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Mechanical Engineer (Opto-Design), (IS-0830-13)
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Description
OPENING DATE: December 23, 2025
CLOSING DATE: January 23, 2026
TYPE OF POSITION: Trust Indefinite (Non-Federal)
DIVISION: Central Engineering
LOCATION: Cambridge, MA
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to all current Smithsonian employees
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, 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.
- Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
- Occasional national and international travel may be required in support of duties.
OVERVIEW
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 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
This is the position of Opto-Mechanical Design Engineer, Central Engineering Department (CE), Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO). The purpose of the position is to support the Observatory’s scientific investigations by providing mechanical, structural, and potentially project engineering expertise to the development of advanced ground-based instrumentation for astronomical/astrophysical data collection and related telescope systems. The incumbent will collaborate with scientists to identify pioneering technologies to be applied to the development of innovative instruments that support the advance of Observatory scientific research objectives and will ensure the translation of these concepts into functional hardware. The incumbent will be required to support multiple complex projects simultaneously.
MAJOR DUTIES
Project Leadership:
Leads mechanical subsystem development with significant complexity. Oversees design, construction, and maintenance of complex opto-mechanical systems. Incumbent provides technical consultation, guidance, and task leadership. Advises senior leadership, program officials, and colleagues on engineering analysis, recommendations, and study conclusions (e.g., advising director on region-wide implementation plans for new or updated standards).
Leads, plans, develops, and prepares procedures, policies, and/or protocols for mechanical engineering studies and special projects that require advanced engineering analysis that extends or modifies theories, concepts, and assumptions or resolves unique or novel problems, conditions, or issues. Plans and coordinates programs or projects which are innovative and original. Develops methods and procedures which become the established precedent. Engineering analysis may result in significant alteration of standard practices, processes, devices, equipment, and known techniques. Studies and projects include technical planning activities; data collection; modeling and data analyses; analyses of site location and/or conditions; risk estimation and analyses; and analyses of instrumentation data. Engineering analysis advances engineering methods, practices, and procedures; conclusions, recommendations and/or decisions are based on this high-level analysis.
Technical Consultation:
Provide expert advice to senior colleagues, agency officials, and stakeholders. Provides technical organizational representation and collaboration on teams external to the organization, including external stakeholders and partners. Remains current with agency and national standards in the mechanical engineering industry (e.g., American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Provides technical reviews, peer reviews, and checking of designs, drawings, engineering analysis, technical documents, specifications, cost estimates, and contract correspondence, ensuring documents are accurate and quality assurance processes were followed. Reviews may be outside of the organization or designed by others. Signs documents for technical approval in accordance with project and department policies, directives, and standards; this includes signing as the engineer in responsible charge.
Design & Analysis:
Conduct advanced mechanical engineering design, calculations, and reviews. Develops engineering technical guidelines and standards, and/or project or study objectives. Advises technical teams, developing technical procedures and practices for the teams. Provides technical, mentorship, guidance, instruction, and advice to engineers and technicians and other internal and external stakeholders.
Problem-Solving:
Identify and resolve engineering design problems. Recommend innovative solutions for instruments, facilities, infrastructure, or energy systems.
Documentation & Compliance:
Prepare technical reports, specifications, and guidance documents. Ensure projects meet performance, safety, and sustainability requirements.
Incumbent in collaboration with CfA scientific investigators, the incumbent conceives, designs, and constructs highly complex scientific instruments, their support structures, optical systems, associated mechanisms, and test equipment that are at or extend state-of-the-art. Assignments will include the complete instrument life cycle, from conceptual design through integration, test, commissioning, operations, maintenance, and repair. Provides expert technical consultation to CfA scientists and other engineering staff in instrument mechanical design, state-of-the-art mechanisms, materials and processes selection, fabrication, and assembly methods, and fixturing, particularly in the areas of motion control devices, high reliability mechanisms, and general robotics.
Investigates, selects, justifies, and procures critical mechanical, servo-mechanical, and optical components used in astronomical/astrophysical instrumentation and its development. Prepares specifications for selected components that describe the technical approach and results and conclusions of engineering trades and analyses. Prepares procurement documentation that sets expectations and delivery criteria.
