Job Title: Engineer III - Design EE (Electrical Engineer)
Department: Instrumentation - Engineering Design
Reports to: Engineering Design subunit Lead
Employment Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Remote Eligible: No, On-site, Socorro, New Mexico
Travel Requirements: Up to 30%
Salary Range: $86,400 - $107,900/year (depending on experience)
Position Summary
The Engineer III (EIII) works with limited direction to provide oversight/management/leadership for technical geophysical projects of moderate complexity involving multiple stakeholders and/or technologies, which may occur over multiple years. The incumbent, as the technical lead, will implement and manage field operations at sites throughout the United States, polar latitudes, and other international locations. The incumbent collaborates with other engineers to devise novel approaches to technical problems. The EIII is respected as a subject matter expert specific to assigned projects and is relied upon to propose new, as well as implement established, procedures that align with best practices, operating standards, and the EarthScope mission. The EIII provides training for engineers and the user community to ensure all work conforms to high technical and organizational standards. Engineers are ambassadors who represent these principles to scientists, landowners, sponsors, and other community members. The EIII will report to the Engineering Manager within designated project and functional areas.
Details of Responsibilities
General Essential Job Duties:
Act as technical lead on the execution of geophysical projects involving multiple technologies with both internal and external stakeholders and which may occur over multiple years.
With general direction, set strategy for planning and executing scope for assigned projects, which may involve logistics, site reconnaissance, site selection, permitting, installation activities, maintenance, network configuration, instrument operation, station communications and/or data flow activities as part of a portfolio of geophysical technologies.
Independently identify complex technical problems and devise solutions that require innovation and creativity.
Troubleshoot and integrate geophysical technology, firmware, software, metadata, and sensor-related infrastructure.
Contributes to the design and testing of new complex systems.
Generate detailed technical documentation of assigned projects.
Prepare individual project budgets of moderate scope for project and engineering managers, and review and report expenditures.
Provide financial and operational recommendations and contribute content to support proposal development, as requested.
Strengthen alliances with other departments within EarthScope on collaborative projects/opportunities.
Develop and maintain good relationships with community members, suppliers, landowners, and business partners within areas of expertise.
Other duties may be assigned as necessary for the successful operation of EarthScope.
Leadership and Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position does not have direct supervisory responsibility.
May coordinate assigned responsibilities to other engineering staff.
Interacts and collaborates with staff throughout the company to ensure the completion of designated projects.
Provides guidance on technical matters to others.
Act as lead engineer and point of contact if they are the ranking engineer in the field.
Foster a professional culture through the use of strong interpersonal skills, verbal and written communications with an emphasis on team building.
Communicate clearly and effectively with other team members to ensure tasks are completed on time and with best practices.
Qualifications
Minimum Education & Experience Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in engineering, geosciences, or related field with seven (7) years of experience with geophysical sensors or networks.
OR
Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience in engineering, geosciences, or related field and four (4) years of field experience with geophysical sensors or networks
Preferred Skills:
General understanding of geophysical data processing.
Familiarity with data quality analysis software.
Proficiency with computer programming or scripting language.
Experience leading field teams related to geophysical instrumentation deployments.
Experience in systems engineering and design.
Assignment-specific Position Summary
Positions in Instrumentation Services will include job specific addenda that specify and clarify Functional, Programmatic, and any Additional responsibilities that are pertinent to the position. This is in addition to the general Position Description requirements associated with the job title.
Assignment-specific Essential Duties:
Functional responsibilities:
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Reports to and is supervised by the Engineering Department, Engineering Design subunit Lead.
Programmatic responsibilities:
- Work with engineering teams to support electronics design and fabrication for geophysical instrumentation.
- Support test and evaluation requirements and establish SOPs for systems evaluation
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Works with other sensor test and evaluation group geophysical instrumentation projects as necessary.
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Programmatic responsibilities are coordinated through Portable Engineering group lead.
Assignment-specific Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability for the position above and beyond the knowledge, skills & abilities listed in the position description:
- Knowledge of dataloggers and analog to digital conversion
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Knowledge of digital logic and communications protocols, modeling, and testing
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Knowledge of power supply design and implementation for analog and digital circuits
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Experience analyzing laboratory and field data to ensure that the systems and components meet specifications.
