Detector Engineer

Position Description

Job Category
Fulltime Regular

ExemptOvertimeEligible
Exempt

Benefits Eligible
Benefit Based

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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.

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

This position is located in Livingston, LA.

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. The LIGO Laboratory’s mission spans a broad and vibrant array of activities related to gravitational-wave physics and astronomy, including detector operations, R&D toward detector improvements, gravitational-wave astrophysics, observatory operations, and education and public outreach.

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

Job Summary

LIGO Livingston Observatory (LLO) relies on continuing efforts by scientists and engineers to maintain and improve the 4-km detector’s displacement sensitivity (and thereby its astrophysical range) and its duty cycle. Together these goals lead to more frequent observations of gravitational waves recorded by the network of detectors that includes LIGO (USA), Virgo (Europe), and KAGRA (Japan) interferometers. LIGO seeks a new member of its Detector Engineering Group at LIGO Livingston, with an emphasis on detector calibration science and engineering.

The successful candidate will collaborate closely with the operations team and commissioning scientists at LIGO Livingston Observatory and LIGO Hanford Observatory, together with colleagues at Caltech and MIT. As a detector engineer, you will have the opportunity to apply your skills to the operation, design, development, and commissioning of technologies that increase the LIGO detector sensitivity and robustness. This is a highly multidisciplinary activity.

Detector Group members track and reduce the noise sources that limit the current detector sensitivity; model optical subsystems of the interferometer and compare to data; calibrate the interferometer length sensitivity; investigate and eliminate noise couplings from the external environment of the detector; devise and implement operational methods to improve duty cycle; and carry out R&D projects for future gravitational wave detectors.  Individual team members specialize in one or more of these, maintaining higher expertise and operational responsibility in these areas, but there are opportunities to learn about and contribute to many different parts and aspects of the LIGO detectors, as expertise and experience grow.

Essential Job Duties

• Report to the LLO Lead Detector Engineer.
• Establish and maintain expertise in the LIGO detector’s various systems and components, especially the suspension, sensing and control scheme and associated instrumentation and software that are related to detector calibration.
• As part of the LIGO Lab’s and collaboration’s teams, take initiative to improve diagnostics and operational methods.
• Provide troubleshooting and rapid, on-call response to performance issues with the detector.
• In close collaboration with other engineers, scientists, and detector operators, participate in the design and execution of detector modifications to enhance reliability, performance and maintainability.
• Write log entries, prepare reports, and otherwise clearly communicate and document procedures, results and findings, within LIGO and/or for scientific and publications.
• Occasional travel to other LIGO Laboratory sites may be required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• BS in physical sciences or engineering or equivalent experience.
• Experience designing, constructing and/or installing precision scientific instruments and instrumentation systems, or experience maintaining precision scientific instruments or instrumentation systems.
• Competence with common office and scientific software.
• Ability to professionally communicate (written and verbal) within the observatory and within the broader collaboration.
• Ability to lift items weighing up to 20 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in physics; in mechanical, aeronautical or electrical engineering; or in a closely-related field.
• A working knowledge of MATLAB and/or Python.
• Experience in highly collaborative research and operating environments.
• Experience in a position that required use and characterization of complex dynamic systems.

Required Documents

• Resume.
• Cover letter expressing your interest in LIGO Lab and summarizing your relevant experience.

Hiring Range

$80,000 - $112,700 Per Year

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our benefits and staff perks.