Electronics Engineer

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Job Summary

Caltech Optical Observatories (COO) is seeking a talented Electrical Engineer or Physicist interested in scientific imaging technologies to join an enthusiastic and creative electronics team within the multidisciplinary Optical / Infrared (OIR) Instrumentation group. While fostering a community of respect, learning, and individual growth, the OIR group designs, fabricates, and commissions astronomical instrumentation systems for ground-based observatories such as Palomar, Gemini, Keck, as well as developing telescopes in space and the Antarctic. The candidate will contribute to conceptualization, design, procurement, characterization, optimization, integration, and commissioning of state-of-the-art detector systems that advance the frontiers of human knowledge in astronomy, cosmology, and planetary science.

Previous and anticipated projects conducted by the COO detector team include deployment of ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared detectors in large-format mosaics requiring rapid readout, spectrograph detector systems demanding exquisite noise performance, and fast-frame-rate detectors for adaptive optics (wavefront sensing in both optical and NIR). Our group is currently developing large-format charge-quantizing CCDs that do not suffer from the unacceptable readout time of previous implementations. Additionally, the COO team conducts basic research into phenomena affecting the feasibility or design of future space missions and large telescopes, including how device physics limits measurement accuracy. To this end, COO has developed novel device characterization and calibration methods to mitigate these sources of systematic errors.

Essential Job Duties

• Design, engineering, and optimization of imaging sensors and their operating modes, typically working in wavelengths from 120 nm to 5 m.
• Design, develop, and implement detector interface and control electronics, real-time low-noise data acquisition systems, and development of experimental setups.
• Develop sophisticated engineering specifications and test plans for detector systems.
• Develop measurement techniques and improve existing procedures and systems to obtain more accurate results.
• Develop or refine sophisticated models of image sensor behavior.
• Develop / modify software / firmware for interfacing and controlling detectors in the context of specialized astronomical instruments.
• Collaborate with an experienced detector team to investigate and / or mitigate the physical sources of errors in astronomical observations involving precision photometry, astrometry, or point spread function shape measurement.
• Thermal design of detector assemblies in cryogenic / vacuum systems.
• Troubleshooting and life cycle support for camera systems deployed at Caltech observatories.
• Design electronic interfaces, test-signal generators, illumination systems, and environmental controls.
• Write research reports, journal articles, and engineering design documentation, and user manuals.
• Collaborate with COO's multidisciplinary engineering team to develop new strategies, approaches, methods, and techniques for obtaining unprecedented astronomical data.

Basic Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

The Successful Candidate Will :

Required Documents

Hiring Range

$97K - $136.9K per year

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our benefits and staff perks.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

To read more Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) go to eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf.

Disability Accommodations

Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.

If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu.

Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu.