Assistant Specialist / Associate Specialist

Description Title: Assistant Specialist / Associate Specialist (Engineering Faculty Positions) Position Number: Pending Hiring Unit: College of Engineering Location: UH Hilo Campus Date Posted: 12/11/2023 Closing Date: Continuous Salary Information: Commensurate with qualifications and experience Monthly Type: 11 Month Tenure Track: Tenure Full Time/Part Time: Full Time Temporary/Permanent: Permanent Funding: General Funds The University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) College of Engineering (COE) invites applications for full-time, general fund, tenure track, faculty positions at the rank of Assistant Specialist or Associate Specialist, pending position clearance and availability of funds, to begin August 1, 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter. Each position will be an integral member of a multi-disciplinary team comprised of faculty forming the core for a new Engineering Support Center serving ground-based astronomy in Hawaii. Each position will also contribute to research, teaching and service relevant to the Engineering Support Center. UHM has embarked on a Space Science and Engineering Initiative to broaden the university's capabilities and to take advantage of Hawaii's unique geographical and cultural positioning in the world, in order to more actively participate in the continually growing fields of ground-based astronomy and space flight and exploration. To more specifically support ground-based astronomy activities and operations in Hawaii, the UHM COE is recruiting four faculty positions starting in Fall 2024, based in Hilo (at the UH Hilo campus), who will be part of an initial cohort of faculty directly supporting a newly proposed Engineering Support Center located at the Institute for Astronomy (IfA).This initial cohort of faculty team members will provide operational and research expertise for the Engineering Support Center in direct support of ground-based activities for observatory operations including, but not limited to, additive manufacturing and prototyping, electronics, cryogenic systems, mechanical systems and servo/controls, optics, adaptive optics, semiconductor optical detectors, photonics, software, and instrumentation. This significant, large-scale initiative places an emphasis on a collaborative approach to both research and education, focusing on hands-on-learning, teamwork, complementary technical expertise, and system-level multidisciplinary thinking. It will serve to expand Hawaii's local high-tech workforce by utilizing and leveraging existing observatory facilities on Maunakea and Haleakala as platforms for new instrumentation and technology development, facility innovation, and proving grounds for operational upgrades and advancement. The cohort will serve as a dedicated engineering team to develop technical proposals, write grant applications, and perform engineering design tasks at the new Engineering Support Center on the UH Hilo (UHH) campus. Additionally, the faculty cohort will develop and deliver courses of importance in relevant disciplines to UHM and/or UHH, to be delivered from the faculty member's local campus. Successful candidates will have access to well-equipped laboratories and machine shop facilities. Available computer facilities are extensive, including the Maui High-Performance Computing Center and state-of-the-art multimedia computer instructional laboratories. Progress and achievement of each faculty member will be measured not only by their individual accomplishments, but by the individual's contributions to the success of the overall team and of the Engineering Support Center, as well. The University of Hawaii at Manoa is a Carnegie R1 doctoral university with a strong emphasis on research and graduate education, and is part of the multi-island, 10 campus University of Hawaii system which also includes the University of Hawaii at Hilo. While the four faculty positions are based at the IfA facility located on the UH Hilo campus, they are UH Manoa faculty and report through the UHM COE. All three COE departments, including the electrical & computer engineering and the mechanical engineering departments, offer B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, and their undergraduate programs are ABET accredited. For more information on the COE, including program-specific enrollment, please visit our website at . The University of Hawaii at Manoa campus is dedicated to becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, a place that is responsive to Native Hawaiians and reflective of Indigenous Hawaii where all can learn, grow, connect, and heal. UH Manoa is also a designated Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Center. Duties and Responsibilities: Work productively and collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team as well as to serve as lead for projects/task items under their respective specialization or as assigned by the Program Lead, COE Dean and/or IfA Director. For the advanced electronics and photonics position, ensure projects comply with any International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and Customs regulations. Develop an externally-funded research program in direct support of the Engineering Support Center, in collaboration with other Engineering Support Center faculty. The candidate will also have the opportunity to develop their own independent research portfolio. Conducting and publishing research work in leading scholarly journals as a record of scholarly activity. Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in mechanical/electrical engineering in person and/or via various distance delivery modes as required. Courses taught at UHH will primarily focus on pre-engineering pathway courses and may include (but not be limited to) introductory chemistry and physics, calculus, statics, dynamics, and introductory circuits and electronics. Serve as chair or member of committees in charge of candidates for advanced degrees. Participate in curriculum related activities including the development of curricular materials and special instructional methods. Supervise independent study activities. Serve as academic advisor to students. Serve on departmental, college, and university committees. Render service to the professional or lay community in areas relevant to the individual's academic specialty. Engage with and support the Akamai internship programs administered by UC Observatories in collaboration with UH Hilo and the UH Institute for Astronomy. Support the recruitment, retention, and graduation of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and other underrepresented populations in Engineering. Participate in initiatives towards the creation of place-based/Hawaii-based curricula to impact engineering knowledge. Participate in implementing the Native Hawaiian principles from the UH Manoa Strategic Plan. Perform related tasks as assigned. Minimum Qualifications for Assistant Specialist (faculty position): A Master's degree and an additional 30 credits of graduate study in mechanical or electrical engineering, optics, or a closely-related field from a university of recognized standing. Minimum three years of relevant experience past the master's degree. Demonstrated abililty to plan and organize assigned activities, including the work of assistants when appropriate. Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and administrators as necessary. Experience in working with a multi-disciplinary team and leading assigned tasks. Excellent communication skills and ability to engage successfully in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment. Demonstrated scholarly achievement, evidenced by a track record of conducting research and publishing scholarly materials, commensurate with academic rank of Assistant Specialist. Ability to teach graduate courses in area of specialty, as well as undergraduate courses in mechanical or electrical engineering and a strong commitment to mentoring at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including students from different backgrounds with diverse life experiences and learning styles. For the adaptive optics position, demonstrated expertise in adaptive optics, such as adaptive secondary mirrors, solar instrumentation, and precision engineering. For the cryo-systems/cryo-mechanical position, demonstrated expertise in cryo-systems and/or cryo-mechanical applications. For the optical design position, demonstrated expertise in classical optical design, including opto-mechanical design and precision engineering. For the advanced electronics and photonics position, demonstrated expertise in advanced electronics and photonics, such as arrays and controllers for infrared, mm-wave, THz and visible wavelengths. Additionally, advanced electronics positions at UH Hilo are subject to ITAR and EAR and must meet eligibility requirements for access to export-restricted information/projects. Desirable Qualifications for Assistant Specialist (faculty position): An earned Ph.D. ("All but dissertation" will be considered) in mechanical or electrical engineering, or a closely related field from a university of recognized standing. Expertise in emerging research areas directly related to supporting ground-based astronomy or other sectors of high precision manufacturing, testing, and commissioning of equipment and instrumentation. Research emphasis applicable to or experience with Hawai'i and/or the Asian/Pacific region. Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Ability to recruit, retain, and graduate Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or other underrepresented populations in Engineering. Willingness to learn about, develop, and implement Native Hawaiian, Indigenous, and/or place-based principles into curriculum, programming, and work culture. Minimum Qualifications for Associate Specialist (faculty position): An earned Ph.D . click apply for full job details