Electronics Engineer, IS-0855-15
Application Deadline: 11 September 2026
Department: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Cambridge, MA
Compensation: $167,560 - $197,200 / year
Description
OPENING DATE: August 27, 2026
CLOSING DATE: September 11, 2026
SERIES/GRADE: 0855/15
TYPE OF POSITION: Trust Indefinite (Non-Federal)
DIVISION: Central Engineering
LOCATION: Cambridge, MA
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: This position is open to all qualified candidates eligible to work in the United States.
This position requires access to export-controlled work. The candidate must be a U.S. person (citizen, permanent resident, or national of a country eligible for approval under an export license).
What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation, as required.
- Complete a Probationary Period if applicable.
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
- The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
- Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
OVERVIEW
INTRODUCTION
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. SAO combines its resources with those of the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). The CfA is the best-known astrophysics center in the world. Its programs range from ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research to space-based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch and use in large ground-based facilities, and research designed to improve science education. The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support. Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriations or the form of contracts and grants from other agencies. In contrast, Institution funds are available to SAO through grants from the Institution's Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities, and non-Federal contracts and grants.
SUMMARY
This position serves as a senior Electronics Engineer providing authoritative technical leadership, program direction, and expert-level engineering judgment for extraordinarily complex, mission‑critical electronic systems. The incumbent is recognized as a national expert whose work directly influences agency-wide engineering policy, long‑term technology strategy, and high‑visibility programs with multi‑year funding and interagency impact. The engineer leads advanced research, systems engineering, integration, and lifecycle management of sophisticated electronic architectures, including RF systems, embedded control systems, high‑reliability instrumentation, and mission‑critical communication networks.
MAJOR DUTIES
- Uses broad knowledge of state-of-the-art to conceive, plan, and execute complex and varied assignments in the electrical engineering required to develop innovative instrumentation for astrophysical and astronomical data collection, as well as for its associated test, calibration, and other ground support equipment. Conceives, designs, and oversees development of complex state-of-the-art electrical/electronic systems, subsystems, modules, and components. Provides technical consultation to CfA scientists and other engineering staff in instrument electrical design. Translates scientific objectives into achievable hardware that exploits or extends state-of-the art, advances current technology, and works with scientific investigators to establish the electrical/electronic requirements of new projects. Analyzes scientific data collection requirements, translates these requirements into instrument performance characteristics, and develops instrument concepts and preliminary systems diagrams. Performs critical trade-off analyses of various design implementations. Makes and documents recommendations for optimum methods considering both known and anticipated operating environments. Evaluates manufacturers’ performance capability data for discrete, hybrid, and integrated circuitry, components, and systems. Incorporates analysis results into design decisions. Prepares cost and schedule estimates for hardware design, fabrication, test, and calibration, including supporting documentation. Extensive documents work in technical memoranda, reports, test plans, procedures, and presentations.
- Defends proposals from the funding agency and/or scientific peer review panels in support of the Principal Investigator. Troubleshoots and analyzes complex technical problems encountered on CE projects, identifies and recommends solutions, and oversees their implementation. From conceptual design through project completion, it provides leadership in design, analysis, and documentation. Maintains a technical overview of the project in process and has ultimate responsibility for the design and test integrity of the contract or project end item. Chooses appropriate technologies, establishes technical priorities, and performs conceptual, systems level, and detail design. Prepares cost estimates, schedules, plans, technical reports, and engineering input to project proposals; supervises engineers, designers, and technicians assigned to the project; and maintains engineering budgets and schedules. Provides technical leadership and direction to, and liaison with, hardware contractors and sub-contractors as required. Investigates, selects, justifies, and oversees procurement of critical electrical, electro-optical, and servo-mechanical components used in astrophysical instrumentation and its development.
- Makes both oral and written presentations to project scientists and technical representatives of contracting agencies and cooperating or affiliated organizations: Either singly or in collaboration with project scientists and other engineers, may author technical papers recording innovative design techniques and criteria, and present papers to technical symposia in the specialty field. Travel, both domestically and internationally, to telescope sites, vendor facilities, NASA centers, and the facilities of other associated organizations in support of proposal, design, calibration, test, integration, and mission operations activities.
