X-ray Optics R&D: Ultra-Thin High-Res Mirrors

ORAU; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

NASA NGXO at Goddard Space Flight Center offers a postdoctoral opportunity to advance X-ray optics research and develop high-precision mirror technologies for future space telescopes.

You will join a multidisciplinary team, contribute to beamline campaigns, metrology method development, data analysis, and software tools, and help mature technology toward flight readiness for missions in the late 2030s.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in physics, optics, astronomy, aerospace or mechanical engineering, or related field.
• Strong background in X-ray physics, optical systems, and metrology techniques including interferometry (Fizeau, white light).
• Proficiency in scientific programming (Python, MATLAB, IDL) with data analysis, visualization, and optical raytracing.

Responsibilities

• Design and participate in beamline testing campaigns for X-ray mirror segments and modules.
• Develop robust metrology methodologies to characterize mirror surfaces across multiple spatial frequencies.
• Create and refine analysis tools to integrate metrology data and simulate module coalignment performance.

Skills

X-ray physics

Optical systems

Metrology techniques

Python

MATLAB

IDL

Data analysis

Git

Communication

Education

Ph.D. in physics/optics/astronomy/aerospace/mechanical engineering

Job description

NASA NGXO at Goddard Space Flight Center offers a postdoctoral opportunity to advance X-ray optics research and develop high-precision mirror technologies for future space telescopes.

You will join a multidisciplinary team, contribute to beamline campaigns, metrology method development, data analysis, and software tools, and help mature technology toward flight readiness for missions in the late 2030s.