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
These positions are based at the UT campus in Austin, TX.
CNC Machinist & Programmer
Purpose
To perform highly skilled and technical supervisory work fabricating precision parts from drawings and solid models by programming, setting up, and operating CNC vertical milling machine, CNC lathe, and CNC wire EDM. Use manual machine tools and all other machine shop-related equipment as necessary.
Responsibilities
- Fabricate high-quality, high-precision parts efficiently and on time using CAM programming and by setting up and operating CNC milling machines, lathes, and wire EDM. Use personal judgment and initiative to match the machining process, layout, and setup to the job, including designing and building fixtures and jigs when necessary. Performs other duties as required to meet the business needs.
- Use manual milling machines, lathes, and similar equipment to fabricate parts.
- Assist researchers and design personnel in planning instrument design and construction, drawing on practical knowledge from shop experience.
- Maintain general use of perishable tools and instruct students and others using the machine shop as needed. Stay current on new manufacturing methods, practices, and tools. Instruct students and others using the shop as needed.
- Assemble, modify, repair, and maintain instruments and equipment, including mills, lathes, and wire EDM machines, for the Observatory, the shop, and the Astronomy Department.
Machine Shop Supervisor
Purpose
Assists the McDonald Observatory's engineering group with tasks related to the design and fabrication of instruments, and assists the Astronomy Department with instructional telescopes, classrooms, and other tasks. Supervises the machine shop, coordinating and developing schedules and workflow to ensure appropriate progress on mechanical engineering projects.
Responsibilities
- Supervises and coordinates daily operations of the engineering machine shop to ensure appropriate day-to-day progress on the mechanical engineering aspects of projects. Communicates project progress, issues affecting progress and the shop, and responds to inquiries clearly and concisely.
- Locate and purchase services, parts, tools, and materials from outside vendors and contractors. Required to drive a UT vehicle to drop off and pick up parts and materials at off-campus locations. Provide labor and material cost estimate input for proposed mechanical engineering projects.
- Operate machine tools for part fabrication as needed; maintain organized, up-to-date mechanical drawing files.
- Coordinate machine tool repair and maintenance.
- Assist the Astronomy Department with the repair and maintenance of dome and telescope equipment, departmental classrooms, and facilities. Maintain vehicle logs. Perform other duties as required to support business operations.
Travel and Entertainment Specialist
Purpose
The Travel and Entertainment Specialist serves as the primary point of contact and resource for departmental business travel and entertainment requests and payments. In this role, you assist with and arrange travel for staff, faculty, students, and non-employees, and process reimbursements. Process entertainment documentation and expenses in coordination with the business officer for official occasions. As a business office team member, you support administrative and departmental operations and accounts receivable, accounts payable, and purchasing as required.
Responsibilities
- Travel Request and Processing. Receive and process travel authorizations (RTA) from faculty, staff, students, and visitors, and arrange travel or confirm self-arrangements, requesting additional documentation as needed. Before processing, obtain the necessary approvals from supervisors and account holders, and ensure compliance with UT and departmental policies. Verify account compliance and funding. Research and make reservations by phone, online, or through a travel agent for airfare, car rentals, registrations, etc. Secure lodging and include traveler information if requested. Communicate effectively with travelers and troubleshoot issues, offering possible resolutions.
- Travel Reimbursement and Vendor Payments. Prepare and promptly process accurate travel reimbursement vouchers for department faculty, staff, students, and visitors, ensuring compliance with UT and departmental policies. Process vendor payments billed directly to the department. Provide documentation and support for contract payments and for departmental Citibank ProCard and Travel Card transactions. Prepare interdepartmental transfer vouchers to charge food, lodging, and car rentals to the appropriate accounts. Monitor travel budgets to ensure compliance with account requirements, and process account transfers and charge corrections as directed. Maintain accurate documentation for all transactions. Prepare reports, such as expenses by department code or allocation.
- Entertainment and Official Occasion Process and Reimbursement. Reviews requests for entertainment for business purposes, confirms fund sources that may be used for such purposes, and provides guidance for the reasonable expenditure of funds or other expenses often related to reimbursement from institutional funds. Ensures compliance with department procedures, state laws, IRS, and UT System Regents rules.
- Business Office Support. Communicate and collaborate with the business office team and stakeholders. Perform and back up coworkers’ administrative, purchasing, and accounts payable duties as required, and provide ongoing team support to meet business needs.
