Research Engineering/Scientist Associate III, IV, or V, Center for Space Research in Cockrell School of Engineering

Job Posting Title: Research Engineering/Scientist Associate III, IV, or V, Center for Space Research in Cockrell School of Engineering

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Hiring Department:

Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

To Be Determined at Offer

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Earliest Start Date:

Ongoing

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

PICKLE RESEARCH CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

As a top-10 engineering school with the No. 1 program in Texas, the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) has been a global leader in technology innovation and engineering education for over a century. With 11 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs, over 20 research centers and a faculty community that boasts one of the highest number of National Academy of Engineering members among U.S. universities, Texas Engineering has launched some of the nation’s most accomplished leaders and pioneered world-changing solutions in virtually every industry, from space exploration to energy to health care. Situated in the heart of Austin — named “America’s Coolest City” by Expedia and “The Best Place to Live in the U.S.” by U.S. News and World Report — the Cockrell School embodies the city’s innovative spirit. Major companies with Austin campuses, such as Dell, National Instruments, Apple, IBM, Samsung, Google and many others, continue to recruit Cockrell School students at a remarkable rate, launching thousands of successful careers and developing Texas Engineers into industry leaders.

UT Austin, recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Large Employers, provides outstanding employee benefits and total rewards packages that include:

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)

• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options

• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays

• Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with 8.25% employer matching funds

• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)

• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses

• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities

• Tuition assistance

• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets

• Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card

• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card

About Us

The Center for Space Research ( is anorganized research unit within the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. Our mission is to carry out scientific research from spaceborne platforms, in service to society, while educating all. The position will support research activities within the Center for Space Research (CSR). CSR conducts interdisciplinary research in areas including satellite geodesy, remote sensing, navigation, Earth and planetary sciences, autonomous systems, and space-related technologies. Faculty, researchers, and students collaborate across multiple engineering and science disciplines to advance fundamental research and develop innovative applications that address challenges on Earth and in space. This position is expected to contribute to CSR’s collaborative research environment and support projects that integrate expertise across departments and research programs within the Cockrell School and the broader University community.

Purpose

Persons in these positions will help expand our research portfolio integrating geometric and gravimetric geodesy across the Earth-Moon domain, where geodesy and PNT (positioning, navigation and timing) are inseparable and require the use of orbital assets, observations, and techniques. The techniques include precision positioning, precise orbit determination, and analysis of related time-and-frequency metrology and radiometric and laser tracking techniques. Outcomes include Earth-Moon reference frames, gravity fields, timing systems, and their interconnections, as well as architecture of the observing system required to achieve this integration. The positions offer the possibility of growing into leadership role at the McDonald Geodetic Observatory (MGO).

Responsibilities

Contribute to one or more activities in this domain, including:

• Develop and operate the data analytic infrastructure (models, algorithms, software and data systems).

• Help develop the architecture and concept of operations for geodetic infrastructure at MGO, including fieldwork.

• Prepare reports and presentations to communicate results, recommendations, and project status to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Contribute to the maturation of research concepts, grant proposals, and contributes to journal publications.

• Other related functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

All degrees in Aerospace Engineering or related fields

• Must be a US Citizen due to contract requirements.

• RESA-III: MS and 2 years’ experience.

• RESA-IV: MS and 4 years’ experience.

• RESA-V: MS and 6 years’ experience.

At all levels:

• Recent experience in state of the art in satellite geodesy or geometric geodesy.

• Recent experience with scientific programming and scientific data analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• For all titles: PhD in Aerospace Engineering or related fields.

• Strong verbal communication and teamwork skills; technical writing skills; analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills; time-management skills to enable on-time project delivery.

• Ability to take the initiative and drive for results, and to work effectively in an interrupt-driven, fast-paced and rapidly changing environment.

Proficiency in, or demonstrated ability to quickly become proficient in:

• Spaceflight mechanics and Orbit determination.

• Precise terrestrial positioning and geometric geodesy.

• Use of radiometric and laser ranging techniques for orbit determination and PNT.

• Systems engineering design process for engineering observation systems.

• Experiment design and simulation of experiments using computational methods.

• Geodetic fieldwork.

Salary Range

• RESA-III - $85,000+ depending on qualifications and experience.

• RESA-IV - $96,000+ depending on qualifications and experience

• RESA V - $118,000+ depending on qualifications and experience

Working Conditions

• Multi-day fieldwork campaigns, at the McDonald Observatory and other locations.

• May work around standard office conditions

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

• Use of manual dexterity (ex: using a mouse)

• Climbing of stairs

• Work Shift: Monday – Friday, typical office hours plus occasional after-hours work.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• Letter of interest with your vision for geodetic science.

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.