Instrument Calibration Scientist

Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya; Barcelona; Presencial; EUR 36.000 - 60.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

A leading research institute in Barcelona seeks an Instrument Calibration Scientist for the ARRAKIHS mission, focusing on astrophysical instrumentation. This role involves leading the calibration pipeline and ensuring the instrument's scientific accuracy for advanced space research. The ideal candidate will hold a PhD and possess extensive experience in astronomical instrument calibration.

Formación

• 8+ years of expertise in calibration of astronomical instruments, preferably in space missions.
• Strong background in optical systems and detector technologies.
• Experience in designing and managing calibration plans.

Responsabilidades

• Lead the calibration pipeline development for space instrumentation.
• Design and execute calibration plans to address systematic effects.
• Support instrument performance analysis and optimization.

Conocimientos

Calibration techniques

Systematic effects analysis

Collaboration

Communication skills

Educación

PhD degree in Astronomy, Physics, Engineering, or a related field

Descripción del empleo

Instrument Calibration Scientist – ARRAKIHS Mission

OF_IEEC_177_2024

2024-12-05

Deadline

2025-02-15

The IEEC (Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia) was established in February 1996 as a private non-profit foundation (NPO) to promote R&D in the space field in Catalonia. The IEEC is a research institute that studies all areas of knowledge and technologies applied to the space sector and space sciences, including astrophysics, cosmology, planetary science, Earth observation, navigation and space engineering. Its mission is to push the frontiers of space research from the scientific and technological fields for the maximum benefit of society. It should also be noted that the Foundation is attached to the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government) and forms part of its institutional public sector due to the fact that the Generalitat has a majority participation in the Board of Trustees of the IEEC.

Introduction

The purpose of this call is the selection process of a candidate to occupy the position Scientist in Instrument Calibration - ARRAKIHS Mission assigned to Cosmology Area of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia.

Description of position

• Position : 1. Instrument Calibration Scientist – ARRAKIHS Mission
• Professional group : group III. Scientific staff
• Professional category : Research Scientist
• Working hours : 37,5hours / week

Functions

As the Instrument Calibration Scientist for the ARRAKIHS mission, you will be at the forefront of ensuring the scientific accuracy of the instrument's data within the Instrument Operations and Science Data Center (IOSDC) team. Your primary responsibility will be to design, implement, and manage the calibration strategyprogramfor this astrophysics mission under the European Space Agency (ESA). This includes developing a comprehensive calibration plan that encompasses both on-ground and in-flight calibration activities, ensuring the instrument is calibrated to capture the faint low surface brightness (LSB) signal from ultra deep-sky observations.

You will also lead the development of the calibration pipeline, responsible for producing calibrationproductsthat will feed into the main data processing pipeline. Working closely with the visible detector characterization team at IEEC, you will ensure and test the detector performance and optimize the calibration process, with the rest of the characterization team. Your role will also include supporting the overall performance analysis of the instrument to ensure it meets mission objectives.

The selected person will perform the following tasks :

• Calibration Pipeline Leadership : Lead the definition and development of the calibration pipeline to generate the calibration data for the main data reduction processing.
• Calibration Plan Development : Design and execute a calibration plan, covering systematic effects such as optical, detector characteristics and environmental effects, ensuring both on-ground and onboard calibration.
• Transversal Working Group Co-coordination : Organization and participation of the transversal working group on Data Pipeline and Calibration in coordination with the ARRAKIHS ESA team.
• Performance Analysis Support : Assist in the performance analysis of the instrument, contributing to continuous end-to-end performance assessment and optimization.
• Support Visible Detector Characterization : Work closely with the characterization team at IEEC responsible for the visible detector characterization to ensure that their findings inform calibration processes. Similarly, engage with the other characterization teams (VIS and NIR) to influence and integrate their calibration plan.
• Documentation and Reporting : Document calibration processes and results, ensuring traceability and compliance with ESA and mission-specific requirements.

Participation requirements and selection criteria

The following criteria will be assessed during the selection process :

• Experience : Expertise in calibration of astronomical imager instruments, with experience in space missions highly valued (8 years or more).
• Education : PhD degree in Astronomy, Physics, Engineering, or a related field.
• Skills : Proficiency in calibration techniques, with experience addressing systematic effects.
• Collaboration : Strong ability to work with multidisciplinary teams.
• Communication : Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively communicate and report on calibration activities.

The following aspects will be considered desirable merits :

• A strong background in optical systems, detector technologies, and space instrumentation.
• Experience indesigning and operating data reduction pipelines
• Proven experience managing calibration plans that address both ground-based and in-flight calibration requirements.
• Experience with ESA projects or missions.

Contact and deadline

Interested persons who meet the established requirements can send a motivation letter, together with the personal curriculum in PDF format, signed as certification, with a brief description of the tasks carried out in the positions previously occupied, to the email address : indicating the reference "Surnames and Name – OF_IEEC_177_2024" in the subject line of the email.

The reception of applications ends on

15 / 02 / 2025

Applications that do not meet the requirements included in the cases provided for, or those which are not processed in accordance with the established procedure will not be considered.

Selection procedure

Initially, a verification of the requirements of participation will be carried out and a first selection of candidates will be made based on the documents contributed. Next, if necessary, the shortlisted candidates may be called to a personal interview to expand the detailed information in the curriculum and assess aspects related to professional competences.

Interested persons must have the originals of the certificates accrediting the training and work experience mentioned in the curriculum and must submit them if required.

In accordance with current regulations on the protection of personal data, we inform you that the personal data contained in your communication relating to this selection procedure will be incorporated into the database of which the IEEC is responsible. The purpose of this treatment is to manage your participation and, where appropriate, the selection of your professional profile in the recruitment processes carried out by the IEEC. Therefore, we will use your data to carry out the contracting processes, to carry out the corresponding interviews, to assess compliance with the requirements for the processes, as well as those actions necessary for the execution of the process and to make effective the recruitment of staff at the IEEC. The basis for the legitimacy of this treatment is your consent, which may be revoked at any time (which means that you will not be able to participate in the selection process in question). The data will be retained during the selection procedure. If you provide us with the data or resume but do not participate in any open recruitment process, do not specify any or have participated in a procedure and have not been selected as a candidate, the IEEC will keep the data for a maximum period of two years., from the date of receipt of the communication, in order to manage your potential participation if any appropriate procedure is opened, eg on your profile. Once this period has elapsed, if you have not been selected and incorporated into the staff of the entity, the IEEC will permanently cancel your personal data. Your personal data will not be transferred to any third party for any purpose, except in cases where it is required by law or by a competent authority. You may exercise, in accordance with the requirements established in current regulations, the rights of access, rectification, deletion, opposition and limitation by sending your request in writing to the registered office of the IEEC (Esteve Terradas 1, RDIT Building, floor 2, Of. 212, 08860 Castelldefels) or by e-mail : . The applicant must be duly identified in order to process the application. You also have the right to file a complaint with the Catalan Data Protection Authority by writing to C / Rosselló, 214, esc. A, 1r 1a, 08008 Barcelona or at its electronic headquarters ( ). You expressly authorize and consent to the processing of your personal data for the purposes mentioned and in accordance with the conditions indicated above.

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