Advanced Systems Engineering & Architecture
- Leads the design, development, and validation of complex electronic systems requiring integration of RF, digital, analog, embedded, and communication subsystems. Establishes system architecture, performance requirements, interface specifications, and verification strategies for multi‑platform, multi‑agency systems. Provides authoritative technical determinations on feasibility, risk, and long‑term engineering direction.
Research, Innovation & Technical Authority
- Conduct and directs advanced engineering research to solve unprecedented technical challenges. Develops new methodologies, models, algorithms, and analytical tools that shape agency engineering standards. Serves as a recognized subject‑matter expert providing authoritative interpretations of engineering policy, standards, and regulatory requirements.
Program Leadership & Strategic Planning
- Leads major engineering programs with multi‑million‑dollar budgets and long-term strategic significance. Advises senior leadership on technology investment, acquisition strategy, and engineering risk posture. Represents the agency in interagency, international, and industry forums.
Oversight, Review & Quality Assurance
- Conducts high-level technical reviews of engineering designs, test plans, failure analyses, and contractor deliverables. Establishes quality assurance criteria and ensures compliance with engineering standards, safety requirements, and mission objectives. Provides final technical approval for critical system changes.
Mentoring, Collaboration & Knowledge Transfer
- Mentors’ junior engineers, provide expert consultation, and lead technical working groups. Develops training materials, engineering guidance, and best-practice documentation. Facilitates collaboration across engineering disciplines, programs, and external partners.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Basic Requirements:
Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must:
(1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board
for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or
(2) include differential and integral calculus and
courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics;
(e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or
electronics. OR a combination of education and experience--college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences
underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. OR
Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's
degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-
accredited institutions. APPLICANT MUST LIST ALL COLLEGE COURSES.
In addition to meeting basic requirements, applicants must meet specialized experience. Specialized experience is defined below.
Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or above the grade 14 level in similar positions. Specialized experience for this position would include experience in architecting system level electrical designs using both commercial and custom electronics.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required:
- Mastery of advanced electronics engineering concepts, including RF propagation, signal processing, embedded systems, high‑speed digital design, and complex system integration.
- Ability to develop new engineering theories, models, and analytical approaches.
- Expert knowledge of national and international engineering standards, safety requirements, and regulatory frameworks.
- Skill to lead multidisciplinary teams and resolve unprecedented engineering challenges.
- Expert-level knowledge of electronics engineering principles, advanced system design, and integration.
- Skill in leading complex engineering programs and multidisciplinary teams.
- Ability to develop new engineering methodologies and influence agency-wide standards.
- Effective communication skills for high-level briefings, negotiations, and technical documentation.
- Ability to manage risk, ensure compliance, and provide authoritative technical decisions.
- Mastery of the advanced concepts, principles and practices of electronics engineering, in order to investigate, design, and provide consultative services to the development of an entire range of electronics for ground based and space-borne instrumentation for astrophysical data collection, as well as its associated test, calibration and ground support equipment..
- Ability to apply knowledge of advanced principles and practices of electronics engineering to the development and application of experimental theories, and emerging technology to the solution of complex instrument design problems.
- Extensive knowledge and experience with electrical schematics and board layout CAD/CAM tools.
- Knowledge of analog techniques and design simulation tools (i.e., SPICE).
- Superior skills and experience with the development of FPGA based digital and analog signal processing systems.
- Exceptional working knowledge of related engineering fields such as thermal, mechanical, optical, and/or structural to resolve design and instrument packaging problems.
- Skill in project leadership and the ability to provide technical direction in design, fabrication, assembly, and test activities to members of a diverse engineering and scientific team. Ability to generate realistic project budgets, schedules, and support multiple projects simultaneously.
- Strong oral and written communications skills, including the ability to serve as a technical spokesperson for SAO in areas related to the electronics of advanced instrumentation. Experience with proposal writing.
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact
hr@cfa.harvard.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s
Accommodation Procedures.
