Employment opportunities with The University of Texas at Austin's Department of Astronomy and McDonald Observatory include positions located in both Austin and Fort Davis, Texas.
The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff and many resources to benefit staff experience.
McDonald Observatory Jobs in Austin
There are currently no job openings with McDonald Observatory in Austin.
McDonald Observatory Jobs in Fort Davis
HET Resident Astronomer
Purpose
The resident astronomer (RA) acts as the on-site scientific observing specialist for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) at McDonald Observatory. The RA employs various facility instruments and has the opportunity to conduct personal research while contributing to the scientific community at McDonald Observatory.
Responsibilities
- Science Operations. Lead nightly science operations safely and efficiently from sunset to sunrise, selecting and executing observations of targets from the queue. Observations are taken on facility instruments based on weather constraints and queue priorities as set by the principal investigator (PI) and Telescope Allocation Committee (TAC). Evaluate the scientific quality of all observations based on the needs of various research projects and communicate effectively with HET partner scientists. Verifies the integrity and quality of the observations and helps optimize the scientific productivity of the facility.
- Night Operations. Communicate with the telescope operator regarding scientific, facility, and weather constraints. Maintain accurate, professional, and clear night report and problem report logs. Foster a productive and efficient working environment.
- Engineering Operations. Conduct projects to characterize and/or improve night operations. Work with instrument scientists and engineering staff to support, maintain, and document the performance of the HET and its instruments. Coordinate with visiting and remote engineering staff to complete engineering, instrument commissioning, and observing goals. Provide support and advice to maximize observing run outputs. Monitor the condition of the facility’s science instruments. Document the current status of science operations and the facility through wikis and web pages.
- Day Operations. Support night operations by preparing the facility for science operations, including testing and calibrating equipment and software and communicating with the resident astronomer on night duty regarding the status of the facility and queue.
- Research Environment. Conduct personal research to become an active user of the observatory instruments and contribute to the scientific life at the observatory. Prepare and present scientific papers at astronomical meetings. Participate in outreach activities such as giving public talks, giving tours of the facility, and attending colloquiums.
- Administrative Operations. Work with other resident astronomers to maintain a fully staffed work schedule every night of the year. Attend general and night-time operation staff meetings. Keep accurate and updated time sheets and complete required training and paperwork in a timely manner. Perform other duties as assigned to meet business operations.
For additional information and to apply: HET Resident Astronomer
Hobby-Eberly Telescope Science Operations Manager
Purpose
The Science Operations Manager for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) at the McDonald Observatory will provide leadership, high-quality science, and technical support in the science operations of the HET, including managing the HET science and engineering support operations, supervising night-time operations, monitoring and reporting on HET optical and instrumentation performance, data acquisition and reduction.
Responsibilities
- Manage HET science and engineering support operations. Coordinate with engineering and special program leads to facilitate HET Board discussions of these allocations and produce Telescope Allocation Committee (TAC) allocations. Manage the HET observing queue and resolve time conflicts. Work closely with science and engineering staff to specify and conduct night-time engineering tests and analyze/reduce data/results as needed.
- Conduct personal research. Become an active user of the Observatory instruments to contribute to the scientific life at the Observatory. Participate in outreach activities such as giving public talks, tours of the facility, and attending colloquia. Submit research proposals to outside funding agencies as principal investigator (PI) or on research grants/contracts.
- Monitor and report on science operations. Lead operations meetings. Oversee HET Observing Metrics and report to the HET Board, Time Allocation Committees, and Users Committee on HET science operations performance and time usage.
- Conduct night operations. Serve as a resident astronomer approximately two nights per month, or as needed, in the night operations team to conduct science observations on behalf of HET users, using facility instruments and based upon queue priorities, weather conditions, and facility constraints. In addition, also maintains a working understanding of the essential duties of the Telescope Operator position, including stacking and acquiring targets.
- Supervise HET night-time operations staff. Manage projects to improve operations. Monitor and evaluate work performance. Supervise training.
- Conduct projects to improve HET operations and/or add new capabilities or features. Projects may include theoretical work, documentation, hardware, and software projects, depending on the candidate's skill set.
- Conduct daytime operations. Support daytime engineering testing, including instrument commissioning tests as needed and daily telescope functional tests on a rotation basis.
- Observatory operations. Participate in observatory-wide duties and serve as deputy facility manager.
- Perform other duties as assigned to meet business needs. Keep accurate and updated time sheets and complete required training and paperwork. Staff living on-site in the residential community are considered essential employees as determined by the HET Facility Manager and the Observatory Superintendent. They will be required to serve on the Observatory Emergency Response team “ERT" and perform tasks to help respond to emergencies, such as fire, medical, hazardous material, or other emergencies threatening or interfering with the facility's normal operations.
For additional information and to apply: HET Science Operations Manager
Maintenance Worker I
Purpose
Provides grounds maintenance services for McDonald Observatory buildings, domes, and public spaces as assigned. Assists in custodial services and special events setup and breakdown. Weekend and holiday work is required.
Responsibilities
- Grounds Maintenance. Responsible for mowing grass, operating string trimmers, leaf blowers, and other related grounds tasks. Emptying all outdoor trash cans (mountain-wide) and litter disposal, Responsible for raking granite and sweeping sidewalks in the Visitor Center patio and plaza areas, and general cleaning of trash in parking areas, fences, and grounds. Operates and maintains the irrigation system. Primarily during non-growing season, assists in fire prevention and tree trimming, including operating a chainsaw for tree removal.
- Custodial Services. Assists and backs up custodial staff with general building cleaning, restroom sanitation, floor maintenance, trash and litter removal, and other related chores. Weekend and holiday work is required and will be rotated. Drive UT vehicle to perform duties and maintain a Texas driver's license.
- Special Events. Assists with special events including, set up and take down of tables, chairs, equipment, trash receptacles, cleans grounds and facilities, and replenishes supplies as necessary. Prepares the grounds around the houses for the arrival of new residents.
- Safety and Facility Support. Maintains a professional, customer-service demeanor and a professional appearance according to UT McDonald Physical Plant dress code. Wears applicable protective gear as appropriate. Participates, as necessary, as part of the Emergency Response Team for the Observatory, including wild-land fire training, first aid, CPR, AED as required.
- Performs Other Duties as Assigned. After completing scheduled daily tasks, move to tasks that improve the condition of the facility: i.e., re-painting restrooms, changing light bulbs, cleaning otherwise neglected areas.
For additional information and to apply: Maintenance Worker I
Post Doctoral Fellowships
There are no current postings for fellowships at McDonald Observatory.