Detector Engineer

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Job Summary

Caltech Optical Observatories is seeking a talented Senior Electrical Engineer or Physicist with experience in scientific imaging technologies to join an enthusiastic and creative electronics team within the multidisciplinary Optical/Infrared (OIR) Instrumentation group. While fostering a community of respect, learning, and individual growth, the OIR group designs, fabricates, and commissions astronomical instrumentation systems for ground-based observatories such as Palomar, Gemini, Keck, and the planned Thirty Meter Telescope, as well as developing telescopes in space and the Antarctic. The candidate will lead detector subsystem conceptualization, design, procurement, characterization, optimization, integration, and commissioning. They will contribute state-of-the-art detector systems to advance the frontiers of human knowledge in astronomy, cosmology, and planetary science.

Previous and anticipated projects include deployment of ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared detectors in large-format mosaics requiring rapid readout, spectrograph detector systems demanding exquisite noise performance, and fast-frame-rate detectors for adaptive optics (wavefront sensing in both optical and NIR). Our group is currently developing large format charge-quantizing CCDs which do not suffer from the unacceptable readout time of previous implementations. Additionally, the COO team conducts basic research into phenomena affecting the feasibility or design of future space missions and large telescopes, including how device physics limits measurement accuracy. To this end, COO has developed novel device characterization and calibration methods to mitigate these sources of systematic errors.

Essential Job Duties

• Design, engineering, and optimization of imaging sensors and their operating modes, typically working in wavelengths from 120 nm to 5 µm.
• Design, develop, and implement detector interface and control electronics, real-time low-noise data acquisition systems, and development of experimental setups.
• Develop sophisticated engineering specifications and test plans for detector systems.
• Guide the development of new or enhanced measurement techniques and improve existing procedures and systems to obtain more accurate results.
• Direct the construction of sophisticated models of image sensor behavior.
• Develop/modify software/firmware for interfacing and controlling detectors in the context of specialized astronomical instruments.
• Lead the design and implementation of experiments to investigate and mitigate the physical sources of errors in astronomical observations such as precision photometry, and astrometry, and point spread function shape measurement.
• Lead the thermal design of detector assemblies in cryogenic/vacuum systems.
• Lead the troubleshooting and life cycle support for camera systems deployed at Caltech observatories.
• Design of electronic interfaces, test-signal generators, illumination systems, and environmental controls.
• Provide specialized input to research reports, journal articles, and engineering design documentation and user manuals.
• Collaborate with astronomy and astrophysics faculty to develop new strategies, approaches, methods, and techniques for obtaining unprecedented astronomical data.

Basic Qualifications

• M.S. degree in electrical engineering or physics, and 6+ years related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Fluency with modern electronics design and data analysis software, statistical analysis techniques and experiment design.
• Demonstrated leadership in conceptualization, requirements capture, design, interface control specification, and generation of associated supporting documents.
• Extensive experience leading the integration of mixed hardware/software systems for demanding performance applications.
• Excellent oral and written technical and non-technical communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills are essential. Must work well within diverse technical and scientific teams.
• Emphasis will be placed on initiative and ability to perform independent system design, integration, and troubleshooting.
• High-level proficiency in a significant number of the following technical areas: low noise analog circuit design, servo design and tuning, grounding, and packaging of low noise electronics, high speed analog and digital signal transmission, gate array programming, state machine design, schematic capture, circuit simulation, PCB layout, and operation and testing of cryogenic/vacuum systems.
• Occasional travel and work assignments at high altitudes and in low light environments; requires DMV check and successful pre-employment physical, including vision screening.
• Ability to lift 20 lbs.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. degree in electrical engineering, physics, or computer science and 10+ years related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated success leading in-depth analysis of experimental data, the ability to systematically develop physical models of subtle or illusive phenomena, and optimization of performance of image sensors and their electronics, which may be operating at cryogenic temperatures.
• National and international recognition for their intellectual contributions to sensor characterization, performance optimization, and test algorithm development.
• Experience leading DSP or FPGA interfacing and programming.
• Programming in C++, UNIX, Python, Matlab, and familiarity with image processing tools.

The Successful Candidate Will:

• Demonstrate Client Focus: Demonstrate a concern for the needs and expectations of customers (internal or external); use an understanding of customer needs as the basis for developing formal engineering requirements, for decision-making and taking organizational action; build strong mutual trust with customers.
• Make Good Decisions: Apply logic and practical thinking to decision making; gather necessary input and data from multiple sources and make objective decisions based on the information and time available; draw correct and reasonable conclusions based on data and information; make decisions in a timely manner regardless of pressure or uncertainty; make decisions quickly when called to do so; consider budgetary impact of decisions.
• Plan/Organize: Determine objectives and strategies required to deliver results; allocate resources according to organizational priorities; determine how to use resources efficiently to accomplish a task or project; consider budgetary impact of decisions.
• Clearly Communicate: Convey information and ideas clearly and succinctly to individuals and groups; shape communication to the needs of the audience; convey ideas and opinions clearly to others; share relevant information and expectations openly, honestly and in a timely fashion; mentor less experienced team members; listen attentively to others.
• Build Trusting Partnerships: Develop and leverage collaborative relationships with internal and external colleagues based on mutual trust to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals; work cooperatively with stakeholders to identify and meet mutual goals.
• Demonstrate Technical Knowledge and Skills: Apply technical and professional skill or knowledge in position-related areas; keep up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise.
• Demonstrate Mental Agility/Flexibility: Be open to changing conditions; adjust one’s own behavior in light of changing conditions; adjust effectively to work within new structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.
• Actively Learn: Demonstrate zeal for new information, knowledge, and experiences; regularly seek and capitalize on learning opportunities; quickly assimilate and apply new information.

COO is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Caltech supports programs that advance our organizational commitment to broaden participation and encourage the advancement of diversity throughout the astronomical scientific workforce.

Required Documents

• Resume