High-Sensitivity Far-IR Detectors

ORAU; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading space research organization in Pasadena, California is seeking a postdoctoral researcher with expertise in low-temperature superconducting devices and far-IR to millimeter-wave instrumentation. The successful candidate will design and characterize advanced detector arrays and collaborate on groundbreaking experiments related to the early Universe. Candidates must hold a Doctoral Degree and are required to travel and work closely with a team of scientists and engineers. Applications are open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in low-temperature superconducting devices.
• Experience with far-IR to millimeter-wave instrumentation.
• Collaboration on ground-based and balloon-borne experiments.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate and characterize TES bolometers, KIDs, and QCDs.
• Implement frequency-domain readout techniques.
• Collaborate on experiments targeting the early Universe.
• Travel to interface with scientists and engineers.

Job description

Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code: 0163-NPP-NOV26-JPL-Astrophys

Description

We are seeking one or more postdoctoral researchers with hands‑on experience in low‑temperature superconducting devices and far‑IR to millimeter‑wave instrumentation to join our team developing the world’s most sensitive far‑infrared detectors. The successful candidate(s) will work on detector arrays that provide background‑limited performance in a dispersive spectrometer on a cryogenic space telescope, targeting a per‑pixel noise equivalent power of 10‑19 W/√Hz or lower. Building on transition‑edge‑sensed (TES) bolometers, kinetic‑inductance detectors (KIDs), and quantum‑capacitance detectors (QCDs), the work will focus on low‑NEP detector system demonstration and may involve further collaboration on ground‑based and balloon‑borne instruments such as SuperSpec, TIME, and TIM.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate and characterize TES bolometers, KIDs, and QCDs using a sub‑100 mK dilution‑cooled cryostat.
• Implement frequency‑domain readout techniques and collaborate with U.S. and international partners.
• Collaborate on ongoing and proposed ground‑based and balloon‑borne experiments targeting the early Universe.
• Travel as required and interface with scientists and engineers across JPL.

Eligibility Requirements

• Doctoral Degree.
• U.S. Citizens; U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents; Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J‑1 visa; Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. with a valid EAD card and pending I‑485 or I‑589 forms.

Designated Countries Exception: Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States. A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.

Location

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

Advisors & Contact

Advisors: Matt Bradford ([e-mail])

Point of Contact: Mikeala
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Application Deadline: 11/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone