This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/652181200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory asks the big science questions, including:
● What happened in the early universe?
● What do black holes look like?
● How do stars and planets form and evolve?
● Does life exist outside the solar system?
05/03/2022 to 07/01/2022
$61,268 - $79,650 per year
IS 09
1 vacancy in the following location:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - May travel both domestically and internationally
No
Permanent - First consideration may be made 14 days after the opening date.
Full-time - Full Time. Indefinite Trust Appointment. This is not a Federal position.
Competitive
09
No
No
22-49
652181200
This position requires access to export-controlled work. The candidate must be a U.S. person (citizen, permanent resident, approved asylee or refugee) or be a national of a country eligible to be approved on an export license.
At the SAO, engineers work collaboratively with scientists to develop instrumentation that will get us closer to answering these questions. From world-wide telescope arrays that can image black holes to space missions studying solar emissions, this is truly a fantastic place to work – full of opportunities and challenges for engineers. The position is located in Cambridge Mass.
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION: The purpose of this job is to provide electronics engineering system support to the Next Generation Event Horizon Telescope (ngEHT) instrument development team. The ngEHT project seeks to take the next step in trying to elucidate mysteries of fundamental physics. To that end, the instrumentation that is designed to be deployed is cutting edge and extremely challenging both in the area of high frequency analog signal processing and very high speed digital signal processing.
Duties:
1. Function as a junior firmware engineer to implement firmware solutions for the ngEHT
2. Tests and debugs new and existing firmware.
3. Translates electrical designs to PCB layouts.
4. Interfaces with fabrication companies for ordering and inventory management.
5. Collaborates with scientists and multi-disciplinary engineering staff as needed to ensure success of system development.
6. Translates and develops 3D models of assemblies for hosting electrical hardware.
7. Performs thermal analysis to meet the stringent requirements at telescope sites.
8. Participates in regular planning and status reporting activities.
9. Performs other duties as assigned.
For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination requirements and its impact on your application, click on Smithsonian Institution’s Frequently Asked Questions.
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.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
(A) 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
(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 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.
In addition to the Basic Requirements, applicants must have specialized experience:
Candidates must possess one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the grade 7 level. Specialized experience typically will require PCB board layout done from start to finish independently on Altium and/or similar software, and independent firmware development which was successfully deployed on hardware.
• The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses.
• A recruitment bonus may be paid.
• The Smithsonian embraces diversity and equal employment opportunity.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
For our comprehensive benefits information please see our benefits page at https://lweb.cfa.harvard.edu/hr/benefits/
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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:
1. Professional knowledge and skill in applying theories, concepts, principles, and methodologies of electrical engineering discipline sufficient to: plan, evaluate, and carry out difficult but conventional assignments related to developing scientific instruments.
2. Knowledge and skill in Digital Signal Processing (DSP).
3. Knowledge and skill in developing firmware.
4. Knowledge and skill in using Altium and/or similar software.
5. Knowledge and skill in using Solidworks and/or similar software.
6. Ability to communicate in English - both verbally and in writing.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
For our comprehensive benefits information please see our benefits page at https://lweb.cfa.harvard.edu/hr/benefits/
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
Your application package should include the
following documents:
This position has a mandatory education requirement; you must furnish a copy of your transcript of college work completed (unofficial copy is acceptable) or a copy of your degree certificate. Non-submission will result in you being rated ineligible for the position.
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.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Your application package should include the
following documents:
This position has a mandatory education requirement; you must furnish a copy of your transcript of college work completed (unofficial copy is acceptable) or a copy of your degree certificate. Non-submission will result in you being rated ineligible for the position.
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.
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/652181200. 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!