Mechanical Engineer

National Science Infrastructure
Victoria - British Columbia

RCO

An eligibility list for this position may be established for external candidates only. This is a 3 year term position.

Background

Working with clients and partners, the National Research Council Canada provides strategic research, innovation support, scientific and technical services to develop and deploy solutions to meet Canada's current and future industrial and societal needs. Guided by our core values of impact, accountability, leadership, integrity and collaboration, NRC is a dynamic and vibrant organization that, in its ongoing evolution, is seeking a Mechanical Engineer.

Your challenge

A Mechanical Engineer is required to assist in the design and development of world-class astronomical instrumentation for the international Gemini 8 metre telescopes, Canada France Hawaii Telescope, and future large telescope projects, including the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, Square Kilometre Array and Thirty Meter Telescope.

The successful candidate will provide innovative solutions to the specific requirements of various instrumentation projects, working in a team that designs integrated optical/mechanical/electronic assemblies.
 

Screening criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

Master of Applied science in mechanical engineering or a related field.

For alternate qualifications please refer to equivalency heading below.

Experience

Significant recent experience in mechanical design, development, testing and production of high precision (micron-level) mechanical/optical equipment.

Significant experience using 3D parametric CAD modeling software, preferably Autodesk Inventor and Solidworks, especially in the design and modelling of complex instrumentation consisting of several hundred parts.

Significant experience in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of mechanical structures and mechanisms, preferably using recent versions of ANSYS, and of design analyses using classical techniques.

Basic experience with some aspects of project management including: liaising with customers, vendors, contractors and collaborators, maintaining a schedule and providing budgetary projections.
 

Equivalency

A Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field, combined with extensive, highly relevant, professional experience.

Condition of employment

• Reliability Status

Language requirements

English

Assessment criteria

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

Technical competencies:

Ability to design instruments from conceptual stage to detailed fabrication-ready drawings.  This requires advanced knowledge of:
• The use and application of 3D parametric CAD modeling software (preferably recent versions of Autodesk Inventor or SolidWorks) in the development of precision instruments.
• Structural, thermal and dynamic analyses of structures and mechanisms, including the use of FEA software (preferably ANSYS, using the Workbench, PREP7 or APDL interfaces).
• High-precision (micron-level), low stress and stable mountings, structures and mechanisms, for optical elements such as lenses, mirrors, beam splitters and detectors.

Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, often on multiple, simultaneous projects, using excellent time management skills.

In addition, the candidate must have at least two of the following:

• Knowledge of materials such as exotic alloys, composites, honeycomb panels and structural bonding adhesives.

• Knowledge of optical systems, including imaging systems, spectrometers or adaptive optics.

• Knowledge of electronics, electro-mechanical actuators, sensors and control systems.

• Ability to perform system integration and testing of mechanical components or entire instruments.
 

Behavioural competencies:

Communication – Level 2

Self-knowing and self-development – Level 2

Creative Thinking – Level 3

Teamwork – Level 2
 

For this position, NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profile(s): | Management Services | Research Technician/Technologist

View all competency profiles.

Relocation

Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with NRC's directives.

Salary range

These positions are classified as a Research Council Officer (RCO), a group that is unique to the NRC. The RCO group uses a person-based classification system instead of the more common duties-based classification system. Candidates are remunerated based on their expertise, skill, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience. The salary scale for this group is vast, from $38,921 to $125,067 per annum, which permits for employees of all levels from new graduates to world renowned experts to be fairly compensated for their contributions. In addition, an incumbent occupying a position within the RCO Groups is currently entitled to receive a terminable allowance of $8,000 per year.

Closing date

09/28/2013 (10 days)

Applications will be accepted until 23:59 Eastern Time