Opto Mechanical Design Engineer , (IS-0830-14)

Job Description

Job DescriptionDescriptionOPENING DATE: October 30, 2025
CLOSING DATE: December 2, 2025
TYPE OF POSITION: Trust Indefinite (Non-Federal)
DIVISION: Central Engineering
LOCATION: Cambridge, MA
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: This position requires access to export-controlled work. The candidate must be a U.S. person (citizen, permanent resident, approved asylee, or refugee) or a national of a country eligible to be approved for an export license who is eligible to work in the US. Candidate must reside within the local commuting area of Cambridge, MA.

Two positions may be filled from this announcement.

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.

OVERVIEWINTRODUCTION
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 Engineer, Central Engineering Department (CE), Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO). The purpose of the position is to support the Observatory’s scientific investigations by providing senior-level manufacturing engineering leadership to the engineering and scientific staff engaged in the development of complex ground-based optical instruments. The incumbent will mainly support projects such as Viaspec and instruments for the Giant Magellan Telescope; however, this position will also support air—and space-based projects as needed.
MAJOR DUTIES

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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
6. 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 write technical papers, either singly or in collaboration with project scientists and other engineers, to publish innovative design techniques and present results at technical symposia.
7. 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.
8. Travels both nationally and internationally as required to support project activities.
9. Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTSBasic 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.Additional Requirements: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or above the grade (13 ) level in similar positions. Specialized experience may include Design and development of opto-mechanical assemblies for high-performance optical systems, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using tools such as ANSYS and SolidWorks,integration and alignment of optical systems, material selection and thermal management strategiesincluding the use of Invar, titanium, and carbon fiber composites to minimize thermal expansion, and close collaboration with systems engineers, optical designers, and fabrication teams to ensure design intent is maintained through prototype, environmental testing, and into production.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required:
· Mastery 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. This will include strong analytical skills and knowledge of related engineering fields such as structural engineering, and the use of advanced materials. · Demonstrable 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 and direct the work of others. · Expert 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. ANASYS STRUCTURAL, ANSYS MECHANICA, SOLIDWORK SIMULATION, ABAQUS, NASTRAN, FEMM, COMSOL)
· Ability to apply and incorporate cutting-edge technology into design problems that may not be readily tractable by established methods. · Ability to communicate technical information effectively, both written and oral when presenting to both technical and non-technical staff of SAO and project partners.

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.
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/