Employment

Position Announcements:

Currently accepting applications:

• Observatory Instrument Specialist, 3.5m ARC Telescope, Apache Point Observatory
• https://jobs.nmsu.edu/postings/46941
• NMSU seeks employees who are creative and flexible in developing and evaluating new ideas and ways to evolve NMSU into the future. At APO, we strive to hire the best possible candidates and feel we offer competitive salaries within university-oriented astronomical research. This remote location is 1.5 hours from NMSU. Located in the Sacramento Mountains, APO is a remote astronomical observatory owned by the Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC) and proudly operated by NMSU. ARC has three research telescopes at APO: the 3.5m Telescope, the 2.5m Sloan Foundation Telescope and the 0.5m Small Aperture Telescope (ARCSAT). ARC also hosts NMSU’s 1.0m Telescope. We invite you to take the first step to your successful and rewarding career by applying today!



Job Duties and Responibilities:
• Responsible for the electrical/ electronics related to the ARC 3.5-m telescope, instrumentation, and facilities at Apache Point Observatory.
• Must have extensive skills in analog and digital electronics. CCD electronics, Servos, PLC controllers, lightning isolation, power systems, CAD design, circuit and circuit board design, high and low voltage power distribution, design and implementation in low noise
• Develops and maintains procedures and maintenance schedules related to electrical systems. Plans and coordinates maintenance work.
• Design, generate contracts for fabrication and testing of various electronic systems, subsystems and ancillary equipment associated with complex telescope systems, including interfaces and scientific instruments.
• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance to systems as necessary to ensure safety and system integrity.
• Monitor trends and correct anomalies.
• Perform troubleshooting and problem analysis.
• Specify procedures, schedule, spare lists for maintenance repair of instrument and telescope systems.
• Report activities and progress related to instrument and telescope systems engineering to ARC Telescope Engineer.
• Specify, procure, maintain specialized electrical, electronics, and test/maintenance equipment.
• Develop an annual plan and contribute input towards the budget for telescope systems engineering activities and projects.
• Supervise, direct, delegate, and evaluate work of assigned staff
• Instrument performance monitoring and preparation for observing
• Telescope and Site Electrical Troubleshooting and Repair
• Electronic system design, procurement / fabrication Servo tuning, control system programing development
• Review instrument proposals
• Oversee new instrument design, procurement, fabrication, participate in design reviews, assists with integration. Working independently or as a part of an internal/external team.
• Emergency backup for LN2 transportation
• Coordinate instrument upgrades/ prepare proposals/ oversee design, procurement, and implementation.
• Ensure proper software integration with operations for optimum performance
• environment, DC to high frequency operation in all weather environments.
• Perform related duties as required

Recently Closed:

• Telescope Operations Specialist, 2.5m SDSS Telescope, Apache Point Observatory
• New Mexico State University Department of Astronomy is seeking a Telescope Operations Specialist (TOS) for the SDSS-V 2.5m Telescope at Apache Point Observatory (APO) in Sunspot, New Mexico. The Support Astronomer is responsible for safe and efficient operations of the SDSS-V 2.5m Telescope. APO is located in the Lincoln National Forest 16 miles from the village of Cloudcroft, NM. The observatory sits on a ridge overlooking White Sands National Park, White Sands Missile Test Range and Alamogordo, NM. With great seeing, dark skies, wide field optical/infrared imaging and spectroscopy. Working at APO employees have the opportunity to lead/participate in research on the telescopes, tuition waivers to take classes at NMSU, or attend/present at conferences for professional development.


Job Duties and Responibilities:
• Telescope Operations Specialist (TOS) is responsible for nightly operation of the 2.5m telescope and instruments, quality monitoring the data streams, tracking system performance and observing efficiency. The TOS works closely with Astronomers and external consortium faculty and students, operating the telescope and instruments remotely, to efficiently take observations and debug issues. They work with other night staff to monitor the facility, weather and safe and proper operation of the telescope. The selected candidate will perform setup/instrument preparations and calibrations, service observing and monitoring of remotely operated telescopes. Monitoring the performance of equipment and effectively communicating any problems with the day engineering and IT staff is required.

• Support Astronomer, 2.5m SDSS Telescope, Apache Point Observatory
• The Department of Astronomy at New Mexico State University is seeking a Support Astronomer for the SDSS 2.5m Telescope at Apache Point Observatory (APO) in Sunspot, New Mexico. The Support Astronomer is responsible for safe and efficient operations of the SDSS 2.5m Telescope. APO is located in the Lincoln National Forest 16 miles from the village of Cloudcroft, NM. The observatory sits on a ridge overlooking White Sands National Park, White Sands Missile Test Range and Alamogordo, NM with great seeing, dark skies, wide field optical/infrared imaging and spectroscopy. Working at APO employees have the opportunity to lead/participate in research on the telescopes, tuition waivers to take classes at NMSU, or attend/present at conferences for professional development.


Job Duties and Responibilities:
• Support Astronomer (SA) is responsible for nightly operation of the 2.5m telescope and instruments, quality monitoring the data streams, tracking system performance and observing efficiency. The SA works closely with Astronomers and external consortium faculty and students, operating the telescope and instruments remotely, to efficiently take observations and debug issues. They work with other night staff to monitor the facility, weather and safe and proper operation of the telescope.
• The selected candidate will perform setup/instrument preparations and calibrations, service observing and monitoring of remotely operated telescopes. Monitoring the performance of equipment and effectively communicating any problems with the day engineering and IT staff is required.
• Other essential job functions include understanding of astronomical coordinate systems and time keeping.

Updated 1/05/2023