This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/665401200. 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?
07/14/2022 to 03/24/2023
$93,175 - $144,034 per year
IS 12 - 13
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
No
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
13
No
No
22-65
665401200
This position requires access to export-controlled work. The candidate must be a U.S. person (citizen, permanent resident or be a national of a country eligible to be approved on an export license. Selection will be made at either the grade 12 or 13. If selection is made at the grade 12 level the selectee may be non-competitively promoted to the next higher level up to the grade 13 upon recommendation of the Promotion Review Committee for Engineers( PRCE).
At the SAO, engineers work collaboratively with scientists to develop instrumentation that will get us closer to answering these questions. From worldwide 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.
The purpose of the position is to provide expert electronics/electrical systems engineering support to the development of advanced instrumentation for ground-based and space-based astrophysical and astronomical data collection on various Central Engineering supported projects.
Duties for grade 12:
1. Contribute to the architecture and development of electrical systems, subsystems, modules, and components.
2. Provide technical consultation to CfA scientists and other engineering staff in instrument electrical design.
3. Work with scientific investigators to establish the electrical requirements of new projects, translate scientific objectives into instrument performance characteristics and achievable hardware.
4. Document work in technical memoranda, reports, test plans, and procedures, and present work to scientists and engineers.
5. Provide hands-on support of the build, test, and integration of new electrical hardware designs for instruments and support existing instrument hardware in the field.
6. Liaison with hardware contractors and subcontractors as required.
7. Investigate, select, justify, and oversee procurement of critical electrical, electro-optical, and servo-mechanical components used in astrophysical instrumentation and its development.
8. Plan and direct the activities of technicians and designers in areas related to the design and fabrication of electronic assemblies.
9. Travel, 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.
In addition to the above duties for grade 13:
1. Architect and oversee development of electrical systems, subsystems, modules, and components.
2. Prepare cost and schedule estimates for hardware design, fabrication, test, and calibration; manage the resources required to accomplish the goals; and maintain a technical overview of the project.
3. Provide technical leadership and direction to, and liaison with, hardware contractors and sub-contractors as required.
4. Contribute to the development of best practices for electronics instrumentation design to apply to all space and ground-based projects.
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/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:
For the GS 12 level - Candidates must possess one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the grade 11 level. Specialized experience in analog and digital circuit design techniques, including low noise / low power analog, and digital to analog / analog to digital converter design with follow-up FPGA-based digital signal processing.
For the GS-13 level - Candidates must possess one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the grade 12 level. Specialized experience in analog and digital circuit design techniques, including low noise / low power analog, and digital to analog / analog to digital converter design with follow-up FPGA-based digital signal processing. Experience with space-level reliability design and system integration and test.
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
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.
Please note: If you have applied for JP #22-36 Electronics Engineer, you will automatically be considered for this vacancy.
• 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:
For grade 12:
1. Professional knowledge of the concepts, principles and practices of electrical engineering, in order to investigate, design, and support the development of a range of electronics for ground-based and space-borne instrumentation for astrophysical data collection, as well as its associated test, calibration and ground support equipment.
2. Ability to support coordinative services in electronics/electrical systems design and analysis, system resource budgeting, documentation, proposal preparation, and test activities.
3. Knowledge of electrical schematic and board layout CAD/CAM tools.
4. Familiarity with analog design techniques and design simulation tools (i.e. SPICE); experience with the development of FPGA based digital and analog signal processing systems.
5. Knowledge of related engineering fields such as thermal, mechanical, optical and/or structural in order to collaborate on instrument design.
6. Strong oral and written communications skills, including the ability to present at meetings in areas related to the electronics of advanced instrumentation.
For grade 13:
1. Mastery and skill in applying advanced theories, concepts, principles and practices of electrical engineering, in order to investigate, design, and provide consultative services to the development of a range of electronics for ground-based and space-borne instrumentation for astrophysical data collection, as well as its associated test, calibration and ground support equipment.
2. Ability to provide consultative and coordinative services in electronics/electrical systems design and analysis, system resource budgeting, documentation, proposal preparation, and test activities.
3. Knowledge of electrical schematic and board layout CAD/CAM tools.
4. Knowledge of analog design techniques and design simulation tools (i.e. SPICE); experience with the development of FPGA based digital and analog signal processing systems.
5. Working knowledge of related engineering fields such as thermal, mechanical, optical and/or structural in order to collaborate on instrument design.
6. 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.
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.
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/665401200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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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!