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Optomechanical Engineer

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • Full-time • Chapel Hill, NC, US • 2w ago

Posting Information

Department

Physics and Astronomy-319000

Career Area

Research Professionals

Posting Open Date

08/25/2025

Application Deadline

11/17/2025

Open Until Filled

Position Type

Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)

Working Title

Optomechanical Engineer

Appointment Type

EHRA Non-Faculty

Position Number

20065075, 20073724

Vacancy ID

NF0009249

Full Time/Part Time

Full-Time Permanent

FTE

Hours per week

Position Location

North Carolina, US

Hiring Range

Dependent upon experience and qualifications

Proposed Start Date

10/01/2025

Position Information

Be a Tar Heel!

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

Our primary mission is providing instruction of the highest quality in physics and astronomy to undergraduate and graduate students at UNC-CH. Training in physics is fundamental among the natural sciences because it provides understanding of the forces governing the structure of matter, from subatomic particles to the large-scale structure of the universe.

Our departmental instructional mission spans all segments of the student community. Over 60% of all college graduates from UNC-CH have taken a course in our department. Among them: undergraduate liberal arts majors who should master the power of quantitative reasoning; undergraduates seeking a degree in another of the natural sciences, who need physics as a foundation for their advanced scientific training; the small number of undergraduates who major in physics, to whom we provide broad and rigorous training. Our graduate education and research advances frontiers of knowledge at the two extremes of space and time, from the very small) the realm of particle physics) to the very large (the realm of astronomy, while expanding the boundaries of knowledge in the many subfields spanning length scales between. Forefront physics and astronomy research requires access to well-equipped laboratories and extensive computing capabilities; it also must be supported by comprehensive and accessible library collections. Again, in research at this advanced level, the bridging aspect of
physics provides basic interdisciplinary insight for many other sciences.

A strong managerial, administrative, and technical staff supports this instructional mission. Duties of these employees range from budget planning and management for the numerous research grants held by faculty in the department to maintaining course and student records. These activities are usually accomplished in a standard 40- hour week schedule.

Position Summary

The Argus Array will be the first very large optical telescope array and has a field of view encompassing the entire sky at once. As an Engineer for the Argus Array project, you will be responsible for the design, development, and integration of critical components that enable the array’s unique capabilities.

Your responsibilities will be refining and integrating Argus systems including both large and small optics and the systems to support them. You will work closely with our team of astronomers, telescope-instrumentalists, and data scientists to implement and optimize these systems for the world’s largest optical telescope array and the largest digital camera ever built (55 Gigapixels). This position involves both hands-on engineering and working with external vendors.

Our project management philosophy emphasizes a small and local team; flat management structure; and a highly-collaborative working environment. We routinely produce prototypes and complex hardware in-house, and expect to perform significant hands-on engineering for Argus subsystems. Array deployment sites currently under consideration include mountaintop observatories in North America, the Chilean Andes, and the Canary Islands. The expected timescale for this position is two years, with possibility of extension to further projects.
Learn more about the project here: http://www.argusscience.org

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. May require terminal degree and licensure.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
Proficiency with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar)
Strong foundation in mechanical engineering principles
Experience with hardware prototyping and testing
Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team environment

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

PhD in engineering or related field
Experience with precision motion control systems and their integration
Familiarity with camera systems and related software development
Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies and challenges
Enthusiasm for contributing to groundbreaking astronomical research

Special Physical/Mental Requirements

Travel to the Argus Array construction and deployment sites may be required. Some work will involve operation and testing of systems in indoor and outdoor environments.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.