TITLE: Electronics Engineer, GS-855, Grades 13 and 14, $87,548 to $134,497/yr
TYPE OF POSITION: Federal Career-Conditional Appointment
DIVISION: - Submillimeter Array (SMA) Project
LOCATION: Cambridge, Massachusetts
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Applications will be accepted from US Citizens, from current and former competitive service Federal employees, and people eligible under special hiring authorities. Non-status candidates and preference eligible veterans will be considered under external procedures. Status candidates will be considered under internal procedures. Two applications must be filed by status candidates and eligible veterans if consideration is desired for both external and internal procedures.

DUTIES: The Electronics Engineer will lead the production, testing, installation and commissioning of receiver instrumentation for the SMA, develop production schedules and allocate lab resources to meet observatory goals. Duties may include but are not limited to: designing, developing and implementing a series of test procedures and measurements to determine sensitivity and noise, amplitude and phase stability, gain compression, and spectral response of SMA receivers currently under development; leading the development of receiver control hardware and software algorithms; coordinating and further developing a test program to verify overall SMA performance and instrument readiness ahead of nightly scientific observations; participating in weekly testing and status meetings to determine observational effectiveness and make recommendations for improvement; organizing review meetings to evaluate the performance of the SMA in relation to other interferometers and submillimeter facilities such as the Plateau de Bure, CARMA, ALMA, the JCMT and the CSO; advancing the state-of-the-art of superconducting heterodyne receiver technology through the design of sideband-separating Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor mixers, and push the development and field-testing of wide- bandwidth Hot-Electron-Bolometer mixers for eventual use on the SMA and other telescopes in the Terahertz spectral regime; identifying, defining and selecting specific areas of scientific opportunity, and formulating and conducting independent observational investigations in order to guide technical developments at the SMA; serving as an expert in millimeter and submillimeter technology on a variety of internal, national and international committees, and acting as consultant to other national and international facilities; and, preparing results of research and developments for publication in professional journals, for presentation at engineering or scientific conferences and technical symposia and participation in technical meetings and conferences in order to discuss ongoing research with technical and scientific colleagues to advocate for new research and development initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS : For the GS-13 level - Candidates must possess one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the grade 12 level. Specialized experience is knowledge of and skill in applying electronic engineering theories, concepts, principles, and practices relevant to the development, testing, evaluation, and commissioning of complex heterodyne receiver systems for field use and knowledge of millimeter instrumentation as applied to radio-astronomy as might be evidenced by a Ph.D. In a relevant area (Physics or Astrophysics) and appropriate engineering experience, or by a Ph.D. In Electrical or Electronic Engineering. For the GS-14 level - Candidates must possess one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the grade 13 level. Specialized experience is experience designing super conducting heterodyne mixers and receiver systems for astronomical engineering projects coupled with broad professional knowledge of millimeter and submillimeter instrumentation as applied to radio astronomy as evidenced by a Ph.D. in a relevant area (Physics or Astrophysics and appropriate engineering experience); or by a Ph.D. in Electrical or Electronic Engineering.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: We will only accept applications on line for this position. For a copy of the complete vacancy announcement and how to apply, visit: USAJOBS.

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in our workplace.