Mechanical Engineer, McDonald Observatory

Job Details

The McDonald Observatory is a major astronomical research observatory located 16 miles from Fort Davis, Texas (440 miles from the UT Austin campus). This position is located on the UT Austin campus and will require occasional travel to the observatory. The engineering work from this position will be part of the application of a wide range of disciplines including mechanical, optical, electronic, vacuum, cryogenic, and software engineering, used together to build state-of-the-art research instrumentation for astronomy.

The research with those instruments includes the discovery and characterization of exoplanets, understanding how the elements and their various isotopes were formed, understanding how the successive generations of stars have changed the chemical composition of the universe, understanding the mechanisms that change the galaxies with time, and understanding the history of the expansion of the universe itself.

The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff, including:

• Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%)
• Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan)
• Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax-sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses

For more details, please see (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). and .

This position is part of the McDonald Observatory's instrumentation group and exercises broad independent judgment to design, analyze, build, test, and support optomechanical and electromechanical subsystems for the McDonald Observatory's instrument and telescope development projects. This position reports to the Chief Astronomer.

• Designs and develops scientific instrumentation and mechanical equipment, often iteratively, including detailed requirements, design, modeling, and analysis, with wide latitude for independent action and decision-making.
• Works with project leadership and staff to substantially contribute to the development of design concepts and requirements for new projects.
• Builds prototypes, conducts supporting analyses, and writes reports.
• Produces fabrication drawings.
• Procures, monitors, and supports the fabrication of designed parts in machine shops and other manufacturing resources.
• Directs, coordinates, and assists with the assembly, deployment, commissioning, and field support of developed instrumentation and mechanical equipment.
• Documents and submits technical reports and project results to management.
• Participates in design reviews and, as appropriate, in the publication of journal articles.
• Continues to develop the engineering skill set and identifies new technologies valuable to instrumentation.
• Performs other functions as required to support business needs.

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or field related to the work performed and at least six (6) years of related experience, or a master's degree in a field related to the work performed and at least four (4) years of related experience.
• Experience writing specifications to provide the technical basis for your work.
• Experience in designing mechanical parts and assemblies.
• Experience using CAD applications to design mechanical assemblies.
• Experience with FEA applications to validate the performance of mechanical structures and assemblies.
• Experience with the use of 3D printing techniques for the construction of prototypes and finished parts where…