Optics Specialist

Gran Telescopio de Canarias S.A. (GRANTECAN) invites applications for one position as Optics Specialist for the implementation of new observational capabilities of the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC).
The person selected will report hierarchically to the Head of Engineering Operations or Science Operations, depending on the selected candidate’s background. The main function and activity of the selected person will be within the following scientific-technical service: Astronomical observations at high spatial resolution.

A priority of the GTC telescope is the implementation of observing capabilities at its diffraction limit. This implies the commissioning of the GTC Adaptive Optics (GTCAO), Laser Guide Star system, and corresponding scientific instrumentation (GRANCAIN and FRIDA), but also requires the improvement of the telescope optical quality and operational procedures to achieve the nominal performance. GRANTECAN seeks a person with expertise in astronomical optics, and specifically in the optical alignment of segmented telescopes, and the implementation and operation of diffraction limited observations.

The selected candidate will play a core role in the group dedicated to the improvement of the optical performance of the GTC (wavefront sensing, mirror alignment, segments fine phasing, segments deformation, closed-loop active optics, adaptive optics, and the corresponding operation and maintenance procedures). The selected candidate will also contribute to the commissioning of the new science instrumentation.