Mechanical Engineer

Caltech's Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) seeks a highly motivated and skilled Mechanical Engineer to join its Cosmic Explorer Beamtube Experiment (CEBEX) team at the Richland, Washington observatory site.

LIGO Laboratory is a major National Science Foundation facility dedicated to observing the newly discovered gravitational-wave universe. Jointly operated by the California Institute of Technology and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, LIGO operates the world's leading gravitational observatories near Richland, WA and Baton Rouge, LA, as well as campus R&D centers in Pasadena, CA and Cambridge, MA.

To learn more about LIGO Laboratory, please visit LIGO.caltech.edu. The Laboratory's mission supports the young science of gravitational-wave physics and astronomy and includes observatory operations, analysis and dissemination of astrophysical observations, detector science and technology R&D, gravitational-wave astrophysics, and education and public outreach.

LIGO now also leads the effort to expand humanity's gravitational wave horizon with a next-generation observatory, Cosmic Explorer (CE). Slated for construction in the 2030's, CE will be ten times the size and reach of LIGO, able to gather signals from the edge of the observable universe.

The selected applicant will join an elite team charged with conceiving, designing, building, and testing advanced technology for the CE vacuum systems, destined to be the largest ultrahigh vacuum systems ever built. We will exercise and develop this technology in a new, purpose-built UHV research facility, the Cosmic Explorer Beamtube Experiment (CEBEX) Laboratory, located at LIGO Hanford.

Job Summary

LIGO's Washington and Louisiana installations occupy 4 km scale, 10 million-liter ultrahigh-vacuum systems operating at one trillionth of atmospheric pressure (10-9 millibar), making them the two largest contiguous UHV volumes ever constructed. The planned Cosmic Explorer observatory will require laser beamtubes 10x longer, up to 40 km in length. This will multiply CE's detectable gravitational wave source range by ten, multiplying the accessible volume of the universe by 1,000x. However, vacuum structures of this size and volume have never been attempted.

As a key member of the CEBEX team, the selectee will perform modeling, design, fabrication, installation, commissioning and characterization of engineering prototypes and technology demonstrators for planned CE beamtubes up to 40 km in length. Tests will include industrial fabrication and structural, vacuum, and thermal qualification of a planned 1.2-meter diameter, 120-meter-long demonstration tube, to be erected in the new purpose-built CEBEX laboratory at LHO. In parallel, the chosen candidate will assist in forging results of this R&D into a conceptual reference design, construction plan, and parametric cost estimate for CE. These will form the core of our future CE Observatory construction proposal.

This position is a fulltime in-person role located at LIGO Hanford in Richland, WA.

This is an Essential Reporting position. In the event of an emergency on campus, an employee designated as essential reporting has essential job skills that are needed for response and recovery and is expected to report to Campus as soon as possible.

Essential Job Duties

• Perform mechanical design, static and dynamic analysis, manufacturing and fabrication surveys, cost optimization, and industrial implementation of chamber and vessel structures, supports, and anchors for vacuum, mechanical, and thermal performance testing.
• Propose and evaluate innovative or unconventional design, fabrication, and service lifecycle solutions to take advantage of the newest technology developments.
• Perform and document design trade studies to establish design requirements and concepts.
• Develop and implement computer models and simulations to evaluate engineering concepts and verify compliance with performance and interface requirements.
• Design, implement and analyze static or dynamic thermal and mechanical tests of physical prototypes or models, and document comparisons with simulations.
• Provide input to research reports, journals, and presentations.
• Produce engineering documents such as assembly drawings, installation drawings, and dimensioned drawings compliant with ASME GD&T Y14.5, using SolidWorks and PDMWorks software suites.
• Produce service documents, engineering test specifications, and quality assurance and control plans.
• Contribute to and lead internal design, fabrication, installation, and other engineering reviews.
• Create 3D CAD models, applying appropriate design rules for clearance, tolerances, stiffness, stress, safety margin, ultra-high vacuum compatibility, etc.
• Prepare bid packages (drawings, bills of materials, and specifications) for procurement, and purchase parts and materials.
• Oversee and interface with machine, welding and fabrication shops, specialty material suppliers and vendors to answer questions, evaluate alternative approaches, and assist in assuring quality.
• Coordinate QA inspections, audits, testing and defect investigations.
• Travel from time to time to other LIGO campus and observatory sites, major vendor facilities, and collaborating institutions, both domestic and international.
• Undertake additional contributing responsibilities as needs of the program may require.

Basic Qualifications

• BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related technical field. We will consider candidates with 8 or more years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• 5 or more years of relevant work experience in advanced technical, scientific or research engineering roles. Experience in industry, a research environment, a Ph.D. or M.S. degree program, or a combination of these will be considered.
• General knowledge of Finite Element Analysis using ANSYS, COMSOL, or equivalent software.
• Thorough knowledge of MATLAB, Python or equivalent software tools for data analysis and simulation.
• General hands-on work experience in a laboratory setting and proficiency in the use of common hand tools and inspection equipment.
• Level-headed professionalism and excellent interpersonal and team skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain an automobile driver's license valid in the United States.
• Ability to lift at least 25 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• Experience and demonstrated expertise in thermal/vacuum, metallurgy, surface physics, precision mechanics, or opto-mechanical design and construction.
• Familiarity and experience in quality control and assurance of machined and fabricated parts, including on-site inspection protocols, audits, and material discrepancy review.
• Experience in ANSI class 100/ISO 5 cleanroom protocols, including working in and maintaining a cleanroom environment.
• Experience working in a large, distributed project R&D environment.

Required Documents

• A cover letter summarizing your relevant experience and explaining your interest in working on this experiment.
• Resume.