Senior Radio Astronomy Program Scientist

Schmidt Entities; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Schmidt Sciences seeks an experienced Program Scientist to lead the Center's radio astronomy activities, guiding development, commissioning, and operation of major facilities within the Schmidt Observatory System.

You will work with internal staff, partner institutions, and the international community to ensure facilities maximize scientific potential. This role requires leadership in large, multi-institution collaborations and travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in academia, industry, government, or private research laboratories after the Ph.D.
• Demonstrated scientific leadership within a major radio astronomy collaboration, observatory, or survey.
• Extensive experience with radio interferometry, including 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 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.
• Based at Schmidt Sciences offices (Maryland, New York, or Virginia), with domestic and international travel as required.
• Experience with commissioning or early scientific operation of facility-class radio observatories.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific and technical oversight across Schmidt observatory portfolio.
• Collaborate with partner institutions on design, construction, commissioning, and operation of radio facilities.
• Assess capabilities, readiness, milestones, and commissioning activities to meet scientific objectives.
• Review survey strategy, calibration approaches, data products, and software plans with independent assessment.
• Coordinate scientific and technical reviews within the Center and with external experts.
• Oversee gifts and grants related to radio astronomy, tracking progress and opportunities for impact.
• Represent the Center in technical reviews, meetings, and international community interactions.
• Build relationships with partner institutions and research teams across collaborations.
• Advise leadership on priorities and opportunities, contributing to future observatory concepts.

Skills

Radio astronomy

Radio interferometry

Scientific leadership

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Communication

Project coordination

Education

Ph.D. in Astronomy or Astrophysics

Job description

Schmidt Sciences seeks an experienced Program Scientist to lead the Center's radio astronomy activities, guiding development, commissioning, and operation of major facilities within the Schmidt Observatory System.

You will work with internal staff, partner institutions, and the international community to ensure facilities maximize scientific potential. This role requires leadership in large, multi-institution collaborations and travel as needed.