Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) operates a global network of robotic telescopes for scientific research and educational outreach. The network consists of 25 telescopes at seven sites around the world. We are looking for a site technician based in Maui. The Haleakalā Observatory hosts LCO’s 2-meter telescope and three 0.4m telescopes. This is a full-time, salaried position. The LCO engineering and telescope operations team is composed of ~10 people, with the majority based at LCO headquarters in Goleta, CA, plus one in Australia, one in the UK, and one in Hawaii (this position).
Haleakalā holds cultural significance to Maui’s native community. We are looking for a staff member who respects and honors this significance.
Duties include:
- Monitor day to day operation of the observatory at Haleakalā
- Drive to / from Haleakalā multiple times each week
- Perform or oversee the performance of maintenance tasks for LCO’s Haleakalā telescopes on a regular schedule. Electrical and mechanical systems include compressed air, hydraulics, electrical control systems, and HVAC
- Monitoring telescopes at other LCO sites, as they perform night-time operations during the Maui working day, using a set of specially developed web-tools
Help define and improve monitoring procedures and tools utilized for all LCO sites. - Oversee local service and supply contracts
- Respond to system alarms and operation issues outside normal working hours
Perform or oversee implementation of various construction and improvement projects - Host and support LCO teams traveling to Haleakalā for maintenance and upgrades
Occasional travel to other LCO sites to assist engineering maintenance or upgrade activities - Continue to enhance established relationships with the University of Hawaii that support the observatories on Haleakalā, the other Observatories that are part of the HHO community (Haleakala High Altitude Observatory) and other local community organizations.
- Participate in other tasks and projects as a member of the global LCO engineering and operations team
Required Qualifications:
- Self-motivated and able to work independently
- Experience working in a hands-on engineering environment
- Ability to assemble and install complex assemblies and subsystems
- Understanding of and ability to read CAD drawings and electrical schematics, including fault finding in electrical control panels.
- Medically and physically able to work at altitude
- Possess a strong commitment to safety and pragmatic decision making
- Ability to work with a small group of globally distributed technical support staff
- Able to work on ladders
- Able to lift 50 pounds
- Able and willing to travel internationally
- Current Drivers License and excellent driving record
- Authorized to work in the US and able to travel without restrictions
Application Details
Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter describing relevant experience to lcojobs@lco.global References will be requested upon completion of a successful interview.
The successful applicant will need to pass a high-altitude medical exam (paid for by LCO) prior to starting employment.
The application deadline is August 12, 2024.
The salary range for this position is estimated to be $95,000 - $110,000. Actual salary will be determined by candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience. LCO offers great vacation time, and generous benefits including paid time off and retirement plan contributions.
LCO is an Equal Opportunity employer. We are actively engaged in building and nurturing a culture that is welcoming and inclusive of people from diverse backgrounds with regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability and veteran status.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. Please let us know if you would like to disclose a need for accommodation in connection with the recruitment and hiring process. If so, you may contact us at lcojobs@lco.global
Haleakalā : House of the Sun A Sense Of Place
Haleakalā, a volcanic mauna on Maui, Hawaii, has been a sacred and central part of Hawaiian culture and spiritual life since the arrival of Polynesian seafarers. The mountain's name translates to "House of the Sun" in Hawaiian, and its summit, Ala hea ka la, means "the path to the calling sun".
Here are some ways Haleakalā is culturally significant:
Home of the gods Haleakalā is the dwelling place of nā akua (gods), where kahuna (priests) perform ceremonies. In ancient times, only kahuna and their students lived at Haleakalā for initiation rites. Stargazing Native Hawaiians built special sites in the wilderness of Haleakalā to study and revere the stars. Prayer The summit is a place of prayer, where the tones of ancient prayer are balanced within a vortex of energy for spiritual manifestations. Rituals Native Hawaiians visit the mountain to perform ancient rituals, such as burial of the dead and predicting the future of a newborn. Inspiration The mountain's beauty, rare plants and animals, and immense presence have inspired veneration that's still expressed through traditional songs, stories, and practices. Ancestor In the Hawaiian way of thinking, Haleakalā is an ancestor.