Lead Active Optics Control Scientist for Observatory

AURA; La Serena; On-site; CLP 88,180,000 - 138,882,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Paid time off

Job summary

AURA's Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile seeks an Active Optics Control Scientist to lead optimization of the observatory's active optics performance and help deliver world-class image quality from Cerro Pachón.

You will collaborate with international scientists and software engineers, develop control algorithms, streamline the active optics pipeline, and travel domestically and internationally to observatories as needed.

Qualifications

• PhD in Astronomy, Optical Sciences, Physics, or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of experience developing, commissioning, or operating active optics or adaptive optics systems.
• Strong background in controls theory and control algorithm development.
• Experience with simulation, modeling, and analytical tools.
• Proficiency in Python or a comparable scientific programming language.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally, including observatory locations.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and improve on-sky active optics performance.
• Lead the optimization of active optics control algorithms.
• Analyze delivered image quality and identify performance improvements.
• Streamline, standardize, and modernize active optics control software.
• Drive end-to-end optimization of the active optics pipeline to reduce latency and execution time.
• Collaborate with scientists, software engineers, optical engineers, and operations teams across an international organization.
• Help ensure Rubin consistently achieves the image quality required for groundbreaking science.

Skills

Controls theory

Python programming

Simulation & modeling

Education

PhD in Astronomy / Optical Sciences / Physics

Tools

Zemax

Code V

Git/GitHub workflows

Job description

AURA's Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile seeks an Active Optics Control Scientist to lead optimization of the observatory's active optics performance and help deliver world-class image quality from Cerro Pachón.

You will collaborate with international scientists and software engineers, develop control algorithms, streamline the active optics pipeline, and travel domestically and internationally to observatories as needed.