Deputy Element Manager, Wavefront Sensing & Control

The Giant Magellan Telescope is one of the most powerful ground-based telescopes ever engineered. It is designed to push the boundaries of human knowledge and explore the unknown. Now under construction at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the premier locations on Earth for astronomy, the telescope will deliver the highest-performing combination of image quality, field of view, and light sensitivity ever achieved. From this southern hemisphere location, the Giant Magellan Telescope will use seven of the world’s largest mirrors to uncover the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, investigate the origins of chemical elements, and search for signs of life on distant exoplanets.

When complete in the 2030s, the Giant Magellan Telescope will be one of the largest public-private funded science projects in history. It is the work of the GMTO Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and international research consortium, founded by 16 universities and research institutions from the United States, Chile, Australia, Brazil, Israel, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Our culture is impactful, inclusive, and fearlessly innovative. We tackle the most complex engineering challenges and scientific questions alongside talented individuals who share a passion for advancing humanity’s understanding of the Universe.

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

The Universe Awaits®

Wavefront Sensing & Control

Wavefront Sensing & Control Manager

The Deputy Element Manager (DEM) of the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) Wavefront Sensing & Control (WFSC) Element will assume a leadership role in bringing the WFSC subsystems design to full maturity and planning their final integration, test and delivery. The current phase of GMT’s WFSC development is opportunity-rich for creative solutions and significant contributions to the detailed design of a cutting edge Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) on the frontiers of astronomy. The WFSC Deputy Element Manager will collaborate with the WFSC Element Manager in  oversight of the team responsible for technical work while reporting to the WFSC Element Manager. The DEM will provide leadership in the execution and coordination of technical scope and schedule.. The DEM may transition into the role of WFSC Element Manager following several months in the Deputy Manager role.

The Deputy Element Manager’s responsibilities include management and technical oversight of the AO system engineering and the design of the WFSC hardware subsystems under development both internally and by GMTO partner institutions and industrial vendors. The WFSC Deputy Element Manager will  collaborate with the WFSC Element Manager to lead completion of the final designs of the  seven hardware subsystems.  With time the DEM will take ownership of some of the subsystems. The DEM will also provide oversight of the testbed operations, allocation of resources across subsystems and systems engineering activities, planning and tracking of cost, schedule, risks and reporting of earned value to senior management.  The WFSC final design phase includes review and update of subsystem requirements as well as maturation of the conceptual plans for assembly, integration, test (AIT) and performance verification of these subsystems and the AO control algorithms in the Adaptive Optics labs in Italy and at GMTO Las Campanas Observatory site.

• Report to and collaborate with the Wavefront Sensing and Control Element Manager to ensure technical designs are traceable to system-level requirements.
• Work with the WFSC Senior Project Coordinator to plan, manage and track tasks, resources, and deliverables related to AO subsystem development.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight of GMTO partner institutions and subcontractors responsible for executing GMTO’s outsourced designs, testbeds and prototypes.
• Plan, convene and coordinate external independent reviews of WFSC final designs.

• Supervise as well as prepare and deliver presentations at GMTO technical gate reviews and conferences.

• Coordinate with other organizational elements across the GMT Project to mature interfaces and to identify and manage interdependencies between WFSC and other Project elements.

• Review and understand test results of optical/electronic/mechanical prototypes designed to validate designs and/or burn down performance risks.
• Own and ensure delivery of WFSC milestones including NSF reports, financial and schedule performance status. Delegate delivery of internal technical documentation of the GMT AO subsystem requirements, design and performance.
• Participate in the procurement and testing of AO-related subsystems such as wavefront sensors, calibration sources, real-time computer systems and/or laser guide star facility subsystems.
• Lead the the AO laboratory verification of the performance of the WFSC subsystems and the AO control algorithms correcting for atmospheric disturbances and segment phase piston errors as well as the final site acceptance testing and delivery of AO subsystems to telescope commissioning.
• Contribute to key technical decisions impacting subsystem design, integration, and performance.

• M.S. degree in optical science, astronomy, physics, or a related field
• Minimum of 10+ years of relevant experience in optical systems, adaptive optics, or related complex engineering programs.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a cross-functional global collaborative team environment
• Experience in the following areas:
  • Management and delivery of Adaptive Optics systems or astronomical instruments and key components such as cameras, detectors, deformable mirrors
  • Optical Systems Engineering
  • Hands-on experience developing adaptive optics systems and/or hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) optical testbeds
  • Management on either the programmatic or people-management side
• Basic understanding of simulations, modeling techniques, components, and testing methods
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills
• Willingness to travel to foreign and domestic vendor and observatory locations as the need arises

• Ph.D. degree in optical science, astronomy, physics, or a related field
• Experience in technical management of state-of-the-art complex systems including creation of budgets and schedules
• Experience in Real time controls and Systems Engineering
• Experience operating in a laboratory environment with personnel and hardware safety protocol
• Hands-on experience developing and testing astronomical adaptive optics systems, astronomical instruments and/or laboratory optical testbeds
• Experience with earned value management techniques

• Normal office and clean room laboratory environments
• Hybrid

No special requirements

1–2 direct reports initially, with expected expansion over time.

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

$175,000- $215,000

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.

Please submit your application: APPLY HERE

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.