Optical Scientist- Multi-star Wavefront Control

SETI; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SETI Institute seeks an Optical Scientist to advance multi-star wavefront control for high-contrast imaging missions. The role emphasizes optical modeling, laboratory experiments, and collaboration within NASA Ames Exoplanet Technologies.

Applicants should have MS/PhD in related fields, 1–4 years lab experience, and strong coding and communication skills. Hybrid on-site work is available in Mountain View, CA.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Optical Science, Astronomy, Electrical Engineering, or Physics.
• 1-4 years of experience setting up and conducting experiments in optical laboratories.
• Experience in high-contrast imaging / coronagraph laboratories is a significant plus.
• Experience with optical modeling, wavefront control, and astronomy.
• Experience coding in Python, MATLAB, and/or other scientific programming languages.
• Exoplanet science experience, especially around binary stars, is a plus.
• Experience with instruments and/or missions that have flown is a plus.
• US Person per ITAR requirements to access restricted information.
• Strong teamwork and excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Innovate and invent techniques to improve performance of high-contrast imaging technologies, focusing on MSWC and related projects.
• Model instruments and missions computationally (Python, MATLAB) including wavefront control.
• Design and conduct laboratory experiments to characterize performance of imaging systems on testbeds.
• Write and contribute to scientific papers and grant proposals.
• Present results at scientific workshops and conferences.
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers to drive project maturation and cross-project efforts.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

Wavefront control

Optical modeling

Astronomy

Exoplanet science

Team collaboration

Communication

Laboratory experiments

Education

MS or PhD in Optical Science, Astronomy, Electrical Engineering, or Physics

Tools

Zemax OpticStudio

Ansys

Job description

Optical Scientist- Multi-star Wavefront Control

About Seti Institute

At SETI, we are dedicated to advancing humanity’s understanding of the universe through world-class scientific research, exploration, and discovery. We bring together a brilliant, passionate community of researchers, scientists, engineers, and innovators.

Position Summary

The NASA Ames Exoplanet Technology Group is looking for candidates with bold and innovative ideas to develop unique solutions to challenging problems and to contribute to NASA’s future missions to directly image and spectrally characterize exoplanets. These missions include the Roman space telescope flagship (specifically, the coronagraphic instrument), and the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) flagship. As part of this work, there will be potential opportunities for participation on NASA’s Great Observatory Maturation Program (GOMAP) for the HWO, as well as planning, conducting, and proposing for astronomical observations, including supporting a contributed mode for the Roman coronagraphic instrument. The optical scientist will primarily support the NASA Ames Exoplanet Technologies group’s Multi-Star Wavefront Control (MSWC) Project. In addition to supporting MSWC, the optical scientist will have the opportunity to support other projects at approximately 25% of their time. The position is primarily on-site at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA, with some flexibility for hybrid work.

The successful applicant should have a strong interest in the responsibilities listed in the next section, as well as experience in areas related to at least some of these responsibilities.

Salary Range for this position : $ 85,000 - $110,000 (depending on experience)

Responsibilities

• Innovate and invent techniques to improve performance and/or accelerate the maturation of high contrast imaging technologies. Initially, this will focus on the currently funded MSWC project, but the successful applicant will have opportunities to contribute to other projects (e.g., PIAA-Vortex, AstroPIC photonic integrated circuits) and is expected to invent new ones in the longer term.
• Computational modeling of instruments and missions (preferably in Python, MATLAB, and/or other scientific programming languages), including optical modeling, wavefront control, and expected science.
• Design and conduct laboratory experiments to characterize the performance of high-contrast imaging systems and components, including throughput, aberration sensitivity, and contrast, both on in-air and vacuum testbeds.
• Write and contribute to scientific papers.
• Present results at scientific workshops and conferences.
• Write and contribute to grant proposals.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Optical Science, Astronomy, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 1-4 years of experience in setting up and conducting experiments in optical laboratories (including MS/PhD work).
• Experience in high-contrast imaging / coronagraph laboratories is a significant plus.
• Experience with optical modeling, wavefront control, and astronomy.
• Experience coding in python, MATLAB, and/or other scientific programming languages.
• Experience with exoplanet science, especially around binary stars is a plus.
• Experience with Ansys Zemax OpticStudio is a plus.
• Experience with instruments and/or missions that have flown is a significant plus.
• Must be a US Person as defined under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR § 120.62), as an individual who is a lawful U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder), or a protected individual, such as a refugee or asylee. This is required for this role to enable the employee to access ITAR-restricted information.
• Experience in working in a team environment, ability to work synergistically in collaboration with other researchers/scientists.
• Excellent communications skills.

Physical Requirements

• Perform desk-based computer tasks for extended periods of time.
• Assemble and manipulate optical layouts on a testbed (grasp lightly, and use fine manipulation, lift, carry, push and pull objects that weigh upto 25 lbs).
• Stand, walk, reach, or work above shoulders and use a telephone.

Diversity and Inclusion

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion,sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

The SETI Institute is an Affinitive Action Employer and members of underrepresented communities and demographics are particularly encouraged to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ and people with disabilities.