Jobs

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

Purpose

Operate the Hobby-Eberly Telescope facility, a 10+ meter class telescope, safely and efficiently under the guidance of the resident astronomer (RA) and visiting engineers to enable breakthrough discoveries in astrophysics. Most work will occur from sunset to sunrise at a Linux/Unix computer console.

Responsibilities

• Telescope Operations. Conduct nighttime operations from sunset to sunrise at the request of the resident astronomer or visiting staff. Safely operate the telescope, instruments, and computer systems, and perform queue observing. This includes mirror alignment, setting up and maintaining configurations on science targets, detecting and reporting technical issues, preventing, diagnosing, and recovering from these issues, monitoring weather and facility conditions, and coordinating with resident astronomers and engineers to efficiently achieve observational and engineering goals. Maintain accurate, professional, and clear night reports. Contribute to a productive and efficient working environment.
• Nighttime Operations. Support nighttime operations, including attending general and operations staff meetings (usually during the day); communicating with the outgoing telescope operator before the shift; developing familiarity with instrument configurations and setups to provide backup; collaborating with other telescope operators, the supervisor, and the administrative associate to keep an up-to-date work schedule; and working on projects to support operations (sometimes during the day). Projects may include theoretical work, documentation, hardware, and/or software tasks depending on your skill set.
• Daytime Operations. Support daytime operations, including providing ops engineering and reviewing and commenting on changes to facility operations.
• Facility Support and Additional Duties. Perform other duties as assigned to meet business needs. Maintain accurate and up-to-date timesheets and complete all 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 issues, hazardous materials, or other emergencies that threaten or interfere with the facility's normal operations.

For additional information and to apply: Telescope Operator, Hobby-Eberly Telescope

Purpose

Provides grounds maintenance services for McDonald Observatory buildings, domes, and public spaces as assigned. Assists with the facilities’ custodial services, and setups and breakdowns for special events. Weekend and holiday work is required as needed to meet business operations.

Responsibilities

• Grounds Maintenance. Responsible for mowing grass, operating string trimmers, leaf blowers, and other related grounds tasks. Emptying all outdoor trash cans throughout the mountain and disposing of litter. Responsible for raking granite and sweeping sidewalks in the Visitor Center patio and plaza areas, as well as general cleaning of trash in parking areas, fences, and grounds. Operates and maintains the irrigation system. Primarily during the non-growing season, the role involves assisting in fire prevention and tree trimming, including operating a chainsaw for tree removal.
• Custodial Services.  Supports and assists custodial staff with routine building cleaning, restroom sanitation, floor upkeep, trash and litter removal, and related tasks. Weekend and holiday shifts are required and will be rotated. Operate a UT vehicle to perform duties and maintain a Texas driver's license.
• Special Events. Assists with special events by setting up and taking down tables, chairs, equipment, and trash receptacles. Clean grounds and facilities, and replenish supplies as needed. Prepares the grounds around the houses in preparation for the new resident's arrival date.
• 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, and AED as required.
• Performs Other Duties as Assigned. After completing scheduled daily tasks, shift focus to tasks that improve the condition of the facility, such as re-painting restrooms, replacing light bulbs, and cleaning areas that are usually overlooked.

Purpose

Performs work on water systems and provides advanced maintenance and repair tasks across one or more craft areas at McDonald Observatory, a large remote research facility. Will provide on-the-job training for water operator licenses. Works independently and supports journey-level craft workers. Routinely conducts preventive maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Water System Maintenance. Assist in basic water operations and the maintenance of the McDonald Observatory's water facilities to meet or exceed the standards mandated by the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Sends in water samples according to TCEQ requirements, files reports, and performs record-keeping duties associated with water responsibilities. Maintains Water and Wastewater Operator Licensing: Water Class D, and Wastewater Class D.
• Facility and Preventive Maintenance. Assists with maintenance work for the entire facility and infrastructure, including residential and commercial construction, carpentry, plumbing, pipe-fitting, appliances, machining, welding, fabrication, equipment, vehicles, mechanical sub-systems, and water and wastewater systems. Performs preventative maintenance.
• Facility Troubleshooting and Repair. Assists in the troubleshooting and repair of commercial facilities, electromechanical devices, residential structures, and telescope enclosure buildings. Provides skilled work with HVAC, electrical, and hydraulic systems in commercial and residential structures.
• Record-Keeping and Inventory. Performs physical inventory, record-keeping tasks, and general maintenance duties. Submits orders for materials and services in accordance with state purchasing procedures.
• Safety and Facility Support. Performs emergency service duties as assigned, including Emergency Response Team (ERT) training and related activities, including responding to fire, medical, hazardous materials, or other emergencies that threaten or interfere with normal operations of the facility. Maintains a professional, customer-service demeanor and a professional appearance according to UT McDonald Physical Plant dress code. Wears the appropriate protective gear and follows safety procedures.
• Performs Other Duties. Performs related duties as required to meet business needs. Drives UT vehicle. Maintains professionalism in interaction with the public and fellow workers, as well as in appearance according to UT policy. Assists coworkers as needed with various disciplines in a team-oriented environment.

For additional information and to apply: Maintenance Worker III