- Compliance and Reporting. Maintains travel and entertainment policies and ensures compliance with department, campus, state, and federal guidelines. Liaise with Travel Management Services and stay current on the university's travel policies and procedures. Assist faculty, staff, students, and researchers in interpreting and implementing these policies. Communicate and post website updates as procedures change. Identify process and resource efficiencies to meet customer needs.
McDonald Observatory Jobs in Fort Davis
These positions are based at McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis. If you're not local, you'll need to relocate to the Observatory.
Public Program Facilitator
Purpose
This position supports and advances the education and public outreach mission of McDonald Observatory and The University of Texas at Austin. Public Program Facilitators deliver content for programs including guided tours, solar viewing, star parties, special viewing, workshops, and livestream programs. Facilitators lead in-person evening and daytime programs for groups of 10-500 visitors and on-camera livestream programs for thousands of viewers. Program Facilitators also assist with community activities, special projects, events, and programs on and off-site.
Responsibilities
- Conducts and assists with implementing programs for public and private groups, both in person and online. Provides customer service and educational information to Observatory visitors and assists with community activities, special projects, events, and programs on and off-site. Assists with routine maintenance of telescope equipment, domes, and galleries. Assists with maintaining exhibits in the Visitors Center.
- Participates in a cross-functional team and works cooperatively with other staff members to complete tasks and projects. Greets and assists visitors. Assists with responding to reservation questions. Assists with the Gift Shop when needed. Performs janitorial and other related duties as needed.
Administrative Associate
Purpose
This position provides strong administrative support for the McDonald Observatory West Texas operations and works collaboratively with West Texas staff and the McDonald Observatory Austin Business Office.
Responsibilities
- Administrative Support. Support the administrative and clerical operations for the Superintendent and office staff. Helps with shipping and receiving packages and mail and ensures the proper recipients are contacted. Maintain site calendar. Process documents per University policies and procedures, including workers comp insurance. Coordinates site-wide university vehicle registrations and insurance. Coordinates travel for Superintendent and staff. Composes and proofreads departmental correspondence. Prepares required documentation for special events and assists with special event staffing. Provide notary services and drive UT vehicles as needed. Ensures confidentiality and maintains a professional manner with staff and the public. Performs other related functions to meet business needs as necessary, including evenings or weekend work.
- Financial. Prepares and processes payment vouchers for goods and services received at the Observatory. Receives, records, and deposits payments for the on-site residents. Assists with Pro-Card logs and reconciliations of the ProCard for staff reporting up to the Superintendent. Reconciles bank accounts, including the Imprest Funds, and serves as the petty cash custodian. Maintains and posts purchasing and payment information to the local accounting database. Reconciles Mt. Locke West Texas accounts and prepares detailed monthly reports, including appropriate use of funds. Prepares billing information and invoices for tenant facilities in consultation with the Austin Business Office.
- Compliance. Serve as a point of contact for West Texas staff on business procedures in accordance with University policies and procedures, ensure compliance (including for the Superintendent's office), and coordinate with the Austin Business Office as appropriate.
Mechanical Engineer
Purpose
This position is part of the McDonald Observatory's instrumentation group and exercises broad independent judgment to design, analyze, build, test, and support optomechanical and electromechanical subsystems for the McDonald Observatory's instrument and telescope development projects. This position reports to the Chief Astronomer.
Responsibilities
- Designs and develops scientific instrumentation and mechanical equipment, often iteratively, including detailed requirements, design, modeling, and analysis, with wide latitude for independent action and decision-making.
- Works with project leadership and staff to substantially contribute to the development of design concepts and requirements for new projects. Builds prototypes, conducts supporting analyses, and writes reports.
- Produces fabrication drawings. Procures, monitors, and supports the fabrication of designed parts in machine shops and other manufacturing resources.
- Directs, coordinates, and assists with the assembly, deployment, commissioning, and field support of developed instrumentation and mechanical equipment.
- Documents and submits technical reports and project results to management. Participates in design reviews and, as appropriate, in the publication of journal articles.
- Continues to develop the engineering skill set and identifies new technologies valuable to instrumentation. Performs other functions as required to support business needs.
Post Doctoral Fellowships
There are no current postings for fellowships at McDonald Observatory.