Job Details

Number:

091012-02

Title:

Senior Controls Engineer

Closing Date:

Description:

Type:  Full time, professional.

Location:  GMT Project Office, Pasadena CA

Background:

The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) Project is a collaboration of major US and international educational and research institutions constructing a next-generation extremely large optical/infrared telescope for scientific astronomical research.  GMT will have a segmented primary mirror 25 meters in diameter, 2.5 times larger than any current generation optical/IR telescope and will be equipped with advanced instrumentation and adaptive optics to achieve its scientific objectives. The telescope will be located at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. 

The GMTO Corporation (GMTO) has been formed to construct and operate the GMT Observatory.  The GMTO members include Carnegie Institution for Science, Harvard University, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, University of Arizona, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, the Australian National University, Astronomy Australia Ltd (AAL), and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI).  The project office is located in Pasadena, California.

The Project has completed the conceptual design of the telescope and facility and is currently in the Design Development Phase. 

GMT website:  www.gmto.org

Job Summary:

The Senior Controls Engineer will be a key member of the GMT Telescope Group.  The telescope will be designed and constructed by the project team working closely with outside university and commercial engineering groups.  The Senior Controls Engineer will take lead role in the design of the telescope control system (TCS).  He/she will report to the GMT Telescope Group Leader.

 The Senior Controls Engineer’s responsibilities will include defining the overall architecture of the control system, specifying interfaces to internal and external subsystems, selecting hardware, and coordinating with the software effort.

The Senior Controls Engineer will work with systems engineering and others on the telescope team to develop design requirements, interface control documents, and error budgets for the telescope mount.  He/she will participate in the performance modeling of the telescope and work closely with optics, adaptive optics, mechanical, and instrumentation groups.

The Senior Controls Engineer will also be involved in contracting for the design and/or fabrication of control system components.  This will involve identifying potential suppliers, writing statements of work and technical specifications, participating in the bid/selection process, and monitoring contracted work in progress.

He/she will be called upon to write technical reports and make presentations of the telescope design at project reviews.

Job Duties:

The Senior Controls Engineer will be responsible for:

• Leading the TCS Group.
• Deriving subsystem requirements from high-level requirements.
• Defining the overall architecture of the GMT control system and standards.
• Specifying internal and external subsystem interfaces.
• Selecting the control system hardware.
• Recruiting additional members of the TCS Group.
• Preparing technical reports to document the design and performance of GMT.
• Preparing and delivering presentations at technical reviews and conferences.
• Participating in the procurement process for engineering services and construction including identification of potential vendors/suppliers, preparation of technical specifications & statements of work, and participation in the selection process and monitoring of work.

The Senior Controls Engineer will work closely with others to:

• Prepare the group work breakdown structure, budget, and schedule. 
• Develop design requirements and interface specifications for the telescope.  Assist in the preparation of the relevant control documents.
• Coordinate with the development of the TCS software.
• Support the preparation of top-down and bottom-up system error budgets.
• Select actuators, drives, sensors, and other electronic components.
• Support performance modeling of the mechanical, optical, and control systems of the telescope in the presence of wind disturbance and atmospheric turbulence effects.
• Prototype critical system components and subsystems.
• Coordinate integration and test plans.

Minimum Requirements:

• A M.S. degree in electrical engineering, physics, or an equivalent discipline.  An advanced degree is preferred.
• 7 years post degree experience with controls for large precision structures.
• Willingness and ability to travel to foreign and domestic vendor, partner, and observatory locations as the need arises.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Expertise with motion controls and distributed control systems.
• Strong analytical ability.  Matlab experience is preferred.
• Experience with telescope systems is strongly preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment.  The ability to assume a leadership role is preferred.

Compensation

GMTO Corporation offers a competitive compensation package including medical and retirement benefits.  The level of compensation will depend on the experience of the applicant.  Employment will be through the Carnegie Institution of Washington (CIW).  CIW is an equal opportunity employer.

Applying
Applicants should send a Letter of Interest and a Resume to careers@gmto.org.  Only electronic submissions will be accepted.  Please refer to the Job Number in the letter and in the email subject line.