Computational Seismology Benchmark Architect

Obsidian; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 138,000; Part time

Job summary

Obsidian is seeking a Computational Seismology & Geophysics Expert to design challenging problems that apply real scientific software to research-level tasks. You will craft graduate-level scenarios, run simulations, interpret results, and iteratively refine problems against state-of-the-art AI models.

The role emphasizes strategic reasoning, multi-step workflows, and deep domain libraries such as SPECFEM, ObsPy, Pyrocko, and SimPEG. Remote, part-time commitment (15–20 hrs/week) is expected.

Qualifications

• Graduate-level training in a relevant STEM field (MS, PhD, or equivalent research experience)
• Proven proficiency with at least one of the listed scientific software libraries, shown through publications, open-source contributions, or professional work
• Strong Python skills — writing problem setups, oracle functions, and solution validators
• Ability to work independently and refine problem designs based on feedback
• Comfortable working in a Linux/terminal environment with remote compute sandboxes
• Available for at least 15–20 hours per week

Responsibilities

• Design original, graduate-level problems based on real scientific workflows using specialized software
• Run simulations, interpret results, and design experiments to test AI models
• Evaluate and refine problems until the target difficulty is met
• Plan a series of queries or experiments to uncover information not directly visible

Skills

Python

Linux/Terminal

Research

Problem Design

Education

Graduate-level STEM degree (MS/PhD)

Tools

SPECFEM

ObsPy

Pyrocko

SimPEG

pyGIMLi

SeisBench

EQcorrscan

Fatiando a Terra

Job description

Obsidian is seeking a Computational Seismology & Geophysics Expert to design challenging problems that apply real scientific software to research-level tasks. You will craft graduate-level scenarios, run simulations, interpret results, and iteratively refine problems against state-of-the-art AI models.

The role emphasizes strategic reasoning, multi-step workflows, and deep domain libraries such as SPECFEM, ObsPy, Pyrocko, and SimPEG. Remote, part-time commitment (15–20 hrs/week) is expected.