Electronics Engineer (IS-0855-14)

Company: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Location: Cambridge
Posted on: February 8, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Description OPENING DATE: October 30, 2025 CLOSING DATE: Janaury 31, 2026 SERIES/GRADE: 0855/14 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 or be a national of a country eligible to be approved on an export license. 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, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Childcare), 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. 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. 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 the form of 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 The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory asks the big science questions, including: What happened in the early universe? What do black holes look like? How do stars and planets form and evolve? Does life exist outside the solar system? We're seeking a seasoned Electrical Systems Engineer with the vision, expertise, and drive to help build the future of astrophysical research. As part of Central Engineering, you’ll play a vital role in developing cutting-edge ground-based instrumentation — the kind that pushes the boundaries of what we know, and how we explore the cosmos. MAJOR DUTIES 1. Serve as the technical authority in electrical engineering , leveraging deep expertise to plan and execute complex, high-impact assignments. Your work will directly support the development of cutting-edge instrumentation for astrophysical and astronomical data collection, including related test, calibration, and ground support systems. a. Lead the design and development of advanced electrical and electronic systems, subsystems, and components, transforming challenging scientific goals into innovative hardware solutions. b. Advise and collaborate with CfA scientists and engineering teams , offering expert consultation in instrument electrical design and implementation. c. Translate scientific objectives into actionable engineering solutions , defining and refining hardware requirements that advance or extend the state of the art. d. Analyze system-level performance needs , conduct conceptual design, and create preliminary systems diagrams tailored to complex research instruments. e. Perform critical trade-off analyses , balancing technical feasibility, performance, and environmental constraints to recommend optimal design approaches. f. Prepare comprehensive cost and schedule estimates for design, fabrication, testing, and calibration, while documenting each phase of development. g. Maintain thorough technical documentation , including reports, test plans, procedures, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders. 2. Support funding and project advocacy efforts , presenting and defending technical proposals before funding agencies and scientific peer review panels. 3. Provide full lifecycle engineering leadership , from initial concept through final delivery. This includes: a. Overseeing system design, analysis, testing, and documentation. b. Maintaining technical oversight of projects in progress, ensuring design integrity and alignment with scientific goals. c. Selecting appropriate technologies and setting technical priorities. d. Managing design teams (engineers, designers, technicians), ensuring project milestones, budgets, and schedules are met. 4. Drive the procurement of key components , identifying, justifying, and overseeing the acquisition of complex electrical, electro-optical, and servo-mechanical systems vital to instrumentation performance. 5. Communicate technical insights and innovations , delivering oral and written presentations to scientists, funding agencies, and collaborators. Co-author technical papers and present at conferences or symposia as appropriate. 6. Travel as needed , both domestically and internationally, to support proposal efforts, system integration, calibration, testing, and mission operations at observatories, vendor sites, NASA facilities, and partner organizations. Perform other related duties as assigned , contributing wherever needed to support the success of SAO’s groundbreaking research and engineering initiatives. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS Basic Requirements: A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; 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 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 GS-13 level. Such experience may include expertise in general electrical engineering, experience in architecting system level electrical designs using both commercial and custom electronics, leading the electrical engineering effort on a project reporting to Project Engineer or Project Manager and interfacing with other discipline leads and supporting project design reviews and participating in other project’s reviews Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required : 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 instrumentation for astrophysical data collection, as well as its associated test, calibration, and ground support equipment. This will be evidenced by significant professional experience in overall systems design, including electrical systems design and analysis, system resource and error budgeting, documentation, proposal preparation, sophisticated computer modeling, and fabrication and test activities pertaining to the development of state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation. Demonstrated mastery of advanced principles and practices of electronics engineering, with the ability to develop and apply experimental theories, and emerging technology to the solution of complex instrument design problems. Expert knowledge of electrical schematic and board layout CAD/CAM tools. Knowledge of analog design techniques and design simulation tools (i.e. SPICE). Working knowledge of related engineering fields such as thermal, mechanical, optical, and/or structural in order to resolve design and instrument packaging problems. Demonstrates expert skill as a project electrical engineering discipline lead and provides authoritative technical direction for design, fabrication, assembly, and test activities to members of the project's electrical engineering team. Ability to generate realistic electrical engineering budgets and schedules, and support multiple projects simultaneously. Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to serve as a technical spokesperson for SAO in areas related to the electronics of advanced instrumentation. Demonstrable skill in proposal writing. 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. 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. 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. Please visit the SAO website at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/

Keywords: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Weymouth , Electronics Engineer (IS-0855-14), Engineering , Cambridge, Massachusetts