UT Health Austin
HET Science Operations Manager, McDonald Observatory
UT Health Austin, Fort Davis, Texas, United States, 79734
HET Science Operations Manager, McDonald Observatory
This position is the science operations manager at the McDonald Observatory, Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET), which operates on a 24/7 schedule. The Observatory is a major astronomical research observatory located 16 miles from Fort Davis, Texas (440 miles from the UT Austin campus). This position involves responsibility for HET's scientific output. It requires bridging two gaps: the gap between daytime engineers and night-time operations and the gap between operations in West Texas and the scientists who use the scientific data collected. Supporting efficient telescope operations will sustain the production of high-quality scientific observations. Supporting the scientists who rely on those observations will allow them to continue to make discoveries about the fundamental nature of the universe, including the formation and evolution of galaxies and stars, the nature and composition of planets outside of our solar system, and the history of the expansion of the universe itself. The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff, including: Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%) Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan) Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax-sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b) Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses For more details, please see https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards. 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. Required Qualifications
Doctoral degree in astronomy or closely related field. Five years demonstrated experience working in a collaborative service astronomy role. Two or more years of experience in a scientific operational leadership and management role, including managing diverse teams of research staff. Significant research experience in observational optical astronomy. Proven record of objectivity and the ability to coordinate and direct research project activities and meet reporting and project deadlines. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Excellent interpersonal communication skills and professional demeanor. Excellent organizational skills. Ability and willingness to work some nights, weekends, and holidays to assist in conducting science operations. Ability to be adaptable, work independently, and as an integral project team member. Demonstrable good judgment. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate. Preferred Qualifications
More than the minimum years of experience with optical and near-IR spectroscopy using high, medium, and low-resolution spectrographs. Three years of experience with fiber-fed integral field spectroscopy. Willingness to adapt to changing research programs and project needs. Proven ability to interact with scientific principal investigators, the public, and industry stakeholders on complex astronomical topics. Driving Required
This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three-year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident. Salary Range
$110,000+ depending on qualifications and experience Working Conditions
Since we are a 24/7 operation, this position, on occasion, is expected to respond to problems and business needs relating to the telescope outside of regular work hours (nights, weekends, and holidays) to serve the needs of the Observatory and, specifically, the HET. Residence in the Observatory's residential community may be available and required. The position may be subject to "call-back" as an essential emergency or critical response employee. Must be eligible to work in the US full-time for any employer without sponsorship. Working at a computer, including repetitive keyboard use at a workstation. Use of manual dexterity. Climbing of stairs and ladders up to 90 ft. Heavy lifting and moving. Working in potentially hazardous chemicals, cryogenic liquids, and chemical fumes environments. May work around electrical and mechanical hazards. May require working extended hours in inclement weather with hazardous equipment or materials. Acts as a senior member of the Observatory's Emergency Response Team that responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, or other emergencies threatening or interfering with the facility's normal operations. Handles emergencies calmly and quickly. Staff on-site in the residential community may serve as essential employees as determined by your manager. McDonald Observatory is located approximately 6800 feet above sea level. Environmental conditions can be unpredictable, and temperatures can range from -10?F to +95?F. Inclement winter weather can be expected, which requires being comfortable driving in wintry conditions on mountain grades. Work Shift
Typically, 40-hour work weeks, including night and weekend work. Flexibility is essential, given that we operate 24/7/365. Required to conduct some shifts of night operations. Occasional interstate, intrastate, and international travel. Required Materials
Letter of Interest Resume/CV Three letters from appropriate professional references which make the case that the nominee has an established record of independent research. List three work references and their contact information; at least one reference should be from a
This position is the science operations manager at the McDonald Observatory, Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET), which operates on a 24/7 schedule. The Observatory is a major astronomical research observatory located 16 miles from Fort Davis, Texas (440 miles from the UT Austin campus). This position involves responsibility for HET's scientific output. It requires bridging two gaps: the gap between daytime engineers and night-time operations and the gap between operations in West Texas and the scientists who use the scientific data collected. Supporting efficient telescope operations will sustain the production of high-quality scientific observations. Supporting the scientists who rely on those observations will allow them to continue to make discoveries about the fundamental nature of the universe, including the formation and evolution of galaxies and stars, the nature and composition of planets outside of our solar system, and the history of the expansion of the universe itself. The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff, including: Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%) Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan) Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax-sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b) Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses For more details, please see https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards. 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. Required Qualifications
Doctoral degree in astronomy or closely related field. Five years demonstrated experience working in a collaborative service astronomy role. Two or more years of experience in a scientific operational leadership and management role, including managing diverse teams of research staff. Significant research experience in observational optical astronomy. Proven record of objectivity and the ability to coordinate and direct research project activities and meet reporting and project deadlines. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Excellent interpersonal communication skills and professional demeanor. Excellent organizational skills. Ability and willingness to work some nights, weekends, and holidays to assist in conducting science operations. Ability to be adaptable, work independently, and as an integral project team member. Demonstrable good judgment. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate. Preferred Qualifications
More than the minimum years of experience with optical and near-IR spectroscopy using high, medium, and low-resolution spectrographs. Three years of experience with fiber-fed integral field spectroscopy. Willingness to adapt to changing research programs and project needs. Proven ability to interact with scientific principal investigators, the public, and industry stakeholders on complex astronomical topics. Driving Required
This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three-year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident. Salary Range
$110,000+ depending on qualifications and experience Working Conditions
Since we are a 24/7 operation, this position, on occasion, is expected to respond to problems and business needs relating to the telescope outside of regular work hours (nights, weekends, and holidays) to serve the needs of the Observatory and, specifically, the HET. Residence in the Observatory's residential community may be available and required. The position may be subject to "call-back" as an essential emergency or critical response employee. Must be eligible to work in the US full-time for any employer without sponsorship. Working at a computer, including repetitive keyboard use at a workstation. Use of manual dexterity. Climbing of stairs and ladders up to 90 ft. Heavy lifting and moving. Working in potentially hazardous chemicals, cryogenic liquids, and chemical fumes environments. May work around electrical and mechanical hazards. May require working extended hours in inclement weather with hazardous equipment or materials. Acts as a senior member of the Observatory's Emergency Response Team that responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, or other emergencies threatening or interfering with the facility's normal operations. Handles emergencies calmly and quickly. Staff on-site in the residential community may serve as essential employees as determined by your manager. McDonald Observatory is located approximately 6800 feet above sea level. Environmental conditions can be unpredictable, and temperatures can range from -10?F to +95?F. Inclement winter weather can be expected, which requires being comfortable driving in wintry conditions on mountain grades. Work Shift
Typically, 40-hour work weeks, including night and weekend work. Flexibility is essential, given that we operate 24/7/365. Required to conduct some shifts of night operations. Occasional interstate, intrastate, and international travel. Required Materials
Letter of Interest Resume/CV Three letters from appropriate professional references which make the case that the nominee has an established record of independent research. List three work references and their contact information; at least one reference should be from a