Location: Pasadena, CA
Cap-Exempt H-1B Position — No lottery required
Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community. **Job Summary** Caltech Optical Observatories (COO) is seeking a talented mechanical technician to join its Optical and Infrared (OIR) Instrumentation group. The OIR group designs, fabricates, and commissions astronomical instrumentation systems for large telescopes at Palomar, Gemini, Keck, and the planned Thirty Meter Telescope Observatories, while fostering a community of respect, learning, and individual growth. The qualified mechanical technician will contribute to instrument and mechanical subsystem fabrication, component procurement, system integration, testing, and commissioning of state-of-the-art instrumentation, pushing back the frontiers of planetary science, astronomy, and cosmology. This full-time position is based on the Caltech campus in Pasadena, California, but requires occasional travel to Palomar Mountain, San Diego, California and Maunakea, Hawaii. COO encourages a healthy work-life balance, with work schedule flexibility consistent with results-oriented performance evaluation and mentorship. **Essential Job Duties** - Support mechanical fabrication, component procurement, assembly, integration, and verification of sophisticated optoelectromechanical subsystems with emphasis on safety, efficiency, reliability, and quality. - Operate and maintain general laboratory equipment, including fabrication, alignment, and test equipment. - Assist with the testing and validation of instrument optomechanical performance across thermal and environmental use cases. - Organize work areas and maintain supplies. - Support maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of astronomical instrumentation. - Maintain timely and accurate written docu