Job Posting Title:
GMTNIRS Systems 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 Until Dec 31, 2025----
Location:
UT MAIN CAMPUS----
Job Details:
The University of Texas (UT) McDonald Observatory, a major astronomical research observatory, seeks highly qualified and strongly motivated applicants for the position of an Instrumentation Systems Engineer to complement an active group working on the Giant Magellan Telescope Near-Infrared Spectrograph (GMTNIRS), a high-resolution infrared spectrograph designed as a first-light instrument on the Giant Magellan Telescope behind the Adaptive Optics system.
The primary science goals for GMTNIRS are the characterization of exoplanet atmospheres and stellar astrophysics at all evolutionary stages. The applicant would join the project in the final design phase, with a Final Design Review planned for Spring 2027. GMTNIRS is a collaboration between the University of Texas at Austin, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Carnegie Institute for Science, and the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
The position is initially available for a fixed term of one year. Extension beyond one year will depend on funding, performance, and project needs. Must be able to work in the US without employer sponsorship.
This position is at the University of Texas at Austin campus. It may require occasional travel to collaborator institutions.
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
As the GMTNIRS system engineer, you work with Instrument Scientist, Dr. Greg Mace, to develop and refine the overall instrument-level assembly, integration, and verification plans.
Develop and refine overall instrumentation-level assembly, integration, and verification plans in collaboration with instrument scientist.
Responsible for enabling systems engineering ‘best practice’ in the document and requirements management systems. Example documents for development include mass and electrical budgets and tracking, collaborating with technical staff to complete design trade studies, subsystem requirements documentation and compliance tracking, interface control documentation, risk mitigation and hazards analysis.
Collaborate with technical staff to complete design trade studies. Provide the structure and effort for documentation needs. Expertise on astronomy instrumentation will be provided by other team members.
May work with other technical staff to document their subsystems and supporting the GMTNIRS Project Manager on cost estimation, schedules, and work/product breakdown documentation.
Other duties as required related to team project.
Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Astronomy, or Engineering and/or four years industry experience with systems engineering.
Experience developing engineering budgets (mass, electrical, effort) and good documentation skills are needed for this role.
Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills.
Ability to be adaptable, work independently, and work collaboratively.
Eager to work as an integral project team member.
Demonstrable good judgment.
Knowledge of astronomy research and observatory operational best practices is not required.
Competencies for this role include accuracy and attention to detail, decision-making and critical thinking, effective communications, initiative, interpersonal relationships, problem-solving, and service excellence.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Master's Degree or higher in Physics, Astronomy, or Engineering.
Extensive experience systems engineer documentation.
$55,000 + depending on qualifications and experience.
Working at a computer, including repetitive keyboard use at a workstation.
May work in all weather conditions.
Use of manual dexterity.
May include climbing of stairs and ladders, and lifting and moving.
McDonald Observatory is located approximately 6800 feet above sea level. Environmental conditions can be unpredictable, and temperatures can range from -10˚F and +95˚F. Inclement winter weather can be expected, which requires being comfortable driving in wintry conditions on mountain grades.
Generally, M-F, 8 am – 5 pm
May require extended hours
Occasional travel required to collaborative institutions
Cover Letter
Resume/CV
Three 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, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you can 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 pulled into 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 additi
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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.