Adaptive Optics Engineer
- Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
- Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Feb 01, 2024
Full time
Engineering
Job Description
Adaptive Optics Engineer
Location Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh.
Salary: Band D (S1) £42,840 - £47,124 to Band E (S1) £53,818 - £59,199 per annum (dependent on skills and experience).
Contract Type: Open-Ended
Hours: Full-Time _(We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)_
Come and work at the forefront of science and engineering. Stretch your technical skills while building human understanding. Explore the unknown and get to grips with the biggest challenges in Big Science. And, alongside world class scientists, engineers, technicians and technologists, use everything you've learnt to find real answers that shape society and improve lives.
Put simply, come and discover the impact you can make when you're equipped, encouraged and inspired to perform to your very best.
We are in search of an experienced adaptive optics engineer/scientist to become an integral part of our Applied Optics group. You will join multi-disciplinary teams on projects varying in scale from design studies and technology development through to international collaborations building instruments for some of the world's largest observatories.
Your involvement will encompass all stages of instrument development, collaborating closely with astronomers to establish requirements, formulating innovative designs, and assembling and integration of instruments. Your contributions will be especially significant in shaping the Ground Layer Adaptive Optics (GLAO) system design for MOSAIC, a future instrument for the European Extremely Large Telescope, which is currently advancing into its Phase B.
Responsibilities
Within the Applied Optics group at UK ATC, you will assume a pivotal role in conceiving, designing, developing, and testing adaptive optics systems for both ground-based astronomical projects and space instrumentation. A comprehensive grasp of adaptive optics theory coupled with hands-on experience in adaptive optics instruments is essential. Your contributions will extend to relevant AO-related initiatives within STFC, encompassing astronomical projects such as MOSAIC and PCS.
Your specific duties include:
Performing numerical modelling of adaptive optics systems
Designing and analysing adaptive optics systems
Prepare technical reports to document the AO design and performance
Conducting laboratory tests and conducting data analysis
Assisting in the integration and testing phases of instrumentation projects
This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute significantly to the advancement of adaptive optics technology and its application in both astronomical and non-astronomical domains. Your expertise will play a vital role in ensuring the success of our projects, fostering innovation, and driving our mission forward.
Person Specification
We welcome candidates with a robust background in adaptive optics for ground-based astronomical instruments and hands-on experience in experimental laboratory work, as well as those well-versed in simulations and theoretical modelling, to apply for this position.
Ph.D. level qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant science or engineering discipline
Good understanding and extensive working knowledge of adaptive optics
Experience in the design, construction, and testing of adaptive optics systems for astronomical instrumentation.
Understanding of tomographic AO, wavefront reconstruction, and control algorithms.
Proficiency in high-level modeling software such as Python, Matlab, IDL, or C
Proven ability to work proactively and collaboratively as part of a team.
Excellent communication skills, able to clearly present technical material in meetings and written reports.
Additional specifications for Band-E candidates include:
Experience of working independently and leading small teams
Experience in the design, construction, and testing of tomographic adaptive optics systems for astronomical instrumentation.
Understanding of aspects of project management
We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, technicians and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.
What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible.
STFC values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days' annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.
To find out more about this role and information on how to apply click apply
The closing date for applications is 2nd February 2024
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: £42,840.00-£59,199.00 per year
Work Location: In person
Location Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh.
Salary: Band D (S1) £42,840 - £47,124 to Band E (S1) £53,818 - £59,199 per annum (dependent on skills and experience).
Contract Type: Open-Ended
Hours: Full-Time _(We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)_
Come and work at the forefront of science and engineering. Stretch your technical skills while building human understanding. Explore the unknown and get to grips with the biggest challenges in Big Science. And, alongside world class scientists, engineers, technicians and technologists, use everything you've learnt to find real answers that shape society and improve lives.
Put simply, come and discover the impact you can make when you're equipped, encouraged and inspired to perform to your very best.
We are in search of an experienced adaptive optics engineer/scientist to become an integral part of our Applied Optics group. You will join multi-disciplinary teams on projects varying in scale from design studies and technology development through to international collaborations building instruments for some of the world's largest observatories.
Your involvement will encompass all stages of instrument development, collaborating closely with astronomers to establish requirements, formulating innovative designs, and assembling and integration of instruments. Your contributions will be especially significant in shaping the Ground Layer Adaptive Optics (GLAO) system design for MOSAIC, a future instrument for the European Extremely Large Telescope, which is currently advancing into its Phase B.
Responsibilities
Within the Applied Optics group at UK ATC, you will assume a pivotal role in conceiving, designing, developing, and testing adaptive optics systems for both ground-based astronomical projects and space instrumentation. A comprehensive grasp of adaptive optics theory coupled with hands-on experience in adaptive optics instruments is essential. Your contributions will extend to relevant AO-related initiatives within STFC, encompassing astronomical projects such as MOSAIC and PCS.
Your specific duties include:
Performing numerical modelling of adaptive optics systems
Designing and analysing adaptive optics systems
Prepare technical reports to document the AO design and performance
Conducting laboratory tests and conducting data analysis
Assisting in the integration and testing phases of instrumentation projects
This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute significantly to the advancement of adaptive optics technology and its application in both astronomical and non-astronomical domains. Your expertise will play a vital role in ensuring the success of our projects, fostering innovation, and driving our mission forward.
Person Specification
We welcome candidates with a robust background in adaptive optics for ground-based astronomical instruments and hands-on experience in experimental laboratory work, as well as those well-versed in simulations and theoretical modelling, to apply for this position.
Ph.D. level qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant science or engineering discipline
Good understanding and extensive working knowledge of adaptive optics
Experience in the design, construction, and testing of adaptive optics systems for astronomical instrumentation.
Understanding of tomographic AO, wavefront reconstruction, and control algorithms.
Proficiency in high-level modeling software such as Python, Matlab, IDL, or C
Proven ability to work proactively and collaboratively as part of a team.
Excellent communication skills, able to clearly present technical material in meetings and written reports.
Additional specifications for Band-E candidates include:
Experience of working independently and leading small teams
Experience in the design, construction, and testing of tomographic adaptive optics systems for astronomical instrumentation.
Understanding of aspects of project management
We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, technicians and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.
What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible.
STFC values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days' annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.
To find out more about this role and information on how to apply click apply
The closing date for applications is 2nd February 2024
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: £42,840.00-£59,199.00 per year
Work Location: In person
About Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC)