Organisation/Company UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Research Field Engineering Physics Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 22 Oct 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Country Australia Type of Contract Other Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

- Full time, fixed term position until 30 June 2028, with the possibility of extension.
- Located on the Camperdown Campus at the School of Physics
- Base Salary $112,628 - $122,702 (HEO7) + 17% superannuation

About the chance

The School of Physics is currently seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Specialist to provide specialist technical skills in mechanical engineering for the development and delivery of complex, multidisciplinary astronomical instrumentation.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at Astralis-USyd, which is one of three nodes of Australia's Astronomical Instrumentation Consortium, Astralis. Astralis-USyd has a team of instrument scientists, engineers, project managers, astrophotonics specialists and astronomers who build astronomical instruments for the World's largest telescopes. The larger Astralis Consortium consists of over 120 people. The projects are collaborative across the three nodes of Astralis, with potential further career opportunities across the Astralis network.

In this role you will lead a small engineering team that will:

- develop concepts, system and subsystem level mechanical designs and parts drawings for instrument projects
- perform structural, kinematic, vibration,



and thermal analyses through FEA and other analytical techniques
- develop alignment, assembly, and test plans for the verification and acceptance of mechanical and opto-mechanical sub-systems
- develop technical specifications for procurements and source parts
- develop, assemble, test and characterize mechanical parts and components of instruments
- produce documentation for reviews, subsystem analysis and tests, and for instrument operation and maintenance manuals
- take ownership of requirements management, interface control, verification and validation, and product assurance oversight-from final design through deployment and commissioning
- work collaboratively with scientists and external research partners

About you

- a Bachelor's degree or diploma in mechanical engineering or related discipline
- demonstrated skills in CAD design and mechanical drawing production
- proven capability in structural, thermal and kinematic analysis for precision mechanical engineering
- proven track record in opto-mechanics or mechatronics for scientific or technical instrumentation
- knowledge of and/or training in systems engineering practices for technical projects
- experience collaborating and working as part of a multi-discipline team, directing junior staff and engaging with external partners
- experience in delivery of astronomical instrumentation for large telescopes, from design to Manufacture, Integration, Assembly and Testing (MAIT), to commissioning will be highly regarded.

Work Rights: you must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

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📌 Senior Mechanical Specialist (Sydney)
🏢 Times Higher Education
📍 Sydney