Johns Hopkins University

Located in the William H. Miller III Department of Physics and Astronomy, the IDG develops state of the art optical instruments for the world's largest ground-based telescopes, as well as instrumentation for space astronomy programs and physics research.. The Instrument Development Group is looking for a highly creative and talented Mechanical Design Engineer to work as part of a small multi-disciplinary team that designs and builds precision optical instrumentation for the astronomy community.. The design of instrument carts for supporting and transferring instruments in a lab and/or observatory environment.. Proficient with PTC/CREO and Solidworks.. Proficient with thermal and structural analysis including finite element analysis (Ansys, Nastran, or Abaqus preferred)

mechanical design engineer

The Johns Hopkins University Instrument Development Group (IDG) is one of a handful of premier astronomical instrumentation development facilities in the United States. Located in the William H. Miller III Department of Physics and Astronomy, the IDG develops state of the art optical instruments for the world's largest ground-based telescopes, as well as instrumentation for space astronomy programs and physics research. The multi-disciplinary group of engineers and fabricators leverage world-class facilities and decades of collective experience in optical, mechanical, electrical, software and manufacturing engineering to produce some of the highest quality scientific research instrumentation in academia.

The Instrument Development Group is looking for a highly creative and talented Mechanical Design Engineer to work as part of a small multi-disciplinary team that designs and builds precision optical instrumentation for the astronomy community. The design engineer should be a skilled mechanic with a machinist background who leverages those skills and experience to produce elegant mechanical and optomechanical designs that are buildable, testable, maintainable, and when needed, very precise.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities
The mechanical design engineer will work on one or more projects contributing to the design of astronomical instrumentation projects currently underway within the IDG.
The duties and responsibilities would vary somewhat depending on the project and status of the project but would include activities such as,
The design of structures to support optical assemblies.
The design of instrument carts for supporting and transferring instruments in a lab and/or observatory environment.
The design of lens mounts for precise alignment within an assembly of optics.
The design of mechanisms used to transfer optical components within an assembly.
The design of test fixtures, bond fixtures, and test equipment.
The design of vacuum chambers or cryostats used to house optical, mechanical, and electronics components, including scientific detectors.
The production of fabrication drawings for component level parts.
The production of assembly drawings.
Interfacing with vendors to specify commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components or procure custom fabricated components, or services such as coating, plating, or shipping.
Interfacing with internal machinists to convey and clarify fabrication requirements.
Inspection of procured and fabricated hardware.
Participate in, and sometimes lead, the testing of structures, lens mounts, mechanical mechanisms.
Participate in, and sometimes lead, the packaging and shipment of mechanical assemblies or instruments to domestic and international locations.

Special Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
Comfortable working with highly skilled and knowledgeable scientists, engineers, fabricators and technicians having backgrounds in optics, mechanics, electronics, software, detectors and various scientific disciplines (astronomy and physics).
Highly creative. Mechanical design concepts come easily and are derived from years of collective experience as a mechanic, machinist, fabricator and designer. Designs should be manufacturable, and when precision is required should leverage proven precision machining practices as the design basis.
Highly motivated and able to progress designs using sound engineering judgement, knowing when to solicit input from stakeholders, engineers, technicians and fabricators.
Skilled at making engineering drawings which demonstrate a solid understanding of mechanical tolerancing, including geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GDT).
A talented mechanic capable of using a variety of hand tools, machine tools and fabrication equipment, and is very comfortable in a lab environment.
Comfortable progressing designs from concept to completion with minimal direction, knowing when it is sensible to seek input from others.
Someone who consistently completes projects and incorporates lessons learned into future projects.
Someone comfortable working on multiple projects or subsystems concurrently.
Basic knowledge of electronics
Knowledgeable with vacuum-cryogenic systems

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree with five years' experience.
or Master's Degree with three years exp or PhD without direct exp.
Additional education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor of Science Degree in mechanical engineering.
Five plus years of experience as a mechanical design engineer designing optomechanical systems, structures and mechanisms.
Two plus years of experience as a machinist, fabricator, or mechanic.
Proficient with PTC/CREO and Solidworks.

Proficient with thermal and structural analysis including finite element analysis (Ansys, Nastran, or Abaqus preferred)

Experience with precision optical systems, including optical alignment.


Classified Title: Staff Engineer
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Mechanical Design Engineer
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/04/MF
Starting Salary Range: Min $74,400 - Mid 102,400 - Max $130,400 Annually (Commensurate with experience)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday-Friday/8:30 am-5:30 pm
Exempt Status: Exempt
Location: Homewood Campus
Department name: Physics and Astronomy
Personnel area: School of Arts & Sciences


Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines:
JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

**Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.



The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.
The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.
Johns Hopkins has mandated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, as applicable. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.


The following additional provisions may apply, depending on campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.


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