The document discusses a panel presentation about engineering careers in astronomy. It includes biographies of five panel members who work as engineers at various astronomical observatories and telescopes. The panel covers what engineers do in astronomy, including building instruments, managing projects, and developing control systems. It also discusses upcoming opportunities for engineers, such as the new Extremely Large Telescopes that will need extensive engineering support to be built and operated. The presentation aims to illustrate to students the wide variety of engineering roles involved in cutting-edge astronomical research.

1. Engineering Careers
in
Astronomy
Madeline Close – Gemini Observatory
Vanessa Montes – Gemini Observatory
Virginia Ford – Thirty Meter Telescope
Kayla Hardie – Giant Magellan Telescope
Angelic Ebbers – Gemini Observatory
With support from engineers at European Southern Observatory, National
Solar Observatory, Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and Space Telescope
Science Institute

2. Today’s Talk
What do engineers have to do with astronomy?
 Panel members will speak about our current work, how we became
involved in astronomy and what our biggest lessons have been.
 Opportunity for Q&A
What do engineers do in astronomy?
 Interactive activity about the many roles and projects that different
engineering disciplines are involved with.
What is next for engineers in astronomy?
 What key projects and technologies are the future of astronomy
 Opportunity for Q&A
What to take away:
 Astronomy needs engineers from many disciplines
 Astronomy offers exciting opportunities and work for engineers

3. What do engineers have to do with
astronomy?
The short answer: Lots!
 How many electrical engineers are in the audience?
 How many mechanical …
 How many optical …
 How many software …
 How many aerospace …
Astronomy needs all of your skill sets!

4. Panel Member: Madeline Close
Systems Engineering Manager for
Gemini Observatory
 Develop new instruments and
capabilities
 Improve operational tools and
efficiency
 Manage international team
 Establish systems engineering
infrastructure
Overseeing
development of
the Gemini High-
Resolution Optical
Spectrograph
(GHOST):
from requirements
to verification
to transition to
operation.
Shaping
requirements for
the next Gemini
instrument to
ensure relevancy
in the 2020’s.
Implementing
Docushare re-
organization and
policies to
facilitate archiving,
retrieval and
search.
Auditing and
updating
observatory
requirements and
interface control
documents for
accuracy and
completeness.
Managing and
developing staff
including resource
allocation to
highest priority
projects and
resource loading
with two team
members
returning to
school.
Engaged in
strategic planning
to anticipate
observatory needs
in mid-term.
https://systems2stars.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/systems-engineering-at-gemini-observatory/

5. The most important lessons I’ve learned:
1. Ask for / Seek out new opportunities when you are no longer challenged
2. Develop multiple strengths that align with your career interests
Credits (left to right): Gemini; DISA; Iridium; Iridium
Real Time Operations Support
Systems Engineering
Team Management
Project Management
Real Time Operations

2014 2012 2010 2008 2006 2004
Gemini Observatory Booz Allen Hamilton The Boeing Company
Panel Member: Madeline Close

6. Panel Member: Vanessa Montes
Electronics Engineer & Project Manager at Gemini Observatory
Summer Internships
Water Vapor Monitor
Implementation.
FPGA reprogramming for
Canopus controller boards
Electronics Engineering
Operational support
Fault troubleshooting,
maintenance planning, support
obsolescence projects.
Development support
Design and implement
improvements, participate in
reviews for new instruments.
Instrument Manager for
GeMS (Gemini MCAO
System)
Work with Instrument Scientist
to define priorities
Coordinate engineering effort
needed to support the
instrument
Keep track of KPIs for
instrument
Plan instrument shutdowns and
cross training support.
Systems Engineering &
Project Management
(GeMS Projects)
Work with science staff to
define ConOps documentation
Define system specifications for
internal & external projects
Lead multidisciplinary teams to
deliver products defined by
science community
expectations.
Plan and coordinate interaction
with international teams
Credits: Gemini Observatory

7. Panel Member: Vanessa Montes
Adaptive
Optics?
Credits: Gemini Observatory

8. Panel Member: Vanessa Montes
Adaptive
Optics
+
Laser!
Credits: Gemini Observatory

9. Panel Member: Vanessa Montes
Most important lessons learned so far…
o Communicate positively and effectively
o Choose your battles
o Find a sponsor – someone who advocates for you when you
are not there
o Be you!

10. Virginia Ford
Senior Optomechanical Engineer
member of TMT staff
Optics Group
non-profit organization supported by 5 countries
Pasadena, CA
Thirty Meter Telescope
NEXT GENERATION EXTREMELY LARGE TELESCOPE
M3
M1
M2
Secondary
Mirror
Tertiary
Mirror
Primary
Mirror
Thirty Meter Telescope
Virginia Ford
Senior Optomechanical Engineer
Canada
China
India
Japan
USA

11. Primary Mirror System (M1S)
492 actuated hexagonal segments
Sized 1.44 m point to point
Each segment moves tip, tilt, piston & warps
Secondary Mirror System (M2S)
supported on a hexapod
Size: 3.2m diameter
Moves tip, tilt, X, Y, Z translations
OPTICS GROUP
RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide the mirror systems
for the telescope
Install, test and align the
mirrors on the telescope
Responsible for all support
activities of the mirrors
Tertiary Mirror System (M3S)
supported on tip-tilt gimbal
2.4m X 3.4m flat ellipse
Rotates and tilts
Thirty Meter Telescope
Virginia Ford
Senior Optomechanical Engineer
Canada
China
India
Japan
USA

