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Caltech · 6 days ago

Adaptive Optics Engineer

Pasadena, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

$134K/yr - $168K/yr

4+ years exp

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. The Adaptive Optics Engineer will contribute to the development of forefront adaptive optics systems for large telescopes and work closely with faculty and research staff to advance new concepts in astronomical instrumentation.

EdTechEducationUniversities

Growth Opportunities

H1B Sponsor Likely

Responsibilities

Develop and promote AO system designs via systems engineering tasks such as performance simulations, error budget construction, and flow-down, interface definitions, and user engagement

Lead AO system and subsystem implementation within multi-disciplinary teams, providing guidance to expert optical, mechanical, and controls engineers

Provide AO expertise leadership for distributed teams developing both soft- and hard-real-time AO system software and related instrumentation and observatory infrastructure

Identify and pursue opportunities for advanced technology developments, such as new wavefront sensing techniques and components, novel AO telemetry data utilization, and advanced tomography algorithms

Bring excellent written and verbal communications and teaming skills to an interdisciplinary, inter-institutional collaborative setting

Perform instrument engineering at a senior level in one or more of the following disciplines: optical design, mechanical design, controls engineering, software architecture and development, real-time computer implementation, laser guide star systems engineering, and calibration system design

Occasional travel and work at high altitudes (up to 14,000 ft.) are required, including daytime and nighttime schedules. The Adaptive Optics Engineer will at times need to drive to observatories to work on instruments, as well as provide expert guidance

Creativity and innovative development of new instrumentation techniques and component technologies for furthering precision, grasp, multiplex, and efficiency across a wide domain of astrophysical measurements

Excellent communications and working relationship with astrophysics faculty and research staff at Caltech and partner institutions

Recognized technical excellence in one or more of the following instrumentation sub-disciplines: optical, photonic, mechanical, electrical, or detector engineering; cryo-vacuum systems; adaptive optics; controls; software engineering; or robotics

Broad knowledge of experimental physics and multidisciplinary engineering principles

Familiarity with effective systems engineering disciplines, including requirements engineering, error budget analysis, requirements flow-down, formal interface control, and risk assessment and mitigation strategies

Leadership of instrument and/or data pipeline software development teams, with emphasis on efficiency, automation, maintainability, and extensibility

Effective project planning and management of innovative/prototypical scientific equipment

Qualification

Adaptive optics systems designOptical designMechanical designControls engineeringSoftware architectureReal-time computer implementationLaser guide star systemsCalibration system designWavefront sensing techniquesProject planningStatistical analysisExperimental physics knowledgeCommunication skillsTeam collaborationCreativityLeadership

Required

Ph.D. in astronomy, physics, engineering, or related field and 4 years of experience, or equivalent (Master's with 8 years or Bachelor's with 10 years in the same fields)

Enthusiasm to make impactful contributions, individually and within instrumentation teams, to human knowledge and understanding

Demonstrated strong laboratory integration and testing skills, including, but not limited to, proper understanding of cryogenics, alignment and assembly tolerances, metrology systems, automated data acquisition systems, statistical analysis, and computer/hardware interfaces

Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to lead technical peers and work collegially with astronomical faculty

Occasional travel and work at high altitudes (up to 14,000 ft.) are required, including both daytime and occasional nighttime schedules

Ability to lift 25 lbs. and see in low-light-level conditions

Must possess a valid driver's license and maintain it throughout employment

Successful pre-employment physical, DMV, and background checks