Systems Engineer

The Giant Magellan Telescope is the most powerful ground-based telescope ever engineered. It was designed to push the boundaries of human knowledge and discover the unknown. With unmatched image quality, seven of the world’s largest mirrors will launch our view into the universe to uncover the cosmic mysteries of dark matter, investigate the origins of chemical elements, and search for signs of life on distant exoplanets for the first time.

The 30-meter class telescope is under construction at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the best locations on Earth to view the heavens. From this unrivaled vantage into the southern sky, the Giant Magellan Telescope will produce the sharpest and most detailed images ever taken of our universe.

When complete in the early 2030s, the Giant Magellan Telescope will be the largest public-private funded science project in history. The endeavor was founded by an international consortium of 15 research institutions representing Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States, and is managed by the GMTO Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Pasadena, California. Our culture is impactful, inclusive, and fearlessly innovative. We solve the most difficult engineering challenges and scientific questions with talented individuals who share a passion for revolutionizing humanity’s knowledge of the universe.

We invite you to join our team and leave your mark on astronomy’s future and beyond.

The Universe Awaits™

Systems Engineering

Lead Systems Engineer and Risk Manager

Reporting to the Lead Systems Engineer, the successful candidate will provide Systems Engineering (SE) support to the Science Instrument Teams throughout all phases of development. This includes reviewing Science Instrument Team deliverables prior to major gate reviews and providing guidance on SE processes to ensure consistency, traceability, and alignment with project SE standards. The engineer will track non‑compliances, work with teams to develop dispositions, and present SE processes and expectations at Science Instrument reviews.

The candidate will collaborate with the Science Instrument Teams to update their Interface Control Documents (ICDs), Requirement Documents, and associated change requests. The candidate will also support the development of Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) plans for each Science Instrument, ensuring that lower‑level verification activities properly support System‑Level AIVC objectives. This will require regular coordination with the Systems Engineering organization and the Assembly, Integration, Verification, and Commissioning (AIVC) team.

This position plays a key role in maintaining system-level consistency across Science Instruments by ensuring that interfaces, requirements, and verification artifacts meet programmatic and technical expectations. The selected candidate will also prepare technical reports and present them in their area of responsibility at project reviews and conferences.

The candidate will periodically update the GMT Product Tree and work with the project to agree on naming conventions for product deliverables. This includes coordination with the subsystems to update higher level deliverables and ensuring that the product names are consistent across the project documents.

• Provide Systems Engineering (SE) support to the Science Instrument Teams throughout all development and construction phases.
• Collaborate on Science Instrument Team deliverables in preparation for major gate reviews, ensuring alignment with project standards and SE best practices.
• Provide guidance and recommendations to Science Instrument Teams about Systems Engineering processes including change control, hazard analysis (HA), risk management, requirements and interface management, verification and validation (V&V), to ensure consistency, traceability, and compliance with program requirements.
• Track non‑compliances and collaborate with Science Instrument Teams to develop appropriate dispositions.
• Present SE processes, expectations, and findings during Science Instrument reviews.
• Collaborate with teams to update Interface Control Documents (ICDs), Requirements Documents, and process associated change requests.
• Support the development of Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) Plans for each Science Instrument.
• Work closely with the Systems Engineering (SE) and the Assembly, Integration, Verification, and Commissioning (AIVC) teams to ensure lower‑level verification activities properly support overall AIVC objectives.
• Periodically update the GMT Product Tree and work with the project to agree on naming conventions for product deliverables.

• A minimum of a BS degree in Physics, Engineering, or an equivalent technical discipline
• A minimum of 3 years of relevant experience with systems engineering for electro-opto-mechanical systems or large astronomical observatories with similar complexity
• Experience with subsystem level integration and testing of complex systems
• Experience writing subsystem level integration and test procedures
• Previous experience of Product Data Management systems to manage documentation and maintain configuration control of systems
• Flexibility to work outside of core business hours and travel to GMTO member locations, vendor premises, and the GMT site in Chile when necessary to accomplish goals
• Excellent communication skills, capable of writing clear technical documents and presenting to stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a group setting with our international partners
• Demonstrated critical thinking
• Organized and detail-oriented with the ability to handle multiple competing priorities

• M.S. degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline
• Experience with space or ground-based optical/infrared telescopes or relatable systems
• High-level, direct, expertise with systems engineering tools and processes appropriate to the development of large (6-10m) optical/IR telescopes and/or astronomical science instruments
• Knowledge and experience executing systems engineering efforts according to international standards e.g., INCOSE (International Council On Systems Engineering), ISO (International Organizational Standards)/ IEC (International Electrical Technical Commission 15288:2008) (establishes a common framework for describing the life cycle of systems)
• Develop and maintain system level technical budget and requirements flow down to Science Instrument for image quality, pointing, flexure, and optical alignment.
• Travel to GMTO member locations, vendor premises, and the GMT site in Chile when necessary to accomplish goals.

Hybrid office environment. Travel as needed by the project.

No special requirements

• No direct reports

• Medical insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance

$115,000- $165,000

The salary for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, and training.

To apply send your resume or CV and a cover letter to careers@gmto.org.

If your skills and experience are a match for the position or if we need additional information, we will contact you. If we do not see a suitable match between your qualifications and the position, we will keep your information on file in the event future positions become available that are more suitable to your qualifications.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact a Giant Magellan Telescope Corporation Human Resources Representative.