OOM Chief Engineer

The Giant Magellan Telescope is one of the most powerful ground-based telescopes ever engineered. It is designed to push the boundaries of human knowledge and explore the unknown. Now under construction at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the premier locations on Earth for astronomy, the telescope will deliver the highest-performing combination of image quality, field of view, and light sensitivity ever achieved.

From this southern hemisphere location, the Giant Magellan Telescope will use seven of the world’s largest mirrors to uncover the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, investigate the origins of chemical elements, and search for signs of life on distant exoplanets.

When complete in the 2030s, the Giant Magellan Telescope will be one of the largest public-private funded science projects in history. It is the work of the GMTO Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and international research consortium, founded by 16 universities and research institutions from the United States, Chile, Australia, Brazil, Israel, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Our culture is impactful, inclusive, and fearlessly innovative. We tackle the most complex engineering challenges and scientific questions alongside talented individuals who share a passion for advancing humanity’s understanding of the Universe.

We invite you to join our team and leave your mark on the future of astronomy and beyond.

Optics and Optical Metrology

Optics and Optical Metrology Manager

The GMT project office is seeking highly qualified Optics and Opto-Mechanical (OOM) Chief Engineer in the Optics and Optical Metrology (OOM) Element. OOM Element is responsible for technical coordination of the telescope optical subsystems, including:
Primary Mirrors (M1) , Secondary Mirrors (ASM and FSM), Tertiary Mirror (M3), Coating and Stripping System (CSS), and the Corrector and Atmospheric Dispersion Compensator (C-ADC). Working under minimal supervision and reporting to the OOM Element manager, this position will play a key role in the development, manufacture and test of all the OOM subsystems by performing, coordinating and supervising the technical tasks to be executed by the OOM and contractor engineers.

This position will require the successful candidate to be fully cognizant of all aspects of the design, manufacturing and testing of telescope optics and optical support systems and apply this knowledge to the coordination of the design, fabrication and test of the OOM subsystems. The OOM Chief Engineer may also function in the role of a Cost Account Manager/Contract Technical Manager for optical subsystems as well as providing overall engineering coordination across the OOM subsystems.

The OOM Chief Engineer will write programmatic and technical reports and make presentations in their area of responsibility at project meetings, reviews, and conferences. This position will require travel to various GMTO member locations and vendor premises, and eventually the GMT site in Chile.

• Provide technical leadership, engineering, programmatic planning and drive technical execution of design, fabrication, assembly, and test, of OOM subsystems
• Coordinate requirements and negotiate shared performance budgets and interfaces with neighboring subsystems
• Provide Cost Account Management/Contract Technical Management of OOM subsystems
• Support OOM CAMS by monitoring, coordinating and directing engineering activities of internal engineers and external partner institutions & suppliers
• Direct and support mechanical, optical testing and analysis of OOM subsystems
• Support CAMs in preparing and reviewing requirements documents, ICDs and other technical documents and dispositioning technical issues in support OOM subcontracts
• Ensure compliance across OOM subsystems to GMT quality assurance and safety requirements
• Write technical reports and prepare and deliver technical presentations
• Develop and manage design requirements, Interface Control Documents, detailed drawings, and specifications for OOM subsystems
• Manage the storage of the technical documentation produced by OOM
• Provide project planning information and update the OOM schedule
• Participate in the Element budget preparation, analyze and manage OOM spending

• A minimum of an BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, engineering mechanics or equivalent technical discipline with 10 years of experience with the design, fabrication and test of large opto-mechanical systems
• Familiarity with geometric optical design
• Experienced and high-level user of Solid Works to perform, guide and monitor design processes
• Experience using Geometrical Dimensioning & Tolerancing per ASME Y14.
• Experience with opto-mechanical design and understanding of kinematic principles
• Knowledge of structural mechanics and engineering materials
• Knowledge of fabrication, assembly and testing methods for optical subsystems
• Analytical approach to problem solving
• Experience in project…