Specialty Trades Technician

Department :

Physics and Astronomy-319000

Career Area :

Research Professionals

Is this an internal only recruitment? :

No

Posting Open Date : 10 / 29 / 2025

Application Deadline :

11 / 19 / 2025

Position Type :

Permanent Staff (SHRA)

Position Title :

Specialty Trades Technician - Journey

Salary Grade Equivalent :

NC10 / GN10

Working Title :

Specialty Trades Technician

Position Number : 20072865

Vacancy ID : P020613

Full-time / Part-time Permanent / Time-Limited :

Full-Time Permanent

Hours per week : 40

Work Schedule :

These activities are usually accomplished in a standard 40- hour week schedule.

Ability to work extended hours during critical testing phases, including potential night work

Work Location : CHAPEL HILL, NC

Position Location : North Carolina, US

Hiring Range : $51,480-$60,000

Pay Band Information :

To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet .

Be a Tar Heel! :

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities . Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package , paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work / life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit :

Our primary mission is providing instruction of the highest quality in physics and astronomy to undergraduate and graduate students at UNC-CH. Training in physics is fundamental among the natural sciences because it provides understanding of the forces governing the structure of matter, from subatomic particles to the large-scale structure of the universe.

Our departmental instructional mission spans all segments of the student community. Over 60% of all college graduates from UNC-CH have taken a course in our department. Among them : undergraduate liberal arts majors who should master the power of quantitative reasoning; undergraduates seeking a degree in another of the natural sciences, who need physics as a foundation for their advanced scientific training; the small number of undergraduates who major in physics, to whom we provide broad and rigorous training. Our graduate education and research advances frontiers of knowledge at the two extremes of space and time, from the very small) the realm of particle physics) to the very large (the realm of astronomy, while expanding the boundaries of knowledge in the many subfields spanning length scales between. Forefront physics and astronomy research requires access to well-equipped laboratories and extensive computing capabilities; it also must be supported by comprehensive and accessible library collections. Again, in research at this advanced level, the bridging aspect of physics provides basic interdisciplinary insight for many other sciences.

A strong managerial, administrative, and technical staff supports this instructional mission. Duties of these employees range from budget planning and management for the numerous research grants held by faculty in the department to maintaining course and student records. These activities are usually accomplished in a standard 40- hour week schedule.

Position Summary :

The Argus Array will be the largest optical telescope array ever assembled, with a collecting area comparable to the largest monolithic telescopes in the world. The Array will push our observations of the universe into a new regime, scanning the sky 100,000x faster than current nightly-cadence sky surveys. Argus will capture a continuous multi-color, 55-gigapixel movie of the night sky, shared with the entire astronomical community in real-time through public transient alerts, images, and light curves with millions of epochs for hundreds of millions of stars.

The Argus Array On-Site Technical Operations Technician will serve as a technical contributor responsible for the integration, testing and operation of specialized commissioning procedures and equipment for the array. This position requires knowledge of research techniques applicable to experimental astronomical instruments, or equivalent experience. The successful candidate will work with the project team to troubleshoot complex technical issues, and serve as a technical resource while supporting integration and testing activities.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements :

High school diploma or equivalency and two years of experience related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience :

• We are searching for a technical professional with ability to work independently on complex technical projects.
• Experience in physics, astronomy, engineering, or related technical field, AND / OR equivalent combination of advanced technical training and extensive hands-on experience.
• Willingness to spend significant time at a remote observatory for extended integration and testing periods is required.
• Must be willing to work at height and in various weather conditions.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience :

Special Physical / Mental Requirements :

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities :

Not Applicable.