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Field Engineer 2

Employer
University of Washington
Location
Seattle, WA
Closing date
Feb 10, 2023

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Benefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Electronic and Photonic Systems (EPS) team at the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington is hiring - see yourself at APL!

We are looking to hire several fulltime positions from this recruitment - please consider applying!

The Applied Physics Laboratory is a research unit at the University of Washington. Our research expertise is in ocean physics and engineering, ocean and medical acoustics, polar science, environmental remote sensing, and signal processing. We conduct research and development that is sponsored by a variety of federal and state agencies, and take great pride in our long-standing status as a US Navy-designated University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). Our work takes place not only on the University of Washington campus and medical centers, but in field locations around the world - at sea, in the air, and on polar ice caps. We apply rigorous scientific inquiry and engineering excellence in pursuit of solutions to important problems for the good of our region, nation, and world.

Diversity is a core value at University of Washington and the Applied Physics Laboratory shares this commitment. We are focused on building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable research environment for all students, staff, and collaborators. We believe every member on our team enriches our community by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions.

The Electronic and Photonic Systems department is hiring for a fulltime Field Engineer 2 (FE2). This position will support the operations and maintenance of the National Science Foundation's Regional Cabled Array (RCA) portion of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI). The APL has been responsible for the design, fabrication, testing, deployment, installation, recovery, maintenance, troubleshooting, and redeployment of the majority of the instruments and platforms which now reside on the floor of the Pacific Ocean.

The Field Engineer 2 will work as a technical lead and will function as part of a team of research scientists and engineers to support long-term oceanographic observing systems, including three offshore moorings, six water column profiling systems and over 100 cabled instruments. Work will be performed in a laboratory environment and in the field aboard research vessels. The field engineer will lead regular maintenance on oceanographic instrumentation, profiling systems, Instrument platforms, laboratory equipment, and field support systems. This includes maintaining safety standards, managing team schedules, planning multi-step system maintenance to meet team schedules, procurement of supplies, developing standard operating procedures and safety protocols, keeping asset and inventory records current, and documenting system operations. Other responsibilities include remote troubleshooting through data analysis, hands-on benchtop troubleshooting and repairs of electro-mechanical systems, and overseeing logistics and preparation for field operations.

Field work for this position will include multi-week research cruises on global-class research vessels. This field engineer will operate APL vehicles, forklifts, cranes and overhead lift systems. The field engineer will be responsible for ensuring that safety standards are maintained in laboratory and field work settings.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Research Engineering:

• Manages material and overall logistics related to service and refurbishment of ocean instrumentation and instrument platforms. Assists with research logistics, including: transportation of equipment to remote field locations, obtaining lodging, communications, and sourcing supplies. At the conclusion of each field event, manages the proper storage and inventory of equipment and supplies.

• Plans and leads testing and checkout of scientific oceanographic instruments. Identifies problems with the research equipment or methods, and implements solutions. Attends regular team meetings and provides operational updates to the rest of the team.

• Participates in maintenance, overhaul and construction of electromechanical subsea systems including instrument assembly and testing followed by platform integration.

• Maintains field and laboratory safety standards in all work environments, and assumes responsibility for safe and effective operation of complex experimental equipment.

• At sea maintenance and installation efforts. This would include three phases: Preparation, Deployment and Post Deployment. The Deployment phase would be approximately 6 weeks each summer on a Global Class Research Vessel to recover equipment deployed on the Regional Cabled Array and then deploy the equipment that was prepared for the deployment to replace the equipment recovered.

Requirements:
Bachelor's Degree or higher in Engineering, Sciences, or closely related technical field. Equivalent experience can substitute for degree requirement AND at least 4 years of relevant work experience.
• US Citizenship.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
• Able to work independently and as part of a research/engineering team, interacting cooperatively with people from diverse backgrounds, academic levels, and nationalities.
• Experience with electromechanical system development, maintenance and troubleshooting.
• Independently determine and communicate to the supervisor the necessary tools and equipment needed to do a job.
• Experience with standard electrical assembly and test equipment, including soldering, connector assembly, oscilloscope, and DMMs.
• Strong organizational skills, and experience with inventory and/or maintenance management systems.
• Experience with electrical communications protocols (serial, Ethernet).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience with Linux OS and command line computer operations.
• Valid Driver's License.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

The person hired into this position must be a U.S. citizen and successfully obtain and continue to maintain a Department of Defense (DOD) Personnel Security Clearance. The process for obtaining a DOD Security Clearance can be view using the following links: Processing Applicants (dcsa.mil) or General Investigations and Clearance Processes (dcsa.mil)

Desired:
• Database and data set handling and analysis experience.
• Experience with SolidWorks.
• Programming Experience (Python, Matlab).
• The willingness to complete a security background investigation.

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select "Apply to this position". Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your "My Jobs" page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law .

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu .
COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT
Employees of the University of Washington are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless a medical or religious exemption is approved. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. As a condition of employment, newly hired employees will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination. View the Final candidate guide to COVID-19 vaccination requirement webpage for information about the medical or religious exemption process for final candidates.

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