Astrophysics Center Program Scientist [Radio Astronomy]

Schmidt Sciences; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Schmidt Sciences’ Astrophysics Center in the United States seeks an experienced radio astronomer to guide the development, commissioning, and operation of next-generation facilities within the Schmidt Observatory System. The role emphasizes leadership in interferometry, collaboration across multi-institution teams, and advancing surveys and instrumentation for ambitious scientific goals.

Domestic and international travel may be required; residency at a Schmidt Sciences office in Maryland, New

Qualifications

• PhD in Astronomy or Astrophysics.
• At least 10 years of post-PhD experience.
• Proven scientific leadership in a major radio astronomy collaboration.
• Extensive experience with radio interferometry and large arrays.
• Broad understanding of instrumentation, calibration, imaging, data processing.
• Ability to work across large multi-institutional teams.
• Willing to travel domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific and technical expertise across the Center's observatory portfolio.
• Collaborate with partner institutions on design, construction, commissioning, and operation of major facilities.
• Evaluate capabilities, milestones, and commissioning activities to meet scientific objectives.
• Review survey strategies, calibration approaches, data products, and software plans.
• Coordinate scientific reviews with internal staff and external experts.
• Oversee the Center's gifts and grants in radio astronomy, monitoring progress and impact.
• Represent the Center in technical reviews, scientific meetings, and collaborations.
• Build collaborative relationships with partner institutions and the broader community.
• Advise leadership on priorities and future facility concepts.

Skills

Radio astronomy

Radio interferometry

Scientific leadership

Multi-institution collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Astronomy/Astrophysics

Tools

Calibration pipelines

Survey data processing

Instrumentation

Job description

Schmidt Sciences is a nonprofit organization founded in 2024 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt that works to accelerate scientific knowledge and breakthroughs with the most promising, advanced tools to support a thriving planet. The organization prioritizes research in areas poised for impact including AI and advanced computing, astrophysics, biosciences, climate, and space—as well as supporting researchers in a variety of disciplines through its science systems program.

Summary

The Astrophysics Center at Schmidt Sciences seeks an experienced radio astronomer to join a growing team supporting the development of next-generation astronomical facilities. This role will bring deep expertise in radio astronomy to the Center, helping guide the scientific development, commissioning, and operation of major facilities within the Schmidt Observatory System while contributing to the exploration of future opportunities in the field.

The successful candidate will work closely with internal staff, external partners, and the international radio astronomy community to ensure that ambitious scientific facilities are designed, built, and operated to maximize their scientific potential. The role is well suited to an established scientist with extensive experience in radio interferometry, large survey facilities, and collaborative science programs, with a demonstrated ability to work across complex scientific, engineering, and programmatic teams in multi-institutional international collaborations.

The Role

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific and technical expertise in radio astronomy across the Center's observatory portfolio.
• Work closely with partner institutions throughout the design, construction, commissioning, and scientific operation of major radio astronomy facilities.
• Evaluate scientific capabilities, technical readiness, project milestones, and commissioning activities to help ensure facilities achieve their scientific objectives.
• Review survey strategy, operational planning, calibration approaches, data products, and software plans, providing independent scientific assessment where appropriate.
• Coordinate scientific and technical reviews within the Center, synthesizing input from internal staff and external experts.
• Provide scientific oversight for the Center's gifts and grants in radio astronomy, monitoring progress and identifying opportunities to maximize scientific impact.
• Represent the Center in technical reviews, scientific meetings, workshops, and interactions with the broader radio astronomy community.
• Build collaborative relationships with partner institutions, scientific teams, and the broader radio astronomy community.
• Advise Center leadership on scientific priorities, emerging opportunities, and strategic decisions in radio astronomy, including contributing to the exploration of future radio astronomy facilities and concepts.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in academia, industry, government, or private research laboratories following the Ph.D.
• Demonstrated scientific leadership within a major radio astronomy collaboration, observatory, or survey.
• Extensive experience with radio interferometry, including the development, commissioning, operation, or scientific exploitation of large radio arrays.
• Broad understanding of radio astronomy instrumentation, calibration, imaging, data processing, and scientific operations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across scientific, engineering, and multidisciplinary teams in large, multi-institutional collaborations.
• Excellent scientific judgment, communication skills, and the ability to build productive relationships with partner institutions and the broader research community.
• Based at one of the Schmidt Sciences offices (Maryland, New York, or Virginia), with the ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Desired Additional Skills

• Experience with the commissioning or early scientific operation of facility-class radio observatories.
• Experience participating in scientific advisory committees, technical review panels, or governance activities for major astronomical facilities.
• Experience working with external collaborators, partner institutions, or multi-institutional scientific teams.
• Expertise in one or more areas enabled by modern radio astronomy, such as transient astronomy, pulsars, cosmology, exoplanets, or multi-messenger astrophysics.
• Familiarity with large-scale radio astronomy software, calibration pipelines, or survey data products.
• Broad scientific interests spanning multiple areas of radio astronomy and an interest in future observatory concepts.

$200,000 - $250,000 a year

This is an exempt position.

Schmidt Sciences, is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that proudly pursues and hires a diverse workforce. We do not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion or religious belief, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws or prohibited by Company policy. We strive for a healthy and safe workplace and strictly prohibit harassment of any kind.