Postdoctoral Associate
Job Description:The Precision Space Systems Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida is seeking to fill a postdoctoral scholar position in the area of space technology development for drag-free inertial sensors for the NASA-ESA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) gravitational wave observatory and future Earth geodesy missions beyond GRACE-Follow On.
This position may also contribute to the development of intersatellite laser ranging and laser communications technology for the NASA CLICK CubeSat mission. Appointments as Research Scientist may be considered for candidates appropriate qualifications.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Be a technical lead for space technology development and flight hardware fabrication and testing for the LISA Charge Management Device and for precision accelerometers for future Earth geodesy missions. Technical expertise involves some or all of the following: Capacitive sensors, mechanisms and mechanical design, digital and analog electronics, and optomechanics, including fiber optics. Mentor graduate and undergraduate students involved in these projects and support technical and programmatic reports and reviews, journal articles and conference presentations.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge and experience in a sub-set of the following topics is desired: Design, development, fabrication, integration and testing, flight operations for space flight programs; Mechanical/thermal design for space systems; Fiber-coupled lasers and LEDs and associated analog current drivers; Digital electronics, microprocessors, and FPGAs; Development of flight software/firmware for microprocessors and FPGAs, including VHDL; Experience with laboratory experiments, including the use of vacuum systems, UV and IR light sources and detectors, data acquisition and instrumentation.
Expected Salary:
$65,000 annually
Minimum Requirements:Ph.D. degree in Mechanical and/or Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, Astrophysics or a closely related discipline.
Preferred Qualifications:
We are looking for candidates with experience in some or all of the following areas:
Design, development, fabrication, integration and testing, flight operations for space flight programs Mechanical/thermal design for space systems; Fiber-coupled lasers and LEDs and associated analog current drivers Digital electronics, microprocessors, and FPGAs Development of flight software/firmware for microprocessors and FPGAs, including VHDL Experience with laboratory experiments, including the use of vacuum systems, UV and IR light sources and detectors, data acquisition and instrumentation Special Instructions to Applicants:Candidates should submit a curriculum vitae, cover letter, and the names and contacts of three references.
Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.
Health Assessment Required: No