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General Description of Position:

AURA and the National Solar Observatory are looking to add a Mechanical/Maintenance Technician Group Leader to the team.

The Mechanical /Maintenance Technician Group Leader shall lead the DKIST Observatory Mechanical /Maintenance Technician (M-Tech) group. They shall plan and monitor M-Techs, including shift assignments and inspection of work. They are responsible for mentoring, development, training, and annual assessments for technician employees.

They shall also perform duties as an M-Tech. They will provide support to Technical Operations Team on site as directed by the Mechanical Engineering Group Lead and other Technical Operations managers, including assistance with design reviews, planning/scheduling, and preparation for installation of upgrades and/or new components. The M-Tech Group Leader will participate in the development and execution of maintenance programs for both existing and new subsystems as they come online.

Essential Functions:

Supervisory Functions:

• Act as point of contact to leadership team to be advised of needs and upcoming schedule/activities, and in turn, advise of concerns and risks, and request resources or
• Represent the M-Tech group at coordination meetings; transmit information back to the technician team.
• Prioritize, schedule, and assign tasks and Report on progress and results. Create and manage team schedules and work orders.
• Manage / Supervise and coordinate Maintenance Tech(s) responsible for the facility cleaning, in particular machinery spaces and cleanrooms.
• Define MTechs goals, communicate objectives, and monitor performance including the company-wide Annual Performance Review.
• Provide quality assurance inspection of technician work; create/close work orders and provide logs and reports as required
• Coordinate shift assignments for technicians for observing support and technical
• Assess skills proficiency of staff; identify and recommend training or other professional Evaluate performance and productivity; provide timely feedback. Ensure technician work follows good practice and is compliant with applicable consensus standards. This includes correcting unsafe behavior or conditions and working with the project safety staff and management as appropriate
• Respond to and take actions to deal with the results of work delays, emergencies, and other problems that may arise at the Observatory.
• Identify workforce needs. Interview prospective employees, evaluate, and make recommendations.
• Responsible for ordering, receiving, tracking, and maintaining preventative maintenance supplies, consumables, spares, tools, and test equipment.
• Recommend improvements or tools according to experience, research required products and product availability, and work with purchasing on ordering materials
• Approve timekeeping, vacation requests, and maintain personnel records.
• Help resolve employee issues and disputes.

Technical Functions:

• Installation, checkout, and operation of Mechanical sub-systems, systems, and equipment under the direction of a supervisory engineer.
• Perform technical activities including selection of components, assembly, troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance under the direction of a supervisory engineer or independently, depending on the
• Execute observatory system maintenance; assist in the development of planned maintenance on new sub-systems under the direction of a supervisory engineer or
• Identify discrepancies in documentation, red-line drawings, procedures, and reports for updating. Coordinate remedy of discrepancies.
• Solve problems and/or assist in solving design problems as required, achieving assigned project objectives.
• Assist other technical support personnel as
• Comply with technical requirements and approved time schedules of assigned
• Monitors, documents, and reports results of activities and notes unusual
• Work in accordance with applicable safety standards. Ensure safety of operations in areas under purview. Report any unsafe conditions and practices.
• All AURA employees are responsible for the proper management and control of all AURA property within their work area, whether assigned to them or someone else. This responsibility includes reporting any known missing, stolen, or non-working property in their work area to their supervisor or the AURA Property Officer.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with government award terms and conditions assigned to this position or subordinates of this position as defined in the Vela Award Management system, https://cas.aura-astronomy.org/Awards.

Other Functions:

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• Associate’s degree, military schools, or college level courses in Mechanical Engineering Technology or equivalent combination of trades/skill training and demonstrated work experience sufficient to meet job requirements.
• Experience with relevant technology or engineering support functions covering areas of telescope systems: chilled water, compressed air, System lubrication, domestic water system, air handling, exhaust fans, and enclosure systems.
• Ability to read and interpret specifications, diagrams, manuals, and other documentation.
• Ability to interpret assembly, fabrication, machining, and piece part drawings.
• Ability to speak and write effectively, including preparation and presentation of
• Ability to thrive in a culturally diverse team
• Willingness to actively participate in team safety meetings and adhere to (and advocate for) safety procedures and protocols.
• Sensitive to and respectful of cultural and environmental
• Proficient with computers and software including spreadsheets, word processing, , email, instant messaging, videoconferencing, and CMMS software.
• Ability to organize, plan, and prioritize work, including schedule, staffing, tools, and
• Ability to speak and write effectively, including preparation and presentation of drawings, plans, work orders, and reports.
• Ability to cooperate with and obtain the support of others.
• Leadership skills to direct and delegate

Desirable Experience/Skills/Abilities:

15 or more years of relevant work history

A broad range of experience/interest covering a number of the following areas:

• Machining / Fabrication
  • Ability to interpret Engineering Drawings
  • Experience in precision machining of small-medium sized mechanism parts and related components.
  • Experience in structural mechanical fabrication including welding and brazing a variety of materials
  • CNC machine operation and programing
  • Creating and modifying part and assembly models and drawings in CAD
• Optical / Instrumentation
  • Experience with optical mirror handling, cleaning and or coating
  • Experience working in a clean room environment
  • Working in an astronomical or scientific laboratory environment
  • Precision alignment and metrology (e.g. micrometer, dial indicator, theodolite, laser tracker)
  • Servicing and repair of high vacuum cryogenic systems
• HVAC/R
  • Familiarity with HVAC/R equipment which include pumps, heat exchangers, chillers, valves, and piping systems.
  • Certification in Refrigerant Handling, EPA608 or equivalent training.
• Pumps and Process Equipment
  • Experience with testing, maintenance, servicing, troubleshooting, and repair work on hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
  • Experience in pump maintenance including rebuild, alignment and vibration monitoring.
• Training
  • Experience with craning and slinging of equipment
  • OSHA/ANSI Fall Protection Authorization
  • Certified Rigger
  • Certified Overhead Crane Operator
  • Forklift operator
  • Aerial work platform operator

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop; kneel; crouch; or crawl.
• The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Must possess - sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands and both legs to a) reach upward, sideways, downward to work with paper files; b) sufficient mobility and dexterity to utilize computer systems, fax machines, copiers, and other office machines.
• Must possess – 1) ability to read and understand instructions, drawings, safety guides, and other written materials necessary to perform job; 2) sufficient visual capacity to perform the applicable functions without assistance of visual aids other than eye contacts or eye glasses; 3) sufficient spoken aural capacity to hear and understand instructions, warning bells, fire alarms, or shouted instructions without assistance of auditory aids other than a hearing aid; and 4) ability to impart information orally so that others understand and can respond appropriately.
• Must possess sufficient mobility, strength or dexterity in both arms and hands and both legs to a) grasp, push, pull, turn or otherwise manipulate tools and mechanisms; b) push, shove, pull or otherwise safely and efficiently manipulate tools or mechanisms; c) lift, hold, maneuver, objects of 50 lbs or more; d) maintain balance while performing work; e) remove parts, systems, tools of 50 lbs or more.
• There will be occasional working at height utilizing appropriate PPE.
• The position will be based at the Haleakala (DKIST) facility and ability to work at 10,000’ elevation, sometimes during inclement weather, is required.
• Occasional travel between the mainland US and Hawaiian Islands may be necessary.
• Availability to work varying shifts, which will include occasional early mornings, nights, and/or weekends.