ESA/AURA Astronomer Opportunities

Aura Astronomy; Baltimore, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, MD, invites astronomers to join ESA/AURA–STScI as three-year term contract positions supporting HST science operations. Successful candidates will maintain an active research program while providing functional support for ESA-NASA missions.

Candidates should have a Ph.D. in astronomy or physics, a strong research record, and intermediate Python experience with astropy, Jupyter notebooks, and GitHub.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in astronomy or physics required or equivalent
• Strong record of independent research and publications
• Intermediate or higher Python experience with astropy and Jupyter notebooks

Responsibilities

• Provide functional support to ESA-NASA partnered missions at STScI.
• Perform data reduction and analysis of HST data and calibrations.

Skills

Python programming

Astropy

Jupyter notebooks

Object-oriented programming

Github collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in astronomy or physics

Tools

HST calibration pipeline

Job description

Astronomer positions are available at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA). The ESA Office at STScI provides scientific and technical personnel at STScI as part of ESA’s partnership with NASA on the HST and JWST missions.

The openings are in support of HST science operations at STScI, funded by the ESA Directorate for Science, through a contract with AURA. These astronomer positions are three-year term contracts, renewable, with salaries and benefits commensurate with those of AURA employees at STScI. This role is eligible for hybrid work and requires on-site presence in our Baltimore office.

Astronomers spend 50% of their time providing functional support to the ESA-NASA partnered missions at STScI, and 50% of their time on personal research. Therefore, the successful candidates are expected to maintain an active program of research in astronomy, in addition to carrying out functional tasks related to the HST mission support within STScI for ESA.

The ESA/AURA astronomers generally provide functional support to all major aspects of science operations. Functional duties usually encompass all activities associated with support of the suite of active instruments currently on board HST. These duties include, but are not limited to, support of the calibration, data reduction and analysis of HST data, on-orbit performance verification and monitoring of the health of the scientific instruments, direct support to the user community during the preparation, implementation and execution of the observing programs, and documentation. Efforts are made to suitably match the background and experience of qualified candidates to current mission needs

Candidates will be assessed based on their research impact in any area of astrophysics, their experience, and their vision and technical skills. For this call, previous experience in science operations of astronomical space or ground observatories are considered key assets. Experience in any of the following areas is an asset: UV or IR detector characterization and calibration; data reduction and analysis of UV spectroscopic data or IR imaging/spectroscopic data.

For all positions, intermediate (or higher) level coding experience in Python is required, including: experience working with common libraries such as astropy, performing astronomical data reduction and analysis, jupyter notebooks, familiarity with object-oriented programming and collaborative coding practices such as Github. Experience working with the HST ecosystem of tools and packages, such as the Astronomers Proposal Tool and Exposure Time Calculator, and the HST calibration pipeline is not required but would be an advantage.

Candidates for these positions must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in astronomy or physics or related discipline, with a strong, established record of active, independent research and scientific publications, excellent technical skills, and demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills, in order to provide first-class support to the multi-faceted needs of our missions within STScI’s international environment.

Applications are encouraged from both junior and senior astronomers, as the experience and accomplishment of the successful applicants will determine the level of the appointment.

STScI occupies multiple sites surrounding the campus of the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in Baltimore, MD. It maintains close connections with the JHU Physics and Astronomy Department and is a partner in both the Pan-STARRS and LSST consortia. The research environment engages, stimulates and supports an international research staff with over 100 members. Active Research areas (http://www.stsci.edu/stsci-research ) span a wide range of topics and include collaborations with postdoctoral researchers, research instrument analysts and JHU graduate students, as well as researchers from other institutions. Researchers lead the organization of annual workshops and larger-scale meetings, and participate in the activities of the very successful office of public outreach.

Applicants should submit the following materials in a single PDF file: 1) a cover letter, 2) a curriculum vitae and bibliography, and 3) a summary (maximum 3 pages) of current and future research and a description of the relevant technical skills for these positions. Candidates should take advantage of the cover letter to describe their particular interest in working for ESA at STScI.

Applications received by October 12, 2026 will receive full consideration. Position inquiries may be directed to: [e-mail]

A number of factors are considered when determining base salary offers, such as internal pay equity, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s experience, education, skill, and current market conditions. Salary range of $115-160K. Individuals needing assistance with the employment process can contact us [e-mail].

Ref: #0016353

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.