Mechanical Engineer (IS-0855-9/11)
Smithsonian Institution
Date: 3 weeks ago
City: Cambridge, MA
Salary:
$67,743
-
$106,549
per year
Contract type: Full time
Application Deadline: 4 December 2024
Department: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Location: Cambridge, MA
Compensation: $67,743 - $106,549 / year
OPENING DATE: November 26, 2024
CLOSING DATE: December 4, 2024
TYPE OF POSITION: Trust Indefinite (Non-Federal)
DIVISION: Central Engineering
LOCATION: Cambridge, MA
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: This position is open to all eligible candidates.
*This is a career ladder opportunity. Selection will be made at either grade 9 or grade 11. The candidate may be non-competitively promoted to grade 11 upon recommendation of the supervisor based on classification requirements, satisfactory performance, and employee qualifications.*
What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Childcare), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment
- 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.
INTRODUCTION
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.
SUMMARY
The purpose of this position is to provide support to the engineering and scientific staff in the conduct of x-ray and solar optics research and development
MAJOR DUTIES
- Design and assemble hardware. Prepare experimental procedures. Perform experiment setup, data acquisition, and evaluation.
- Design and Assembly Ground Support Equipment (GSE) required to perform the alignment and bonding of optical assemblies.
- Align and bond Prototype and Flight mirror assemblies. Test and calibrate optics. Perform laboratory measurements of optical alignment. This includes operating laser alignment equipment, standard electronic measurement tools, and other general and specialized laboratory equipment.
- Support the assembly of precision optical systems. Develop computer programs to organize and plot raw data. Perform elementary statistical data analysis, reduction, plotting, archiving, and logging.
- Design vacuum GSE and test ports for environmental testing of scientific instruments.
- Provide complete documentation on the mechanical parts and assemblies of the project instrument Write assembly procedures and environmental test procedures.
- Procure and track all items for fabrication and hardware to complete the scientific instrument.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Basic Requirements:
(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, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
(B) Combination of education and experience--college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering.
Additional Requirements:
Grade 9: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or above the grade 7 level in similar positions. Specialized experience is experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position.
Grade 11: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or above the grade 9 level in similar positions. Specialized experience is experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required:
1. Professional knowledge & skill in applying the theories, principles, and concepts of fundamental mechanical engineering disciplines and knowledge of applied mathematics.
2. Ability to perform experimental research and engineering experiments.
3. Elementary knowledge of optics.
4. Ability and skill to apply modern computer techniques to solve engineering problems and mathematical analysis of systems using various operating systems and programing languages such as PYTHON or MATLAB.
5. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and operating techniques.
6. Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing, particularly with scientists and engineers.
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [email protected]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian's Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: https://www.si.edu/oeesd.
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in our workplace. Please visit the SAO website at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/
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