Electronics Engineer

Job Title

Electronics Engineer (IS-855-13)

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Cambridge, MA

$119,355 - $155,164 / year

November 25, 2025

December 29, 2025

IS-855-13

Trust Indefinite (Non-Federal)

This position is open to all qualified candidates eligible to work in the United States

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation, as required.
• Complete a Probationary Period if applicable.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. SAO combines its resources with those of the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). The CfA is the best‑known astrophysics center in the world. Its programs range from ground‑based astronomy and astrophysics research to space‑based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch and use in large ground‑based facilities, and research designed to improve science education.

The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support. Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriations or the form of contracts and grants from other agencies. In contrast, Institution funds are available to SAO through grants from the Institution's Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities, and non-Federal contracts and grants.

• Architect and oversee development of electrical systems, subsystems, modules, and components for advanced instrumentation.
• Partners with scientific investigators to define the electrical requirements of new projects, translate scientific objectives into instrument performance characteristics and achievable hardware.
• Prepare and manage 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.
• Document work in technical memoranda, reports, test plans, and procedures, and present work to scientists and engineers.
• 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.
• Provide technical leadership and direction to, and liaison with, hardware contractors and sub‑contractors as required.
• Investigate, select, justify, and oversee procurement of critical electrical, electro‑optical, and servo‑mechanical components used in astrophysical instrumentation and its development.
• Plan and direct the activities of technicians and designers in areas related to the design and fabrication of electronic assemblies.
• Serve as technical consultation to CfA scientists and other engineering staff in instrument electrical design.
• 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.

(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,…