Employment Opportunities with McDonald Observatory

We are beyond that moon that you are considering a career with us.

As a research unit of The University of Texas at Austin, we offer employment opportunities at both the Observatory in West Texas and on the UT campus in Austin. Please be sure to check where jobs are located when reviewing open positions.

Looking to volunteer instead? Visit our Volunteer page to learn more and apply.

Jobs in Austin, Texas

No jobs are currently open in Austin.

Jobs in Fort Davis, Texas

Hobby-Eberly Telescope Resident Astronomer

The resident astronomer (RA) acts as the on-site scientific observing specialist for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) at McDonald Observatory. The RA employs various facility instruments and has the opportunity to conduct personal research while contributing to the scientific community at McDonald Observatory. For more information on this position and to apply, please see the full job posting.

Maintenance Worker III

Performs work on water systems and provides advanced maintenance and repair tasks across one or more craft areas at McDonald Observatory, a large remote research facility. Will provide on-the-job training for water operator licenses. Works independently and supports journey-level craft workers. Routinely conducts preventive maintenance. For more information on this position and to apply, please see the full job posting.

Utility Crew Leader

Supervise and lead a small team responsible for operating the public water and wastewater systems, as well as assisting with infrastructure maintenance and repairs at McDonald Observatory. This includes fleet vehicles, heavy equipment, commercial and residential structures, and telescope dome systems. The position reports to the Assistant Physical Plant Manager and collaborates closely with other crew leaders and the Physical Plant Manager. For more information on this position and to apply, please see the full job posting.

Control Systems Electronics Engineer

Performs preventive maintenance, inspections, diagnostic testing, and repairs of electronic, electrical, and electromechanical systems related to instrumentation, control infrastructure, and telescope operations. For more information on this position and to apply, please see the full job posting.

Positions are security sensitive; conviction verification conducted on applicant selected.