assemblies.

11.  Travel domestically and internationally to project team institutions, vendor facilities, NASA centers, and the facilities of other associated organizations in support of the proposal, design, calibration, test, integration, and mission operations activities.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Basic Requirements :

A. Degree : Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must : (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics : (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

B. Combination of education and experience college-level education, training, and / or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering.

Additional Requirements :   Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or above the grade 13 level in similar positions.  Specialized experience is experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required :

1.   Mastery of the concepts, principles and practices of electrical engineering, in order to investigate, design, and provide consultative services to the development of a range of electronics for space-borne instrumentation for astrophysical data collection, as well as its associated test, calibration and ground support equipment.

2.  Ability to serve as electrical discipline lead on projects including translating mission objectives into electrical requirements alongside systems engineer, leading electrical architecture and design, managing AI&T, and providing cost and schedule inputs to program management.

3.  Ability to provide consultative and coordinative services in electronics / electrical systems design and analysis, embedded software, system resource budgeting, documentation, proposal preparation, and test activities.

4.  Knowledge of embedded systems and embedded software development (embedded C / C )

5.  Knowledge of electrical schematic and board layout CAD / CAM tools (e.g.. Altium).

6.  Knowledge of analog design techniques and design simulation tools (e.g.. SPICE)

7.   Ability to design electrical systems for radiation and vacuum environments as well as having the knowledge to determine the radiation and vacuum requirements based on the overall system’s mission parameters.

8.   Knowledge of current NASA, Military and IPC standards related to the design and development of high reliability printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies including, but not limited to, fabrication requirements, component selection, and component derating.

9.   Working knowledge of related engineering fields such as thermal, mechanical, optical and / or structural in order to collaborate on instrument design.

10.  Strong oral and written communications skills, including the ability to serve as a technical spokesperson for SAO in areas related to the electronics of advanced instrumentation.

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.

What To Expect Next : Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact hr@cfa.harvard.edu . Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.  To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer . We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information : https : / / www.si.edu / oeesd.

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer. Please visit the SAO website at http : / / www.cfa.harvard.edu /