Geophysicist I

Zanskar; Salt Lake City (UT); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

18 days PTO + accrual based on tenure

Medical, dental and vision coverage

401k

Short term disability

Stock options

Growth opportunities (carbon-emissions

Job summary

Zanskar in Salt Lake City, Utah, is seeking a Geophysicist I to image the subsurface using ambient noise. The role sits in Exploration Geophysics and offers hybrid work from our Salt Lake City headquarters.

You will work on developing velocity models, benchmark imaging methods, and build scalable Python pipelines to process large passive seismic datasets, collaborating across geology, geophysics, and engineering.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s in geophysics, seismology, or related field.
• Peer-reviewed publications in passive seismic methods.
• Strong reproducible workflows in Python and HPC.

Responsibilities

• Build velocity models and image basement depth, layering, and fault structure from passive arrays.
• Develop, benchmark, refine passive seismic imaging methods.
• Create reproducible data processing pipelines (Python/ObsPy) for large datasets.
• Collaborate with Exploration and R&D to integrate imaging into prospect evaluation.

Skills

Passive seismic methods

Seismic data processing

Python

Git / GitHub

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Inversion techniques

Education

PhD in Geophysics/Seismology

Master's in Geophysics

Tools

ObsPy

HPC

GitHub

Job description

Geophysicist I

Location: Salt Lake City, UT (hybrid)
Benefits Eligible: yes
Manager: Exploration Geophysics

Why we exist and why we need you

Geothermal energy is the most abundant renewable energy source in the world. However, historically it’s been hard to find and expensive to develop. At Zanskar, we’re using advanced technology to find and develop new geothermal resources that make baseload geothermal a cost-effective and vital contributor to a carbon-free energy future. We are revolutionizing the exploration process, setting new industry standards for discovery rates by finding new prospects at an unprecedented scale and working to develop faster and cheaper with scale and reduced risk drilling.

We're seeking a seismologist to image the subsurface using ambient noise. Working within our Exploration Geophysics team, you'll help convert passive seismic signals into actionable items: images of basement depth, and fault geometry, that can be jointly interpreted with additional geophysical techniques to inform a complete conceptual model for drilling geothermal resources.

Outcomes – Problems you’ll solve

• Build velocity models and image basement depth, layering, and fault structure from passive arrays
• Develop, benchmark, and refine passive seismic imaging methods
• Construct reproducible, well-documented processing pipelines (Python/ObsPy or equivalent) that scale to large datasets
• Work with Exploration and R&D teams to integrate passive imaging into prospect evaluation

What we’re looking for

Required

• Ph.D. or Master’s degree (completed or near completion) in geophysics, seismology, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated research expertise in passive seismic methods such as ambient noise tomography or microseismic analysis, evidenced by peer-reviewed publications
• Strong foundation in seismic signal processing and inversion
• Proficiency in scientific computing and reproducible workflows (e.g., Python, HPC), with version control (e.g., Git/GitHub)
• Ability to translate research-stage methods into practical, decision-grade tools under real-world data and time constraints
• Strong cross-disciplinary collaboration skills, able to communicate and integrate results effectively with geologists, geophysicists, engineers, and data scientists

Location and Benefits

• The position is based out of our headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a hybrid position
• Benefits include:
  • Paid holidays
  • 18 days PTO + PTO accrual increase based on tenure
  • Medical, dental and vision coverage
  • 401k
  • Short term disability
  • Stock options
  • Growth opportunities at a company with a direct impact in displacing carbon emissions

Equal Opportunity Employer

Zanskar is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply and will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws.