VLBA Specialist II-III

Location: Big Pine

National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Title:

VLBA Specialist II-III

Location:

VLBA Site - Owens Valley, CA, 90 Leighton Lane, Big Pine, California, United States of America

Requisition Number: 226 Job Family:
Technical Specialist

Pay Type:

Hourly Required

Education:

NET Position

Description:

Position Summary The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a prestigious research and development organization that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) is a nonprofit organization that manages and operates the NRAO under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. The Observatory is a hub for technological and scientific collaboration, operating state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community.

The Observatory has been instrumental in the study of black holes, galaxies, and the early universe. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) announces an VLBA Station Specialist. The VLBA Station Specialist is a hands-on technical staff member skilled and experienced in multiple areas such as digital and analog electronics, mechanical hardware, HVAC systems, general site maintenance, and operations support. NRAO is seeking an employee willing to climb a large radio telescope antenna, troubleshoot and fix problems there or in the site building, and otherwise keep the site operational to enable astronomical data to be continuously received, processed, and delivered for scientific study.

This is a rewarding opportunity, where the tenure of Specialists is typically measured in decades due to the interesting work and the Observatory’s great benefits and work-life balance. In general, the Specialist, along with another Specialist, is responsible for installation, repairs, and maintenance at the Very Long Baseline Array Station located in Owens Valley, CA. The station includes the 25-meter antenna and support infrastructure and is part of a 10-antenna array, spread across the US, all capturing radio astronomical data delivered to a centrally located correlator.

The Specialist will interact with other personnel at these sites and at the correlator site. The Specialist must respond to emergency repair situations as dictated by the impact on the station's ability to perform intended functions. The employee typically works with the other Specialist, but is occasionally solo when schedule issues arise and is on-call on alternating weekends. What You Will be Doing:
The position performs maintenance, inspection, testing, troubleshooting, repair, data delivery and other work on the Very Long Baseline Array Station, including the 25-meter Antenna. The station includes Radio Frequency receiver and cryogenic systems, data and communications equipment, data recorders, recording media, servo control systems, mechanical drive equipment, and weather stations. Routine duties include:
Using standard electronic test equipment, recording effects on unit performance, inspection, and adjustment and/or replacement of defective system components. Performing scheduled maintenance, lubrication and mechanical and electronic inspections. Monitoring and maintenance of all systems for proper operation. This includes the emergency power generating equipment, fire alarms, and HVAC systems. Consultation with the other VLBA Specialist assigned to this site and with NRAO technicians and engineers located elsewhere in formulating and planning corrective actions.

Other preventive and corrective maintenance on hardware, test equipment, and peripheral equipment, including inspection against specifications or for quality. Use of electronics test equipment such as digital multimeters, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, and power supplies. Use of hand tools for mechanical work or repair. Upkeep of the site and facilities . Additional duties include:
Writing technical reports and developing charts, graphs, and schematics to describe equipment’s operating characteristics, malfunctions, deviations from design specifications, and functional limitations. This includes documentation of work performed. Recommendation of changes…