Conducts detailed structural trades and analyses at the concept and detailed design levels to inform technical decisions. Supports the development of requirements and associated compliant systems designs. Actively participates in the assembly of complex instrumentation involving intricate structures, mechanisms, and optics. Provides technical leadership to overall instrument fabrication, assembly, and test activities, both in SAO laboratories and externally, including at vendor or partner facilities and/or telescope sites
Documents work in technical memoranda, reports, test plans, and procedures. Develops technical specifications to communicate needs internally as well as to suppliers and partners. May author technical papers, either singly or in collaboration with project scientists and other engineers, to publish innovative design techniques and present results at technical symposia. Serves as the project’s mechanical/structural representative to both internal and external stakeholders including senior management and staff at the CfA, collaborating or sponsoring organizations, and review teams. Makes both oral and written presentations to project scientists and technical representatives of contracting agencies and cooperating or affiliated organizations. Develops and presents detailed technical content at periodic status reviews, international conferences, and major gate reviews involving external partners. Serves on technical task forces, review teams, and committees.
Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
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.
(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: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or above the grade 12 level in similar positions.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required:
- Advanced knowledge of the principles and practices of the mechanical engineering of optical
instrumentation-as evidenced by professional experience in the design and fabrication of optics and related. instrumentation-so as to enable the incumbent to translate scientific requirements into functional hardware and to provide expert technical advice on complex instrument development to CFA scientists, engineers, and the scientific and/or technical staff of contracting and cooperating organizations. - Strong analytical skills and knowledge of related engineering fields such as structural engineering, and the use of advanced materials.
- Demonstrable strong technical leadership skills, including the ability to assist in defining the technical scope of engineering projects accurately; generate realistic project technical goals, budgets, and schedules; and organize the work of others.
- Advanced knowledge of the design and functionality of complex precision mechanisms, motion control, and automation as used in optical instrumentation.
- Ability to utilize a variety of computer-based design and analysis tools (e.g., ANSYS STRUCTURAL, ANSYS MECHANICAL, SOLIDWORK SIMULATION, ABAQUS, NASTRAN, FEMM, COMSOL).
- Ability to apply and incorporate innovative technology into design problems that may not be readily tractable by established methods.
- Exceptional ability to communicate technical information effectively, both written and oral when presenting to both technical and non-technical staff of SAO and project partners.
- Mastery of mechanical engineering principles, including thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, materials science, and energy systems.
- Ability to apply advanced theories to practical, large-scale projects.
- Superior skill in applying, professional expertise in advanced mechanical engineering theories, concepts, principles, standards, and methods to provide expert engineering advice and consultation to senior colleagues and/or Department officials who are responsible for broad program operations and to execute significant projects with complex features/facilities that represent an important segment of the Department’s operating programs and that affect the welfare of the public.
- Extensive skill in applying, advanced mechanical engineering theories, concepts, principles, standards, and methods to provide significant and innovative recommendations for advancing programs and/or engineering methods and to apply experimental theories and/or new developments to projects that require extension or modification of engineering theories, concepts, or assumptions; resolution of unique or novel problems, conditions, or issues; or significant alteration of standard practices, devices, processes, and known techniques.
- Knowledge of, and skill in applying, the principles and practical concepts and processes of other related engineering and technical disciplines to direct, advise, coordinate, or oversee combined efforts involving multiple disciplines and ensure connection, contribution, or inclusion of the multiple disciplines involved in mechanical engineering assignments.
- Skill in identifying, conceptualizing, and developing advanced, unique, or novel solutions to mechanical engineering problems or needs, and skill in independently planning and conducting studies and reviews and developing technical documents.
- Knowledge of new and emerging engineering methods and technology to apply when addressing unique or novel mechanical engineering problems and needs.
- Knowledge of engineering data collection methods.
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 hr@cfa.harvard.edu. 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.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact hr@cfa.harvard.edu. 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 Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in our workplace. Please visit the SAO website at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/
About Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is joined by Harvard College Observatory to form the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. The Center is a collaboration between Harvard and Smithsonian designed to ask — and ultimately answer — humanity’s greatest unresolved questions about the nature of the universe. Founded in 1973, the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian is an ongoing collaboration designed to foster innovation and propel discovery. Our mission is to advance knowledge of the Universe through research in astronomy and astrophysics and in related areas of fundamental physics and geophysics.
At the CfA, scientists in a broad range of disciplines study the universe at every scale, from every wavelength, and using telescopes and instruments that span and orbit the globe, all with a single purpose: making groundbreaking discoveries that advance human knowledge.
At the CfA, scientists in a broad range of disciplines study the universe at every scale, from every wavelength, and using telescopes and instruments that span and orbit the globe, all with a single purpose: making groundbreaking discoveries that advance human knowledge.
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