NASA Langley: Job Opportunities and Info Session

PURPOSE OF VISIT

Researchers from the NASA Langley Research Center’s Science Directorate will be visiting the Wyant College of Optical Sciences on November 10, 2022.  Brief presentations will be given for students who may be interested in post-undergraduate or graduate opportunities in laser optics and electro-optics at NASA Langley Research Center with applications to atmospheric lidar remote sensing.  The presentations will provide a brief scope on the breadth of airborne and space-based science undertaken with lidars developed at NASA Langley.  The remainder of the presentations will focus on laser and lidar technologies efforts ongoing at NASA Langley and present them within the scope of duties required of laser/electro-optic engineers within our group.

WHEN AND WHERE

• Wyant College of Optical Sciences room 821
• Short presentations at 9:30am and 1:00pm, followed by time to talk with the NASA researchers in 821 after each presentation
• Bagels and/or other refreshments to be provided too!
• The researchers will be visiting all day long and touring labs, so if you cannot attend one of the info sessions but wish to speak with them, please let Channel Lemon know and she will help coordinate a time to meet (channel@optics.arizona.edu).

HIRING OPPURTUNITY DETAILS

The NASA Langley Research center is seeking Bachelor’s or Master’s level candidates with engineering or physics related research experience that have a desire to operate, optimize, and maintain state-of-the-art pulsed laser systems that are used for airborne lidar remote sensing of the atmosphere and ocean including but not limited to retrievals of aerosols, trace gases (H₂O, O₃, CH₄), and the ocean subsurface.  This position has many opportunities to contribute to the end-to-end aspects of airborne lidar remote sensing instruments including developing, optimizing, and maintaining lasers and laser subsystems, electronics, data acquisition systems, laser transmitter and multi-wavelength receiver optics, and photonic subsystems.  The successful candidate would have or attain understanding of laser systems (as well as the aforementioned systems and subsystems) from both a theoretical and implementation perspective to successfully deploy them during airborne field campaigns that take place worldwide from the poles to the tropics.  The candidate should be eager to spend significant amount of time in the lab optimizing and operating these lidar laser and receiver systems to ensure optimal performance during airborne field deployments. The candidate would work with an integrated team of world-class scientists, instrument scientists, and engineers to optimize laser and receiver subsystems to meet airborne lidar measurement requirements.  The candidate would also work with industry to foster new laser and photonic subsystem technologies to enable new airborne and space-based lidar measurements of atmospheric composition.

It is desirable if the candidate has experience with specifying requirements on optical components and coatings used in lidar laser and receiver systems.  There is growth potential to contribute to both optical design and electronic designs as these systems are upgraded or new systems are developed.  Below is a non-exhaustive list of attributes needed of electro-optical engineers within our group.

• Aligns, operates, maintains, and troubleshoots laser subsystems for lidar remote sensing applications.
• Supports integration and operation of laser and lidar subsystems for airborne lidar science campaigns.
• Characterizes laser beam parameters and verifies laser performance within the scope of measurement requirements.
• Designs and develops optical and electro-optical support subsystems to condition and control lasers at various wavelengths to ensure safe operation while meeting science requirements.
• Works with a collaborative team of scientists and engineers within NASA and industry to develop laser and lidar technology capable of reliable use in airborne and space-based remote sensing missions.