Radio Astronomy Program Scientist: Observatory Projects

IDT Corporation; New York (NY); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Schmidt Sciences, a nonprofit international research organization, seeks a Program Scientist to lead radio astronomy initiatives and guide the development, commissioning, and operation of major facilities within the Schmidt Observatory System. The role requires coordinating with internal teams, partner institutions, and the global astronomy community.

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in Astronomy or Astrophysics with 10+ years in multi-institution collaborations, extensive experience with

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in academia, industry, government, or private research laboratories following the Ph.D.
• Demonstrated scientific leadership within a major radio astronomy collaboration, observatory, or survey.
• Extensive experience with radio interferometry, including the development, commissioning, operation, or scientific exploitation of large radio arrays.
• Broad understanding of radio astronomy instrumentation, calibration, imaging, data processing, and scientific operations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across scientific, engineering, and multidisciplinary teams in large, multi-institutional collaborations.
• Excellent scientific judgment, communication skills, and the ability to build productive relationships with partner institutions and the broader research community.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific and technical expertise in radio astronomy across the Center's observatory portfolio.
• Work closely with partner institutions throughout the design, construction, commissioning, and scientific operation of major radio astronomy facilities.
• Evaluate scientific capabilities, technical readiness, project milestones, and commissioning activities to help ensure facilities achieve their scientific objectives.
• Review survey strategy, operational planning, calibration approaches, data products, and software plans, providing independent scientific assessment where appropriate.
• Coordinate scientific and technical reviews within the Center, synthesizing input from internal staff and external experts.
• Provide scientific oversight for the Center's gifts and grants in radio astronomy, monitoring progress and identifying opportunities to maximize scientific impact.
• Represent the Center in technical reviews, scientific meetings, workshops, and interactions with the broader radio astronomy community.
• Build collaborative relationships with partner institutions, scientific teams, and the broader radio astronomy community.
• Advise Center leadership on scientific priorities, emerging opportunities, and strategic decisions in radio astronomy, including contributing to the exploration of future radio astronomy facilities and concepts.

Skills

Scientific leadership

Radio interferometry

Cross-institution collaboration

Data processing

Instrumentation understanding

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Education

Ph.D. in Astronomy or Astrophysics

Tools

Radio astronomy software

Calibration pipelines

Job description

Schmidt Sciences, a nonprofit international research organization, seeks a Program Scientist to lead radio astronomy initiatives and guide the development, commissioning, and operation of major facilities within the Schmidt Observatory System. The role requires coordinating with internal teams, partner institutions, and the global astronomy community.

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in Astronomy or Astrophysics with 10+ years in multi-institution collaborations, extensive experience with