Job Category: Fulltime Regular

Exempt Overtime Eligible: Exempt

Benefits Eligible: Benefit Based

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world’s brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.

Job Summary

LIGO Laboratory (the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) seeks a highly motivated and skilled Operations Specialist to join its team.

This position is located in Richland, WA.

LIGO Laboratory is a National Science Foundation major facility dedicated to observing the newly discovered gravitational-wave universe. Jointly operated by the California Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the LIGO Laboratory operates world-leading observatories near Richland, WA and Baton Rouge, LA as well as R&D centers on the Caltech and MIT campuses.

For more information, please visit the Laboratory website at https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/

The Tri-Cities (Richland, Kennewick, Pasco) is a rapidly developing community set in the heart of wine-country in southeast Washington state, where the Columbia, Yakima, and Snake rivers meet. The rivers and nearby Cascade and Blue mountain ranges provide ample outdoor recreation opportunities from water-skiing to fishing to hiking. The region is known for its contributions to science and technology in the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the DOE Hanford Site.

People choose to work at LIGO for many reasons, often with fulfilling, long-term careers. LIGO is a family-friendly laboratory and strives to ensure everyone is able to achieve the work-life balance they desire. Employees have access to a wide range of benefits including a child-care assistance program. Caltech’s benefits program offers a quality, competitive benefits package that is affordable for you and the Institute. The program provides a strong base of coverage for you and your dependents, and the ability to choose the plan and the level of coverage that best meet your needs. We also offer a 403(b) defined contribution plan to eligible staff as well as a Voluntary Retirement Savings (TDA) Plan.

https://hr.caltech.edu/careers/2commitment-diversity

Essential Job Duties

• Report to the LHO Operations Specialist Team Leader.
• Operation of a large-scale gravitational wave interferometer through monitoring and adjustment of interferometer systems, associated observatory equipment, and facilities to ensure desired performance and data integrity. The work schedule may cover any time during the 24­hour operations and schedules may vary.
• Coordinate and review interferometer activities.
• Assist in assembly, installation, inventory, testing, and commissioning of the Advanced LIGO and Advanced LIGO Plus optics, electro­mechanical components, electronic controls, or data acquisition and control hardware/software.
• Create, analyze, debug, and edit Python scripts for the automated operation and management of the 4-km interferometer and associated subsystems.
• Carry out maintenance, calibration, and upgrade of instrumentation at the Observatory, including the interferometers, infrastructure, support equipment, and other apparatus as required.
• Participate in physical characterization of instrumental signatures in the interferometer data and assist with the development of operational techniques and analysis methods to discriminate these signatures.
• Occasionally participate in educational activities for the public, including detector science, astrophysical investigations, and basic science concepts.
•  Assist in development of new technologies, protocols and methods to support the Observatory’s continuing mission. These efforts may require occasional travel to other LIGO installations and collaborating institutions in Livingston, Louisiana, Pasadena, California, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and possibly internationally.
• Collaborate effectively with coworkers having diverse skillsets and backgrounds to achieve desired task goals.
• Participate in safety trainings and promote safety by demonstrating commitment to personal responsibility and value for environment, safety, and security.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• BS in physical sciences or engineering or equivalent experience.
• 2 years of experience developing, testing, or operating scientific or other precision instrumentation, or equivalent coursework and laboratory experience.
• Proficiency with standard computing applications (e.g., Word, Excel, and web applications).
• Experience characterizing data in the time and frequency domain.
• Skilled in high-level programming languages (Python, Bash, etc.) for use with general scripting, state machines, or data visualization.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong teamwork skills and an ability to collaborate with coworkers having diverse skills and backgrounds.
• An aptitude and enthusiasm to learn new skills, and to assist and train others.
• Able to travel on a rare occasion, via airplane, to other installations and collaborating institutions.
• The successful candidate must be able to work a varied schedule during observing runs; this may include evenings, overnights, weekends, and holidays.
• Must have reliable transportation to and from the observatory site.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in physical sciences or engineering or equivalent experience.
• Experience working in a large scientific collaboration.
• Knowledgeable with scientific modeling and analysis applications, such as MATLAB or LabVIEW.
• Familiarity with the Debian & UNIX operating systems.
• Proficiency with 2D and 3D CAD software (such as AutoCAD and SOLIDWORKS) and reading mechanical drawings.
• Experience with EPICS databases, scripts for automating tasks, and the ability to develop and create GUIs would be an asset.
• Specialized technical experience with lasers, optics, analog or digital electronics, cleanroom protocols, or high vacuum technology will also be advantageous.

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter – please explain your interest in LIGO and summarize how your skills fit with our role.

To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: https://apptrkr.com/3881509

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.