Astronomy Electrical Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Application Deadline: 24 September 2026

Department: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Cambridge, MA

Compensation: $101,375 - $131,790 / year

OPENING DATE: August 24, 2026
CLOSING DATE: September 24, 2026
SERIES/GRADE: 0855/12
TYPE OF POSITION: Trust Indefinite (Non-Federal)
DIVISION: Central Engineering
LOCATION: Cambridge, MA
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S.person (citizen, permanent resident, approved asylee, or refugee) or a national of a country eligible to be approved for an export license who is eligible to work in the US.
This position requires access to export-controlled work.

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).

• 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.

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

The purpose of the position is to provide electrical engineering support for the development of advanced instrumentation and other Central Engineering projects as assigned.

1. Design and develop electrical and electronics systems, subsystems, modules, and components for advanced instrumentation.
2. Create PCB designs, electrical block diagrams, electronic closures, and cable and interconnect documentation.
3. Evaluate design options and make recommendations on parts selection, fabrication approaches, and implementation methods suited to complex instrumentation environments.
4. Support cost and schedule estimates for hardware design, fabrication, tests, and calibration; maintain technical documentation throughout project lifecycle.
5. Support procurement of specialized electrical, electro-optical, and mechanisms.
6. Contribute to oral and written presentations for stakeholders and the broader scientific community.
7. 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.
8. Other duties assigned

Basic Requirements:

(A) 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

(B) 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.

Additional Requirements: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or above the grade 11 level in similar positions. Specialized experience is experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position would include significant experience in general electrical engineering, experience supporting architecting system level electrical designs using both commercial and custom electronics and supporting project design reviews and participating in other projects’ reviews.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required:

1. Knowledge of electronic concepts and practices sufficient to design, build, and test electrical systems.

2. Proficiency with electrical schematic capture and PCB layout tools including Altium Designer and familiarity with analog and digital