Senior Research Engineer (SKA)

International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR)

• Great opportunity to be part of and contribute to an internationally renowned research centre
• Full-time appointment on a 12-month fixed term basis
• Base salary range: Level 7 $92,679 – $102,830 p.a. plus 17% superannuation

The University of Western Australia (UWA) is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world and a member of the prestigious Australian Group of Eight research intensive universities. With a strong research track record, vibrant campus and working environments, supported by the freedom to innovate and inspire, there is no better time to join Western Australia’s top university.

About the team

ICRAR is a WA State funded high profile equal joint venture established in 2009 between Curtin University and The University of Western Australia (UWA). The Centre’s headquarters are located at UWA, with research nodes at both UWA and Curtin. ICRAR is one of the lead Australian organisations participating in the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Project. ICRAR has been further funded from 2019 to 2024 with $60 Million by the WA State Government and equal contribution from the Joint Venture Universities. ICRAR is one of the largest astronomy organisations in Australia.

The Astrophotonics Group at ICRAR is focused on designing, building, and testing advanced photonic systems with applications in radio astronomy, optical astronomy, and space science. The group combines research expertise from people with a broad range of backgrounds including astronomy, physics and engineering. The group’s core technological capability is the long-distance transfer of stabilised optical-frequency signals, and microwave-frequency signals, and timing signals, transmitted across optical fibre networks and free-space laser links.

About the opportunity

As the appointee you will, under general direction, provide support in the design, build, and test an optical fibre-based frequency distribution system tailored to meet the scientific needs and logistical challenges of the SKA; as well as develop this technology for application to other high-precision use-cases across space science and astronomy research fields. You will work in the Astrophotonics group at ICRAR and collaborate with the SKA Office and other partner organisations. This hardware development and production role includes office-based design tasks as well as laboratory-based prototyping and testing. The resultant hardware will be mass manufactured and deployed on the SKA-Mid telescope.

About you 

To be considered for this role, you will demonstrate:

• Relevant tertiary qualification or demonstrated equivalent competency
• Extensive experience in electronic engineering including low noise analogue electronic design, RF & microwave electronics design and Microprocessor / FPGA / digital system design and programming
• Substantial experience with EDA software, ideally Altium Designer
• Substantial experience with PCB technology, including materials, manufacture, assembly, testing, and quality assurance processes
• Substantial experience with prototyping and hand soldering including SMT components
• Experience with PLL design and optimisation
• Demonstrated ability to plan and perform electronics testing in a laboratory environment
• Experience with optical fibre technology is desirable

Note: Some after-hours and weekend work may be required

About your application

Full details of the position's responsibilities and the selection criteria are outlined in the position description:  Senior Research Engineer - 514685.pdf

You are required to address the selection criteria in your submission in a separate document.

Closing date: 11:55 PM AWST on Sunday 1^st October 2023

To learn more about this opportunity, please contact Associate Professor Sascha Schediwy at sascha.schediwy@uwa.edu.au

This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.

Application Details: Please apply online via the Apply Now button.

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity

UWA is committed to a diverse workforce and an equitable and inclusive workplace.  We celebrate difference and believe diversity is fundamental to achieving our goals as a globally recognised Top 100 educational and research institution.  We are committed to creating a safe work environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQA+ community and people living with disability.

• We have a globally competitive, gender neutral parental leave policy with 26 weeks paid leave after 12 months service and 36 weeks after 5 years.
• We have on-campus childcare facilities for child 6 weeks to kindy.
• We facilitate flexible working, with part-time and job-sharing arrangements considered.
• We have an ongoing partnership with Pride in Diversity and were recently awarded a Bronze Employer status for LGBTIQA+ inclusion.
• We have Athena SWAN Bronze accreditation and actively work to improve gender equity. 
• We hold a gold Pleiades award https://www.icrar.org/pleiades/

Should you have any queries relating to your application, please contact the individual named in the advertisement. Alternatively, contact the Talent team at talent-hr@uwa.edu.au with details of your query. To enable a quick response, please include the 6-digit job reference number and a member of the team will respond to your enquiry.