Postdoctoral Research Position for AIRSAR-NG Calibration and Characterization

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health

Dental

Vision

Wellbeing

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Learning

Rideshare

Childcare

Flexible schedule

Parental leave

Many more

Job summary

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, funds cutting-edge radar calibration work on AIRSAR‑NG, an airborne dual/polarimetric SAR system. The candidate will calibrate and validate the system end‑to‑end, refurbish hardware, and implement software to support autonomous operations during overflights and post‑processing.

The role emphasizes microwave remote sensing, multi‑frequency SAR, and radar calibration principles.

Qualifications

• Hands-on radar system development experience including instrument design, testing, calibration, and radar signal processing.
• Proficiency programming a single-board computer to interface with hardware; experience with Python, C and Julia.
• Knowledge of microwave remote sensing and multi-frequency SAR calibration; familiarity with calibration targets and field validation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct AIRSAR-NG end-to-end system calibration using internal signals and external calibration targets.
• Refurbish radar transponder hardware, replace RF components, and program SBC to autonomously receive/transmit AIRSAR-NG signals.
• Develop calibration techniques to compensate for modified chirps due to NTIA restrictions and advance polarimetric SAR calibration.

Skills

Radar system development

Instrument design

Radar signal processing

Python

C

Julia

Hardware interfacing

Calibration targets

Microwave remote sensing

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Job description

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

As the successor to UAVSAR, AIRSAR‑NG is an airborne radar system currently under development and capable of multi‑band operations on a Gulfstream IV aircraft. Its L‑band radar, which incorporates digital beam‑forming, is entering the integration and test phase, followed by flight testing, calibration, and performance assessment.

The candidate will conduct AIRSAR‑NG end‑to‑end system calibration by utilizing a combination of radar internal calibration signals as well as external calibration targets such as the Polarimetric Active Radar Calibrator (radar transponder) and corner reflectors to assess the software‑defined‑radar’s receive channel timing alignment and digital beam‑forming performance. The candidate will be refurbishing the radar transponder hardware including replacing RF components and programming the single board computer to autonomously receive and re‑transmit AIRSAR‑NG signals during overflights and post‑processing to assess AIRSAR‑NG’s polarimetric antenna patterns, beam alignment, beam steering, and transmit power. The candidate will also develop calibration techniques and tools to compensate for modified chirps due to NTIA restrictions. This work will advance airborne polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) calibration for current and next‑generation radar systems.

This work requires knowledge in microwave remote sensing and multi‑frequency SAR systems, radar calibration principles and the operational calibration process of SAR, as well as radar signal processing techniques.

Desired candidate should possess hands‑on experience in radar system development including instrument design, testing, calibration, and radar signal processing. The candidate should be proficient in programming a single‑board computer to interface with hardware as well as general software tool development (python, c based, and Julia), and familiarity with radar calibration targets for field validation. Candidate must also have PhD.

The appointee will carry out research in collaboration with the JPL advisor, resulting in publications in the open literature.

Applicants may be subject to additional program requirements by NASA. Postdoctoral Scholar positions are awarded for a minimum of one‑year period and may be renewed up to a maximum of three years.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work‑life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

• health
• dental
• vision
• wellbeing
• retirement plans
• paid time off
• learning
• rideshare
• childcare
• flexible schedule
• parental leave
• many more

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

$83,820 - $83,820

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

EEO is the Law.

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Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.