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Experience with waveform generators, oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, spectrum analyzers.
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Knowledge of signal processing methods.
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Familiarity with time series data formats.
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Proficient in programming and scripting for device automation.
Assignment-specific Preferred Skills:
Proficient in programming and scripting for device automation.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability for the position:
In depth technical understanding of the concepts, practices, and procedures for the use of geophysical sensors and their scientific impacts.
Demonstrated general understanding of related equipment used outside of project areas.
Proficiency in the operation of hand and power tools (i.e., cordless drill, chop saw, grinder, etc.) and identification of specialized tooling needs
Ability to oversee project assessment and planning.
Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Ability to evaluate complex problems and provide innovative solutions to ensure projects are completed on schedule.
Ability to provide technical guidance and training as technical lead to project team members.
Working knowledge of services and functions of other departments within the EarthScope Consortium.
Ability to communicate effectively in speaking and writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Ability to assess one's interactions and actions to determine responsibility of activities and incidents and ensure personal accountability for the successful completion of projects.
Ability to understand advanced, complex problems and to collaborate and explore alternative solutions.
Ability to organize and prioritize work schedules for self and others.
Ability to compute, analyze, and interpret data.
Ability to make decisions which have moderate impact on the job function and small impact on the organization in general.
Ability to conduct safety training under challenging field conditions.
Other Requirements:
Appropriate availability consistent with EarthScope established practices and norms; hours may exceed 40 hours per week, particularly when traveling.
If the employee is engaged in field operations, they are required to maintain appropriate safety training, including wilderness, avalanche, helicopter, first-aid, etc.
A valid driver’s license is required.
Must be able to comply with the EarthScope Consortium’s Motor Vehicle Policy.
Frequent travel by commercial or contracted means including fixed and rotor winged aircraft, motor vehicle, boat, etc.
A valid passport is required for polar and international projects.
If deploying to polar environments, must be able to meet the Physical Qualification Determination for Arctic and Antarctic deployments (PESJ-POL_2000.09a).
Environment
Physical Setting and Requirements:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Continually required to stand.
Continually required to walk.
Continually required to utilize hand and finger dexterity.
Continually required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl.
Continually required to talk or hear.
Continually work near moving mechanical parts.
Frequently required to sit.
Frequently work in high, precarious places.
Field work conditions may involve high elevation, extreme cold, extreme heat, humidity, noise, hazards, and vibration.
Frequently lift and/or move up to 75 pounds over uneven terrain and long distances (up to 3 miles).
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Specialized equipment, machines, or vehicles used: Domestic and international travel in remote or extreme environments by off-road vehicle, helicopter, fixed wing, or other specialty vehicles.
About EarthScope Consortium
Our Mission: EarthScope Consortium is a consortium dedicated to supporting transformative global geophysical research and education.
Our Core Organizational Values: EarthScope’s core values are built upon a foundation of scientific and professional integrity. In order to accomplish our mission of research and education, as a community and science support organization, we value:
Advancement of community science goals and their relevance to society,
Excellence, innovation, and cooperation in science, technology, education, and service,
Open access to data products and scientific exchange,
Data preservation and stewardship for future science and society,
Transparent community governance,
Cultivation of diverse scientific, educational, and social perspectives,
Efficient and effective use of resources, and
Strong service ethic and a “can do” attitude.
EarthScope Consortium operates the U.S. National Science Foundation’s GAGE and SAGE Facilities, and cooperates with member universities, federal agencies, and many international partners. As representatives of the academic world, and stewards of taxpayer dollars, it is important that all of us take these responsibilities seriously and represent the Consortium with the highest of professional and ethical conduct. In turn, know that EarthScope places a high value on employees; and works diligently to protect your interests and provide competitive and appealing benefits to you and your families.
To Apply: Applicants may apply by going to the EarthScope Consortium Career Center: https://www.earthscope.org/careers/
Applicants MUST be authorized to work permanently in the United States.
EarthScope Consortium participates in E-Verify.
EarthScope Consortium is not able to sponsor applicants for work authorization within the United States.
EarthScope Consortium is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Reasonable accommodation may be requested to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
