Electronics Engineer

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The Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) is one of the largest and most advanced university-operated radio observatories in the world. Managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), OVRO serves as a premier research hub dedicated to pushing the boundaries of radio astronomy and astrophysics.

Job Summary

We are seeking an electronics engineer for OVRO to develop an instrument for fast radio burst (FRB) detection in the microwave domain. This instrument will utilize existing 3.5-m-diameter antennas that will be repurposed and upgraded to open up a new frequency window for FRB science. The project principal investigators (PIs) and co-PIs are based at Cornell University, the University of Chicago, and Caltech. This position is an opportunity to be part of a diverse team working on leading astronomical instrumentation with prospects of increasing seniority at the observatory.

Under the guidance of senior staff, the selected candidate will review the status of the antennas, including the drives, electronics, receivers, software, and infrastructure, and prepare a plan to implement and commission an operating instrument. They will be responsible for executing the plan with the assistance of other staff as necessary. The goal is to repurpose existing antennas along with new specialized hardware to extend the observing range for fast time-domain astronomy. The development will be in close collaboration with other partners who will provide antenna control software and digital acquisition and processing hardware. The selected candidate will report directly to the Site Director as well as being responsive to the goals of the PI. As part of the OVRO staff, they will work with other engineers and technicians and may be called on to contribute to other projects. In the future, the scope of work will transition over to other projects that the observatory will be developing. The position will be conducted in-person and on-site at the OVRO near Big Pine, California.

For more information about the position, please contact the hiring manager and OVRO Site Director, James Lamb, lamb@caltech.edu.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications received by Tuesday, December 8, 2026 will receive full consideration. The position will remain open until filled.

Essential Job Duties

• Detailed planning of tasks
• Building up test setups as required
• Evaluating the current state of the instrument
• Testing and refurbishing or replacing cryogenic systems for the receivers
• Testing receiver and ancillary electronics and repairing or replacing
• Testing drive system interlocks and emergency switches
• Evaluating and repairing cooling systems for antenna electronics
• Supervising installation of power and fiber to antennas
• Testing antenna operation
• Optical pointing of antenna
• Evaluation, repair, and testing of the RF signal chain
• Verification of all monitor and control
• Creation and maintenance of documentation
• Astronomical measurements to demonstrate performance
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications

• A four-year degree or higher in Electronics Engineering, Mechatronics, Physics, or a related field
• At least four years’ experience working with electromechanical systems
• Knowledge of analog and digital electronic design and debugging
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute complex hardware projects
• Good troubleshooting skills
• Ability to lead a small team
• Must have a valid driver's license at the time of hire and maintain it throughout the course of employment.
• Pre-employment DMV and background checks required

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with cryogenic systems
• RF or microwave experience
• Radio astronomy instrumentation and techniques
• Experience with drive systems
• Experience in developing and running automated testing

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter