APEX Research Engineer, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory

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OSIRIS-APEX Laser Altimeter (OLA) Instrument Engineer:

• Without clear precedent, plans highly complex scientific and operational uses of OLA in flight.
• Investigates use of OLA to find creative ways to improve and optimize spacecraft performance.
• Investigates and designs innovative uses of OLA to study solar system bodies.
• Diagnoses and troubleshoots any problems in instrument operation.
• Oversees software development and updates for the instrument.
• Monitors the health and safety of OLA.
• Possesses a full range and depth of professional knowledge in lidar systems which allows them to work independently.
• Regularly briefs senior UA project leadership, NASA, and the Canadian Space Agency on the strategic use of OLA.
• Represents the OSIRIS-APEX Mission and UA to industrial partners Lockheed-Martin, KinetX, MDA Space, Applied Physics Laboratory, and to NASA.
• Communicates with the spacecraft engineering team at Lockheed-Martin about OLA operations.
• Represents the OSIRIS-APEX mission and UA at national and international scientific and engineering conferences.

Mission Design:

• Works with the international OSIRIS-APEX Science Team, the Lockheed-Martin spacecraft team, and the spacecraft navigation teams at KinetX and NASA Goddard Spacecraft Center to design and optimize the highly complex scientific use of OLA at Apophis.
• Attends mission design coordination meetings and reviews with these external organizations and the UA Science and Operations teams.

Systems Engineering:

• Uses in-depth knowledge of OLA design, capabilities, and operations to update OLA instrument and other documentation from the OSIRIS-REx mission to be applicable to OSIRIS-APEX.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the NAIF SPICE software package.
• Knowledge of the design and operation of lidar systems.
• Skill in working within multidisciplinary teams focused on space operations.
• Ability to work independently to achieve mission objectives.
• Ability to mentor and support undergraduate students in solving engineering problems.
• Ability to effectively interact with spacecraft operations teams.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external leadership.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise presentations.
• Ability to identify and design new approaches to unique problems.
• Ability to handle confidential information.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Master's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience
• At least 10 years of experience in design, implementation, calibration,
  and testing of imaging and ranging lidars for spacecraft applications.
• At least 10 years of experience preparing material for and
  participating in formal design and acceptance reviews.

• Ph.D. in physical sciences or engineering.