12. Tertiary Mirror
System (M3S)
Supplied by China
developing prototype
Secondary Mirror
System (M2S)
Supplied by USA,
open proposal
competition 2016
Study of Interface
M3S - telescope
Design Study to reduce
mass of prototype M3 Cell
What do I do?
Manage M2S and M3S
Use everything from my
background and more
Communicate and
organize
M3S team in China
Interface discussions
Potential M2S suppliers
Engineering
CAD design
Calculations & analyses
Learn
Improve technical skills
Interact with cultures!!!
It’s a great job!
Open positions:
TMT.org
Booth at WE’15
Meeting in China
Thirty Meter Telescope
Virginia Ford
Senior Optomechanical Engineer
Canada
China
India
Japan
USA

13. Panel Member: Kayla Hardie
Systems Engineer Associate at Giant Magellan Telescope
What do I do at the GMT?
 Support requirements management to:
• Develop requirements management tool structure
• Implement changes to requirement architecture
• Review requirements documents
 Configuration Management (Interim Configuration Manager)
• Ensure technical baseline integrity
• Facilitate change control processes
• Create documentation standards by implementing and
enforcing workflows, policies and procedures
• Maintain project documentation and drawing archives
What is the GMT?
 Will be one member of the next class of super giant earth-based telescopes
 Will have 7 primary mirror segments with a total collecting area of 368 square
meters
 Will have a resolving power 10 times greater than the Hubble Space Telescope
www.gmto.org

14. Panel Member: Kayla Hardie
Previously, Systems Engineering and
Project Management Support
Associate at Gemini Observatory
 Integration and Test support for the
Gemini Planet Imager PM/SE
 Project Initiation support for several
Gemini Projects
 Documentation Management
Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, Spanish minor
Biggest lessons learned – communicate, build relationships,
accommodate others and learn to use your tools!
Pursing a Masters of Science in Systems Engineering

15. Senior Software Engineer
Operations Support
Nighttime/Daytime troubleshooting support and fault investigation
Real-Time Control Systems
Motion control for highly accurate beam steering
Team Lead for Gemini North Software Operations Team
Base Facility Operations
Working with teams of multidisciplinary engineers to plan and implement all of the
changes/automation necessary to safely operate the telescope from sea level.
Panel Member: Angelic
Ebbers

16. Panel Member: Angelic
Ebbers
Career Progression:
1996-1998 Herzberg Institute of
Astrophysics (HIA) Dominion Radio
Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) –
Operations Team
1998-2003 HIA Dominion
Astrophysical Observatory (DAO) –
Instrument development Team
Learned Motion Control .. Built two
instruments for Gemini (GMOS and
Altair)
2004-Present Gemini Observatory -
Software Operations Team
Education: Hybrid Scientist/Engineer
Undergraduate was a double major in Computer Science
and Physics with a minor in Astronomy
Graduate work in Radio Astronomy convinced me that
research was not my strength .. Software development was
.. But I love Astronomy!
Career Goal became Software Support for Astronomy

17. What do engineers do in
astronomy?
Activity
Find a partner or two!
Open up the Activity Booklet. Read each Narrative and
decide which engineering discipline it represents.
Engineers will be walking around to answer questions and
help out.
Once finished, raise your hand to get an answer key.

18. What is next for engineers in
astronomy?
Extremely Large Telescopes
7 – 15x the light gathering power of the largest existing telescopes
Higher angular resolution
All will see first light in mid-2020’s
Thirty Meter Telescope
(TMT)
European Extremely Large
Telescope
(E-ELT)
Giant Magellan Telescope
(GMT)
Credits (left to right): TMT International Observatory; ESO/L. Calçada; GMT

19. What is next for engineers in
astronomy?
Other Boundary-Pushing Telescopes
Deep Sky Surveys
Exoplanets
Transients
Large Synoptic Survey
Telescope
(LSST)
Atacama Large
Millimeter/Submillimeter
Array (ALMA)
James Webb Space
Telescope
(JWST) …
…and many other
international
space-based
missions
Credits (left to right): LSST; ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO); Northrop Grumman

20. What is next for engineers in
astronomy?
Sophisticated Adaptive Optics
(AO)
Complex Science Instruments
Enable ground-based telescopes to correct for atmospheric
turbulence and achieve image quality equivalent to space-
based telescopes.
Enable science on any telescope by performing imaging and
spectroscopy using established and emerging technologies.
Science instruments are designed for specific science
requirements.
Laser Tomography AO (LTAO)
Ground Layer AO (GLAO)
Multi-Conjugate AO (MCAO)
Extreme AO (ExAO)
Multi-Object AO (MCAO)
Too many to list!
Many instruments are currently in design and development
for the ELTs and also for existing telescopes.
Credits (left to right): Gemini; TMT; GMT; GMT; ESO

21. Thank You!
Thank you to the following organizations for participating in SWE this year:
Gemini Observatory www.gemini.edu
Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory www.tmt.org
Giant Magellan Telescope www.gmto.org
European Southern Observatory www.eso.org
Large Synoptic Survey Telescope www.lsst.org
National Solar Observatory www.nso.edu
Space Telescope Science Institute
www.stsci.edu
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy www.aura-
astronomy.org