Electronics Technician
Full time Regular Employment at W. M. Keck Observatory
Category: Support Services
Location: Summit
Open date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Closing date: Friday, March 20, 2026
Job number: 0116
Summary
Does the idea of working with precision electronics and enjoying stunning summit views excite you? Then bring your skills, your curiosity, and your best pair of warm socks and join our team of problem solving wizards!
Do you love cracking open gadgets just to see how they work? Do friends hand you anything broken because “you’ll probably know what to do”? If so, imagine doing all that at 13,000 feet, surrounded by some of the most advanced scientific instruments on Earth. If working above the clouds sounds like your kind of adventure, you might be our next Electronics Technician.
What an Electronics Technician Does:
As an Electronics Technician on the summit, you’ll dive into a variety of hands‑on, problem‑solving work that keeps our observatory running at peak performance. Your days may include troubleshooting electronics on cutting‑edge scientific equipment, inspecting and repairing circuit boards, performing precise soldering work, maintaining power systems, running diagnostics on sensors and controllers, calibrating instruments, and supporting technical teams with whatever electronics challenges arise. You’ll work in a dynamic, high‑altitude environment where reliability matters, conditions can shift quickly, and your expertise keeps mission‑critical systems stable.
Requirements
Required Qualifications:
Education
- Associate degree in Electronics or equivalent technical training or experience.
Experience
- Three (3) or more years of experience in a highly technical or scientific operations environment.
- Experience working with electronic equipment and complex instrumentation.
- Familiarity with electrical safety and electrostatic discharge handling practices.
Skills
- Ability to troubleshoot electronic and electro-mechanical systems.
- Ability to read and follow technical drawings and schematics.
- Basic documentation and testing skills.
- Microsoft Office proficiency.
Technical Knowledge
- Working knowledge of analog and digital electronics, power supplies, and electronic communications systems.
- Familiarity with electronic test equipment such as oscilloscopes, signal generators, and power supplies.
- Basic experience with schematic capture or technical drawing tools.
- Valid driver's license and clean abstract.
Additional Information
Why Choose W. M. Keck Observatory:
- Competitive starting salary ranging from $64,160 to $75,998.
- Generous benefits package, including 4 weeks of annual paid vacation.
- A robust 8% 403(b) employer contribution (with a 4% employee contribution).
- Tuition assistance for dependent children grades K-12 attending private school on Hawai’i Island.
- Comprehensive, employer provided health insurance.
- Be a part of a dedicated team working on the frontiers of astronomy.
About W. M. Keck Observatory
The W. M. Keck Observatory operates two 10-meter optical/infrared telescopes on the summit of Maunakea on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. The twin telescopes feature a suite of advanced instruments including imagers, multi-object spectrographs, high-resolution spectrographs, integral-field spectroscopy and a world-leading laser guide star adaptive optics system which cancels out much of the interference caused by Earth’s turbulent atmosphere. The Observatory is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a scientific partnership of the California Institute of Technology, the University of California and NASA.
Website: keckobservatory.org
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