Electronics Engineer, IS-0855-15

• 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.

• Uses broad knowledge of state-of-the-art to conceive, plan, and execute complex and varied assignments in the electrical engineering required to develop innovative instrumentation for astrophysical and astronomical data collection, as well as for its associated test, calibration, and other ground support equipment. Conceives, designs, and oversees development of complex state-of-the-art electrical/electronic systems, subsystems, modules, and components. Provides technical consultation to CfA scientists and other engineering staff in instrument electrical design. Translates scientific objectives into achievable hardware that exploits or extends state-of-the art, advances current technology, and works with scientific investigators to establish the electrical/electronic requirements of new projects. Analyzes scientific data collection requirements, translates these requirements into instrument performance characteristics, and develops instrument concepts and preliminary systems diagrams. Performs critical trade-off analyses of various design implementations. Makes and documents recommendations for optimum methods considering both known and anticipated operating environments. Evaluates manufacturers’ performance capability data for discrete, hybrid, and integrated circuitry, components, and systems. Incorporates analysis results into design decisions. Prepares cost and schedule estimates for hardware design, fabrication, test, and calibration, including supporting documentation. Extensive documents work in technical memoranda, reports, test plans, procedures, and presentations.
• Defends proposals from the funding agency and/or scientific peer review panels in support of the Principal Investigator. Troubleshoots and analyzes complex technical problems encountered on CE projects, identifies and recommends solutions, and oversees their implementation. From conceptual design through project completion, it provides leadership in design, analysis, and documentation. Maintains a technical overview of the project in process and has ultimate responsibility for the design and test integrity of the contract or project end item. Chooses appropriate technologies, establishes technical priorities, and performs conceptual, systems level, and detail design. Prepares cost estimates, schedules, plans, technical reports, and engineering input to project proposals; supervises engineers, designers, and technicians assigned to the project; and maintains engineering budgets and schedules. Provides technical leadership and direction to, and liaison with, hardware contractors and sub-contractors as required. Investigates, selects, justifies, and oversees procurement of critical electrical, electro-optical, and servo-mechanical components used in astrophysical instrumentation and its development.
• Makes both oral and written presentations to project scientists and technical representatives of contracting agencies and cooperating or affiliated organizations: Either singly or in collaboration with project scientists and other engineers, may author technical papers recording innovative design techniques and criteria, and present papers to technical symposia in the specialty field. Travel, both domestically and internationally, to telescope sites, vendor facilities, NASA centers, and the facilities of other associated organizations in support of proposal, design, calibration, test, integration, and mission operations activities.
• Leads the design, development, and validation of complex electronic systems requiring integration of RF, digital, analog, embedded, and communication subsystems. Establishes system architecture, performance requirements, interface specifications, and verification strategies for multi‑platform, multi‑agency systems. Provides authoritative technical determinations on feasibility, risk, and long‑term engineering direction.
• Conduct and directs advanced engineering research to solve unprecedented technical challenges. Develops new methodologies, models, algorithms, and analytical tools that shape agency engineering standards. Serves as a recognized subject‑matter expert providing authoritative interpretations of engineering policy, standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Leads major engineering programs with multi‑million‑dollar budgets and long-term strategic significance. Advises senior leadership on technology investment, acquisition strategy, and engineering risk posture. Represents the agency in interagency, international, and industry forums.
• Conducts high-level technical reviews of engineering designs, test plans, failure analyses, and contractor deliverables. Establishes quality assurance criteria and ensures compliance with engineering standards, safety requirements, and mission objectives. Provides final technical approval for critical system changes.
• Mentors’ junior engineers, provide expert consultation, and lead technical working groups. Develops training materials, engineering guidance, and best-practice documentation. Facilitates collaboration across engineering disciplines, programs, and external partners.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Mastery of advanced electronics engineering concepts, including RF propagation, signal processing, embedded systems, high‑speed digital design, and complex system integration.
• Ability to develop new engineering theories, models, and analytical approaches.
• Expert knowledge of national and international engineering standards, safety requirements, and regulatory frameworks.
• Skill to lead multidisciplinary teams and resolve unprecedented engineering challenges.
• Expert-level knowledge of electronics engineering principles, advanced system design, and integration.
• Skill in leading complex engineering programs and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to develop new engineering methodologies and influence agency-wide standards.
• Effective communication skills for high-level briefings, negotiations, and technical documentation.
• Ability to manage risk, ensure compliance, and provide authoritative technical decisions.
• Mastery of the advanced concepts, principles and practices of electronics engineering, in order to investigate, design, and provide consultative services to the development of an entire range of electronics for ground based and space-borne instrumentation for astrophysical data collection, as well as its associated test, calibration and ground support equipment..
• Ability to apply knowledge of advanced principles and practices of electronics engineering to the development and application of experimental theories, and emerging technology to the solution of complex instrument design problems.
• Extensive knowledge and experience with electrical schematics and board layout CAD/CAM tools.
• Knowledge of analog techniques and design simulation tools (i.e., SPICE).
• Superior skills and experience with the development of FPGA based digital and analog signal processing systems.
• Exceptional working knowledge of related engineering fields such as thermal, mechanical, optical, and/or structural to resolve design and instrument packaging problems.
• Skill in project leadership and the ability to provide technical direction in design, fabrication, assembly, and test activities to members of a diverse engineering and scientific team. Ability to generate realistic project budgets, schedules, and support multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong oral and written communications skills, including the ability to serve as a technical spokesperson for SAO in areas related to the electronics of advanced instrumentation.

with proposal writing.