This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/508093800. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
The purpose of the position is to provide expert electrical systems engineering support to the development of advanced instrumentation for ground and space based astrophysical and astronomical data collection on various Central Engineering projects, as assigned.
Learn more about this agency08/15/2018 to 02/14/2019
$113,929 - $148,108 per year
IS 14
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
Occasional travel - May travel both domestically and internationally
No
Permanent - Indefinite Trust Appointment. This is not a Federal position.
Full-time - Full Time
Competitive
14
No
No
18-66
508093800
This position is open to all qualified candidates eligible to work in the United States. First consideration may be made 14 days after the opening date.
1. Uses broad knowledge of electronics and electrical systems state-of-the-art to conceive, plan, and execute complex and varied assignments required to develop advanced instrumentation for astrophysical and astronomical data collection; as well as for its associated test, calibration, and other ground support equipment.
1.1 Conceives, designs, and oversees development of complex state-of-the-art electrical/electronic systems, subsystems, modules, and components. Provides expert technical consultation to CfA scientists and other engineering staff in instrument electrical design.
1.2 Translates scientific objectives into achievable hardware that exploits or extends state-of-the art, advances current technology, and works with scientific investigators to establish the electrical/electronic requirements of new projects. Analyzes scientific data collection requirements, translates these requirements into instrument performance characteristics, and develops instrument concepts and preliminary systems diagrams.
1.3 Performs critical trade-off analyses of various design implementations. Makes and documents recommendations for optimum methods considering both known and anticipated operating environments.
1.4 Evaluates manufacturers’ performance capability data for discrete, hybrid, and integrated circuitry, components, and systems. Incorporates analysis results into design decisions.
1.5 Prepares cost and schedule estimates for hardware design, fabrication, test, and calibration; including supporting documentation.
1.6. Extensively documents work in technical memoranda, reports, test plans, procedures and presentations.
2. Defends proposals to funding agency and/or scientific peer review panels in support of the Principal Investigator. Troubleshoots and analyzes complex technical problems encountered on CE projects, identifies and recommends solutions, and oversees their implementation.
3.From conceptual design through project completion, provides leadership in design, analysis, and documentation. Maintains a technical overview of the project in process, and has ultimate responsibility for the design and test integrity of the contract or project end item. Chooses appropriate technologies, establishes technical priorities, and performs conceptual, systems level, and detail design. Prepares cost estimates, schedules, plans, technical reports, and engineering input to project proposals; supervises engineers, designers, and technicians assigned to the project; and maintains engineering budgets and schedules. Provides technical leadership and direction to, and liaison with, hardware contractors and sub-contractors as required.
4. May serve in Control Account Manager (CAM) role for electronics related tasks on larger projects in addition to other duties.
5. Investigates, selects, justifies, and oversees procurement of critical electrical, electro-optical, and servo-mechanical components used in astrophysical instrumentation and its development.
6. May fill multiple roles on smaller projects, including Project Engineer technical oversight, Project Manager (cost tracking, task estimation), System and Lead Design Engineer, and work directly with drafting design and technicians for building and testing hardware – through delivery.
7. Makes both oral and written presentations to project scientists and technical representatives of contracting agencies and cooperating or affiliated organizations: Either singly or in collaboration with project scientists and other engineers, may write technical papers recording innovative design techniques and criteria, and present papers to technical symposia in the specialty field.
8. Travels, both domestically and internationally, to telescope sites, vendor facilities, NASA centers, , and the facilities of other associated organizations in support of proposal, design, calibration, test, integration, and mission operations activities.
9. Performs other assignments as required.
Basic qualification requirements can be found at
https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-IV/A/GS-PROF.asp and
https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-IV/B/GS0800/0800.htm.
Qualification requirements must be met within 30 days after the closing date of announcement.
Candidates must possess one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the grade 13 level. Specialized experience such as knowledge of electrical systems state-of-the-art to conceive, plan, and execute complex and varied assignments; translates scientific requirements into pioneering technology to be applied to the development of cutting edge astronomical/astrophysics instruments in support of the advance of Observatory scientific research objectives.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the average number of hours per week spent in such employment.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must:
(1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; 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.
OR
a 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 professional 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. OR
Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions. APPLICANT MUST LIST ALL COLLEGE COURSES.
In addition to meeting basic requirements, applicants must meet specialized experience. Specialized experience is defined above.
• The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses.
• A recruitment bonus may be paid.
• The Smithsonian embraces diversity and equal employment opportunity.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The online questionnaire will evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) below: Qualified candidates at both grade levels will be rated based upon the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
Mastery of the advanced concepts, principles and practices of electronics engineering as they relate to the development and implementation of experimental theories, and emerging technology to solve complex instrument design problems.
Overall systems design skills including electrical systems design and analysis, system resource and error budgeting, documentation, sophisticated computer modeling and fabrication and test activities pertaining to the development of state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation.
Knowledge of and skill in the development of FPGA based digital and analog signal processing systems – including resource estimation and some firmware development experience (VHDL, Verilog) and the ability to use electrical schematic and board layout CAD/CAM tools and provide oversight of detailed drafting and board layout design staff.
Working knowledge of related engineering fields such as thermal, mechanical, optical and/or structural in order to resolve design and instrument packaging problems.
Skill in project leadership and the ability to provide technical direction in design, fabrication, assembly, and test activities to members of a diverse engineering and scientific team and have the ability to generate realistic project budgets and schedules and support multiple projects simultaneously.
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. Demonstrable skill in proposal writing.
Your application package should include the
following documents:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page.
Please Note:
After you apply, you will receive an automated acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. The staffing process to identify highly qualified candidates may take up to four weeks or more to complete. After the announcement closes and application reviews are done, you may be contacted by the hiring office if further evaluation or interviews are required. All applicants will receive written notification on the final outcome of the position.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/508093800. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is part of what is arguably the largest and most diverse astrophysical institution in the world, where the staff carries out a broad program of research in astronomy, astrophysics and earth and space sciences. If you would like to join this exciting organization, apply today!