Head of Electrical Engineering

NSF’s NOIRLab is the preeminent US national center for ground-based, nighttime optical and infrared astronomy. NOIRLab is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) which operates as a matrix organization, providing services across a range of programs: Gemini, Rubin, MSO (CTIO and KPNO), and CSDC; with facilities in three geographic locations: Arizona, Chile and Hawai’i. The mission of NOIRLab is to enable breakthrough discoveries in astrophysics by developing and operating state-of-the-art ground-based observatories and providing data products and services for a diverse and inclusive community.

The Head of Electrical Engineering is responsible for the strategic, long-term leadership and management of the integrated NOIRLab Electrical Group (~40 FTE) distributed over the three NOIRLab facilities in Chile, Hawai'i and Tucson. This group provides excellence in the design, construction, commissioning, and maintenance of all electrical, electronic, servo control and cryogenic sub-systems on telescopes and observatories’ instrumentation.

The EE manager will support and work with program leadership (site manager / telescope / engineering and project managers) to ensure electrical expertise is available as required. Additionally the role will include leading NOIRLab wide technical activities and projects related to process optimization, technical projects like implementing computerized maintenance management systems, common obsolescence mitigation i.e. PLC replacements across NOIRLab and other areas like technology development/enabling or sustainability by reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint that are of common interest to the NOIRLab Programs.

**Essential Functions**:

- Provides leadership for EE in operations, maintenance and development.
- Identifies synergies and opportunities for collaboration across sites by identifying technical areas of common interest by direct interaction with electrical staff in NOIRLab and Program management.
- Technical leadership on projects in the EE area of expertise (obsolescence, technology development/enabling, energy sustainability)
- Set standards for electrical engineering practices, explore opportunities for standardization on tools and processes. Oversee and ensure compliance with applicable legislation in the electrical domain.
- Performance management: Focus on developing competences (technical and soft skills) that help the electrical engineering staff to achieve their goals as driven and defined by the program needs.
- Establishes and maintains regular reporting on performance, progress and concerns to the ES director on the areas that fall within EE.
- Workforce development: Maintain electrical skills matrix up to date, build and maintain competent workforce, responding to the program needs, by career development in the electrical area.
- Recruitment: Lead recruitment in the electrical domain by seeking input from programs on current and future needs, taking into account succession planning, expected turn-over and future resource needs.
- Budget management, Responsibility for labor budget of staff, including training and travel for professional development. Works with managers in the Programs on non-labor budgets towards integration and optimizing the use of financial resources in the electrical engineering area.
- Risk Management: Maintains risk register up to date in the electrical engineering area.
- Works with local managers to ensure the workplaces are compliant with all federal U.S. or local regulations, whichever are the most stringent.
- Promotes environment, health, and safety (EHS) awareness through internal NOIRLab channels, with emphasis on electrical safety.
- Demonstrates for all audiences a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.

**Other Functions**:

- Other functions as required by this job position and/or NOIR Lab Directorship.

**Required Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities**:

- A bachelor’s degree in electrical or electronics engineering
- Profound experience in electrical and/or electronics systems design, implementation and operations.
- Ability to lead diverse teams, across a multi-site environment, to high performance and excellence, through active career development.
- Solid verbal and written communication skills; ability to clearly communicate at all levels within the organization.
- Ability to develop and administer effective business and operations plans to meet the needs for NOIRLab including budget responsibility.
- Strong focus on process optimization, safe working principles and operational excellence.
- Must have a valid Driver’s License; clean driving record; ability to drive a vehicle.

**Preferred Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities**:

- Advanced degree in electrical / electronics engineering or similar technical field
- Experience in working at an astronomical observatory or a research facility
- Bilingual Spanish/English.
- Experience, training and/or certification in project/