General Engineer (Systems Engineer), (IS-0801-14)
1 day ago
Cambridge
Job DescriptionDescriptionOPENING DATE: December 18, 2026 CLOSING DATE: January 19, 2026 SERIES/GRADE: IS -0801-14 TYPE OF POSITION: Trust Indefinite (Non-Federal) DIVISION: Central Engineering LOCATION: Cambridge, MA AREA OF CONSIDERATION: This position is open to all qualified candidates eligible to work in the United States This position requires access to export-controlled work. The candidate must be a U.S. person (citizen, permanent resident, or national of a country eligible for approval under 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, 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. SUMMARY Provide expert systems engineering support and mentoring of early/mid- career level engineers for the development of advanced instrumentation for space borne and ground based astrophysical and astronomical data collection. This position requires the incumbent to possess the ability to learn quickly, see the big picture, and carry out multiple complex activities simultaneously. As Systems Engineer, he/she/they will provide technical direction to long-range development of game- changing advances in astrophysical instrumentation. The incumbent will work with a diverse team that includes engineers, theoreticians, software/firmware developers, astronomers, and imaging algorithm experts, all united by a common science vision. The Systems Engineer will provide expertise and mentorship regarding technical approach and design methodologies, and ensure the technical integrity of the output. The incumbent will participate in all phases of the systems development lifecycle, including concept of operations, requirements management, system architecture modeling, system design, risk management, integration, testing, and implementation planning. The Engineer will also support system integration, subsystem deployment, test support, and verification and validation planning. MAJOR DUTIES Provides technical direction for the development of highly complex, innovative instrumentation for astrophysical data collection that establishes the state-of-the-art, from technical specification and concept design through formal documentation and project completion in space borne and ground based scientific instrumentation. Works directly with the Project Engineer and Program Manager to ensure that scientific requirements are translated into engineering team direction and appropriate hardware. Accurately forecasts long term requirements for Systems Engineering support to meet the stated project goals and requirements. Is responsible for preparing and coordinating engineering budgets, tasks and schedules related to the Systems Engineering effort; partners with the Manager of Central Engineering and cognizant Lead Engineer(s) in estimating staff requirements. Provides systems engineering expertise to support the development of highly complex instruments and systems used in the collection of astrophysical data including telescopes, cameras, and other mechanical, optical, electrical, microwave, and signal processing sub-systems. Provides expert technical consultation to scientists and other engineering staff worldwide in instrument specification, design, analyses, materials, organizational processes, fabrication/assembly methods, and signal processing. Prepares authoritative engineering input to project proposals, cost estimates, cost models, schedules, technical plans, procedures, and reports. Provides detailed technical direction and expert consultation to other engineering staff assigned to the project as appropriate. Working with the Program Manager and Project Engineer, maintains engineering budgets and schedules, ensuring that project milestones and budgets are successfully met. Provides authoritative technical advice to senior management on engineering feasibility, risk, and compliance with federal standards. Provides authoritative technical leadership and direction to subsystem integration, testing, verification, validation, and deployment activities, including verification plans and procedures, analysis and test, and hardware acceptance. Coordinates subsystem design and development activities across diverse working groups for instrumentation, infrastructure, and supporting systems that comprise the overall system design. Ensures software/firmware design is compatible with instrument hardware. Participates in design reviews. Develops, reviews and maintains engineering requirements, specifications, interface documents, etc., for complex systems, including materials, dimensions, costs, and performance criteria. Conducts technical evaluations of new technologies, methods, and equipment, recommending adoption or modification to meet mission needs. Serves as a systems engineering representative on technical task forces and agency councils. 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, writes technical papers describing planned, on-going, or completed work that are presented at technical symposia in the specialty field. Travels as required to support project activities. Represents the agency in interagency, industry, or academic forums, presenting technical findings and negotiating engineering solutions. Prepares reports and briefings for executive leadership, translating complex engineering data into actionable recommendations. Guides workforce development, mentoring junior engineers and contributing to agency engineering policy and standards. Performs other duties as assigned. Qualifications Basic Requirements: All applicants must meet these Basic Requirements: [A] a degree in professional engineering. 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. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by ONE of the following: professional registration; written test (successfully passed the Engineer-In-Training (EIT) examination or the written test required for professional registration); specified academic courses (successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering); OR related curriculum (successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field). Additional Requirements: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or above the grade 13 level in similar positions. Specialized experience is experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position. These skills may include but not are not limited to: generating and maintaining instrument and system performance error budget, describing, evaluating, and reporting on major technical trade studies and preparing detailed schedules, staffing estimates, and budget. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required: • Mastery of engineering principles and practices which enables the incumbent to provide expert technical advice to scientists, engineers, other technical, and management staff on the concept of design, and fabrication of complex, state of the art, astronomical and astrophysical instrumentation., • Exceptional ability to plan, schedule, oversee, and direct effectively the work of other engineering, scientific and technical staff in a timely manner in complex projects of international scope., • Expert knowledge of systems engineering principles and processes, and the ability to implement systems engineering techniques in complex projects of international scope., • Superior ability to provide technical input in design, fabrication, assembly, and test to members of a diverse engineering and scientific team in a large internationally dispersed organization., • Extensive ability to conduct thorough and effective design and/or failure reviews. 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 . 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 Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: . The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer. Please visit the SAO website at