Job Posting Title:
Control Systems Electronics Engineer, McDonald Observatory----
Hiring Department:
McDonald Observatory----
Position Open To:
All Applicants----
Weekly Scheduled Hours:
40----
FLSA Status:
Exempt----
Earliest Start Date:
Immediately----
Position Duration:
Expected to Continue----
Location:
MCDONALD OBSERVATORY----
Job Details:
The McDonald Observatory is an astronomical observatory located 16 miles from Fort Davis, Texas, and 440 miles from the UT Austin campus. Residence in the Observatory's residential community is preferred. Work hours include occasional weekends, evenings, and holidays.
The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff, including:
Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%)
Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options
Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan)
Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b)
Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
For more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards
The position may be subject to “call-back” as an essential employee for emergencies or critical response situations. Must be eligible to work in the US full-time for any employer without sponsorship.
This position is a research support staff role that contributes to the performance and scientific operations of fielded instrumentation systems, including both newly introduced systems during commissioning and existing research systems. This support involves assessing the science needs, expected results, and operational limits of the system as a whole, while quickly developing field-friendly modifications to complex systems. These modifications must preserve the core scientific requirements and be feasible in the field to prevent disruptions to research activities.
The systems range in age from 1939 to 2025, covering several generations and technology nodes. Examples include motion-control systems used for operating observing subsystems such as the dome, dome shutters, enclosure-related controls, safety interlocks, status reporting systems like indicator panels, decade counters, encoders, and control interfaces on observing subsystems, including scientific instruments. The electrical environment involves low-voltage DC, low-voltage AC, and medium-voltage three-phase motor control components, contacts, motor starters, and voltage/current monitoring interfaces.
Performs preventive maintenance, inspections, diagnostic testing, and repairs of electronic, electrical, and electromechanical systems related to instrumentation, control infrastructure, and telescope operations.
Responds to trouble calls, communicates with customers, troubleshoots electronic, electrical, and electro-mechanical control systems and components to ensure reliable operation of observing systems.
Performs preventive maintenance and calibrates electronic, electrical, and electro-mechanical controls and sensors to prevent failures, ensure the observing environment operates at optimal performance, and maximize operational availability.
Interprets and works from drawings, specifications, and sketches for assigned projects to ensure university standards are maintained. Commissions control systems for new and renovation construction projects to ensure final control installation meets standards and functional requirements. Performs work independently from written or verbal instructions and in accordance with established safety procedures to complete tasks promptly.
Researches and recommends repair components and test equipment to assist in procuring components. Creates material lists and acquires materials to support efficient work. Keeps accurate records of materials used and maintains daily time reports to complete tasks efficiently and document details of the functions performed. Maintains accurate, up-to-date documentation for all systems.
Renovates and upgrades control systems to ensure efficient operation of the observing environment and to support evolving scientific needs.
Assists others as needed to troubleshoot observing subsystems and other equipment, aiming to minimize equipment downtime and address concerns about the stability of the observing subsystems.
Gathers data on electronics, electrical, and electro-mechanical systems to support analysis and enhance control system performance. Participates in the On-Call Program.
Supports other shops and team members in achieving shop goals related to key performance indicators. Assists external entities as needed. Provides prompt and courteous customer service, keeps supervisors informed about daily work order status to ensure clear, concise, and effective communication, and meets customer expectations. Driving University vehicles to job sites may be required for this role and other duties. Performs other duties as requested to meet business needs.
Bachelor's degree in electronics, controls, or a related field with experience maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting scientific instruments and/or electronic systems in an astronomical research or optical lab environment.
Four years of journey-level experience with the installation, repair, maintenance and operation of electrical, electronic and electro-mechanical instrumentation and control systems.
Associates degree in electronics, controls, or a related field with six years of journey level experience in the installation, repair, maintenance and operation of electrical, electronic, and electro-mechanical instrumentation and control
systems.
Hands-on experience with machine tools and workshop equipment. Ability to work with precision measuring tools.
Good mechanical aptitude.
Ability to organize and prioritize work to meet deadlines and expectations.
Demonstrated ability to respond to troubleshooting inquiries.
Excellent computer literacy skills, including experience with Microsoft Office products.
Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and willingness to work hard.
Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision.
Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills with the ability to communicate with various audiences, i.e., science users, engineers, educators, nighttime staff, and administrative staff.
Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment and in a professional manner.
Demonstrated ability to develop and document procedures, update the information to a database, and create reports of equipment status
Open to innovative procedures and learning new skills or methods.
Safety conscious and adheres to safety rules and regulations.
Competencies for this position include accuracy and attention to detail, decision-making and critical thinking, effective communication, initiative, interpersonal relationships, problem-solving, and service excellence.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Basic computer-aided design (CAD) skills, and ideally expertise in the use of ECAD systems, Altium Designer, Solidworks, AutoDesk Inventor, or similar design and schematic tools.
International Society of Automation Certified Controls Systems Technician (ISA CCST) Level 1 certification.
TDLR Electrical, Electrical Sign, or HVAC license.
Experience working with precision mechanical systems requiring fine motor coordination and a light touch.
Experience in a scientific research field with electrical systems.
Experience working on chillers, HVAC, cooling systems, air compressors, and electro-mechanical systems.
This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant must provide a three-year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident.
$71,000 + depending on qualifications and experience
Practice safe working habits.
May work in all weather conditions and extreme temperatures.
May work around chemicals, chemical fumes, and cryogenic liquids.
May work around electrical and mechanical hazards.
May work around standard office conditions and repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.
Use of manual, mechanical hand-tool, and fine motor dexterity.
Climbing stairs and ladders, and working at heights up to 100 feet in varied climate conditions with appropriate personal protection equipment, using a man lift or ladder; free climbing on/around heavy equipment.
Lifting, moving, and pushing heavy equipment.
Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including safety harnesses, hard hats, breathing respirators, and ear and eye protection, may require respirator fit testing.
Staff living on-site in the residential community are considered essential employees, as determined by the Observatory Superintendent, and will be required to serve on the Observatory Emergency Response team.
McDonald Observatory is approximately 6900 ft. above sea level; environmental conditions can be unpredictable; temperatures can range from -10˚F to +95˚F; inclement winter weather can be expected, which requires comfort driving in wintry conditions on mountain grades.
Generally, M-F, 8 am – 5 pm.
May need to work outside of normal working hours as required -- evening, weekends, and holidays.
Letter of interest
Resume/CV
Three (3) work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, and then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional required materials (a letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded to the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.
Important for current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu, and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be included in your application. The application is one page, and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (a letter of interest, references, etc.) noted above.
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Employment Eligibility:
Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.----
Retirement Plan Eligibility:
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.----
Background Checks:
A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
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Equal Opportunity Employer:
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
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Pay Transparency:
The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
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Employment Eligibility Verification:
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.
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E-Verify:
The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:
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Compliance:
Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.
The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.