Chief Engineer

$179,550 - $236,624/Yr

W. M. Keck Observatory - Kamuela, HI

Full-time - Executive

Kamuela, HI

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

Make a strategic move to join us as a Chief Engineer at W. M. Keck Observatory! Do you enjoy providing technical leadership to highly talented technical teams that tackle interesting engineering and technical operations challenges in a highly mission-focused setting? Do you have a knack for bringing diverse talents from different engineering and operations disciplines together to operate and improve complex systems? If so, take the time to apply for our Chief Engineer role at W. M. Keck Observatory! As a member of the senior leadership team at W. M. Keck Observatory, the Chief Engineer plays a key role in collaboratively leading the implementation of the organization's strategic plan. The Chief Engineer oversees summit operations and multiple engineering disciplines, focusing their efforts on what is most mission-critical, now and into the future. The Chief Engineer excels at understanding the observatory at a system-level and determines the key opportunities and risks for the observatory, creating plans to address them, and focusing teams on the highest priorities with a clear sense of purpose. The Chief Engineer sets the tone for technical excellence, teamwork, innovation, learning, and growth to build and sustain technical expertise at the observatory. This requires not only technical knowledge, but the organizational leadership ability to build strong teams aligned with the mission, vision, values, and culture of the observatory.

Responsibilities

• Oversee summit operations and multiple engineering disciplines.
• Lead the implementation of the organization's strategic plan.
• Understand the observatory at a system-level and determine key opportunities and risks.
• Create plans to address key opportunities and risks.
• Focus teams on the highest priorities with a clear sense of purpose.
• Set the tone for technical excellence, teamwork, innovation, learning, and growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering.
• Ten years of increasing responsibility in managing and leading a technology-based operation.
• Five years at a senior or executive level in an engineering or scientific organization.
• Management of teams and projects with supervisory experience.
• Creating and managing budgets at the >$5M level.
• Extensive engineering knowledge of multi-disciplinary systems (e.g., involving aspects of mechanical, electrical, software, optics) and their operations.
• Ability to make complex technical tradeoffs and clearly convey technical priorities.
• Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate technical risks using risk management frameworks.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in an astronomical observatory or similar environment.

Benefits

• Competitive starting salary ranging from $179,550 to $236,624.
• Generous benefits package, including 4 weeks of annual paid vacation.
• 8% 403(b) employer contribution (with a 4% employee contribution).
• Tuition assistance for dependent children grades K-12 attending private school on Hawai'i Island.
• Comprehensive, employer provided health insurance.