Job Posting Title:

HET Mechanical Engineer, McDonald Observatory

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Hiring Department:

McDonald Observatory

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

MCDONALD OBSERVATORY

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Job Details:

General Notes

This position is for a mechanical engineer at the McDonald Observatory, Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET), which operates on a 24/7 schedule. The Observatory is a major astronomical research observatory located 16 miles from Fort Davis, Texas (440 miles from the UT Austin campus).

The engineering work from this position will apply to a wide range of disciplines, including mechanical, optical, electronic, vacuum, cryogenic, and software engineering, used together to build state-of-the-art research instrumentation for astronomy. The research with those instruments includes the discovery and characterization of exoplanets, understanding how the elements and their various isotopes were formed, understanding how the successive generations of stars have changed the chemical composition of the universe, understanding the mechanisms that alter the galaxies with time, and understanding the history of the expansion of the universe itself.

The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff, including:

Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%)

Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options

Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays

Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan)

Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax-sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b)

Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses

For more details, please see https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards.

Purpose

This position leads a small team of technicians and performs mechanical engineering maintenance, design, and performance improvements on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope’s (HET) equipment and facility infrastructure. This position reports to the HET Facility Manager at McDonald Observatory.

Responsibilities

Engineering. Designs, models, analyzes, troubleshoots, fabricates, assembles, tests, and supports new and existing mechanical equipment on the telescope and facility infrastructure.

Operations and Supervision. Leads a small team of technicians in a technical leadership and mentoring role, emphasizing operating and maintaining the HET telescope.

Preventative Maintenance. Coordinate the effort to develop, implement and conduct a professional preventive maintenance program on HET systems.

Project Management. Works with the Facility Manager and other HET group managers to establish priorities and schedules for the maintenance and repair of existing equipment and the design, upgrade, and deployment of existing and new systems.

Team Coordination and Backup. Coordinates the mechanical engineering efforts internal to the HET and with Austin staff and other staff on the Observatory site. Periodically performs operations engineering and day engineering duties.

Respond to Problems. Respond to problems on the telescope during the daytime, after hours, and over weekends.

Planning Meetings. Attend and constructively participate in the morning planning meetings, weekly HET staff meetings, weekly mechanical team meetings, periodic technical and/or design review meetings, and other meetings as needed for an efficient and productive operation. 

Other Duties. Performs other duties as required to meet the business needs. Serves as an essential employee, and acts as a member of the McDonald Observatory’s Emergency Response Team (ERT), responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, or other emergencies that threaten or interfere with the facility’s normal operations. 

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or field related to the work to be performed and at least six (6) years of related experience, or a master’s degree in a field related to the work to be performed and at least four (4) years of related experience.

Experience with engineering and/or scientific equipment ordinarily used in a lab setting on mechanical, optical, and electronic assemblies used in research.

Experience and knowledge of engineering and scientific methods in instrumentation-based research, design, assembly, and commissioning of precision instrumentation.

Experience using or designing specialized research equipment as required by the research project.

Proficient in using 3D CAD software, Solid Works (preferred), or Inventor. Proficiency with AutoCAD will be considered.

Effective organizational skills.

Ability to be adaptable, work independently, and as an integral project team member.

Demonstrable good judgment.

Demonstrated ability to show tenacity and be nimble.

Ability to drive results.

Highly effective communication skills (written, verbal, interpersonal).

Demonstrated emotional intelligence.

Ability to think strategically and creatively and work well under pressure.

Project management skills.

Ability to use discretion and maintain integrity and professionalism.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering with six years’ work experience in a related field, or bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with eight years of experience in a related field.

Additional experience handling, assembling, and troubleshooting astronomical instrumentation in a lab setting and at telescopes.

Expert (power user) in 3D CAD software, Solid Works (preferred) and/or Inventor.

Knowledgeable and experienced in opto-mechanical design. 

Experience assembling and handling precision optical components.

Demonstrate the ability to learn new disciplines outside of those learned during formal education.

Familiarity with the electronic systems used in instrumentation and motion control systems.

Experience with vacuum and cryogenic systems.

Project management training and/or experience.

Driving Required

This job requires a class “C” operator’s driver’s license. The applicant selected must provide a three-year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver’s license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident.

Salary Range

$88,000+ depending on qualifications and experience

Working Conditions

Since we are a 24/7 operation, this position, on occasion, is expected to respond to problems and business needs relating to the telescope outside of regular work hours (nights, weekends, and holidays) to serve the needs of the Observatory and, specifically, the HET.

Residence in the Observatory’s residential community may be available and required.

The position may be subject to “call-back” as an essential emergency or critical response employee. 

Must be eligible to work in the US full-time for any employer without sponsorship. 

Working at a computer, including repetitive keyboard use at a workstation.

Use of manual dexterity.

Climbing of stairs and ladders up to 90 ft.

Working at height above ground using man lifts to 150 ft.

Free climbing on and around heavy equipment at and above ground level.

Heavy lifting and moving (must be able to lift 35 lbs.).

Working in potentially hazardous chemicals, cryogenic liquids, and chemical fumes environments.

May work around electrical and mechanical hazards.

May require working extended hours in inclement weather with hazardous equipment or materials.

Use of approved safety equipment is required, including climbing safety equipment. May be required to undergo respirator fit testing and periodic training for the use of safety equipment.

Acts as a senior member of the Observatory’s Emergency Response Team that responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, or other emergencies threatening or interfering with the facility’s normal operations. Handles emergencies calmly and quickly.

Staff on-site in the residential community may serve as essential employees as determined by your manager.

McDonald Observatory is located approximately 6800 feet above sea level. Environmental conditions can be unpredictable, and temperatures can range from -10˚F and +95˚F. Inclement winter weather can be expected, which requires being comfortable driving in wintry conditions on mountain grades.

Work Shift

Generally, M-F, 8 am – 5 pm. Flexibility is essential, given that we operate 24/7/365.

Ability to travel to the University of Texas at Austin, the Observatory’s headquarters, as required for reviews or work forums.

You are required to respond to problems outside regular business hours.

Required Materials

Letter of interest

Resume/CV

Three work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply. You will be allowed to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you can multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu, and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled into your application. The application is one page, and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.