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 late 2020s, the Giant Magellan Telescope will be the largest public-private funded science project in history. The endeavor was founded by an international consortium of leading universities and research institutions representing five countries, 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

Giant Magellan Telescope Organization seeks to hire a systems engineer to work at our office in Pasadena, California.  The systems engineer will:

• Develop assembly integration verification (AIV) and commissioning plans and processes, and will assist in the development of AIV and commissioning plans for the telescope subsystems (e.g. optics, structures, controls);
• Derive and manage telescope system and subsystem requirements, internal and external interfaces, interface control documents (ICDs), analyzing telescope system and subsystem performance, generate and maintain error analysis and error budgets;
• Prepare and maintain system level AIV, commissioning RAMS and quality assurance plans
• Manage SE documentation and configuration control for the telescope in their area of work assignments;
• Prepare technical reports to document the design and performance of the GMT telescope systems and/or subsystems;
• Prepare and deliver programmatic and technical presentations at reviews and conferences;
• Lead the development and tracking of top-down and bottom-up system performance estimates, allocations, and error budgets;
• Coordinate observatory and subsystem assembly integration and verification along with commissioning plans

• BA/BS in systems engineering or closely related discipline;
• Three years experience in systems engineering for electrical opto-mechanical systems;
• Demonstrated knowledge of high-level, hands-on, expertise with systems engineering tools and processes appropriate to the development of large (6-10m) optical/IR telescopes and/or astronomical science instruments;
• Demonstrated ability to provide oversight of a CAD (Computer Aided Design/PDM (Product Data Management) system, managing documentation, and configuration control systems;
• Demonstrated knowledge of executing systems engineering efforts according to international standards such as INCODE (International Council on Systems Engineering), ISO (International Organizational Standards, ) IEC (International Electrical Technical Commission)

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

GMTO has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy effective March 14, 2022, requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees (with GMTO-approved exemptions for religious or medical reasons only). At present, an individual is deemed “fully vaccinated” for Covid-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine. GMTO management may revise the definition of Fully Vaccinated in this Policy based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force or other relevant Government or Health agencies. Any changes will be communicated to all employees before its effective date.

As a condition of employment, employees must submit official COVID-19 vaccine documentation.

Salary: $116,480.16 annually

To apply send your resume 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.