Senior Observational Astrophysicist — Telescopes & Data Lead

Placements24; Upington; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Conference travel

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Astrophysicist specializing in Observational Astronomy to join an renowned institution in Upington. The role requires on-site presence to develop and utilize advanced astronomical facilities and to lead cutting-edge research using state-of-the-art telescopes.

The ideal candidate will hold a Ph.D., have extensive postdoctoral observational experience, and possess strong data-analysis skills with IRAF, CASA, and Python (Astropy).

Qualifications

• PhD in Astronomy, Astrophysics or related field.
• 8+ years of postdoctoral research in observational astronomy.
• Strong publication record and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct original research in observational astrophysics.
• Plan, execute, and analyze observations using optical and radio telescopes.
• Develop data reduction pipelines and analysis techniques.
• Collaborate with instrument scientists on new observational tech.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences.
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to outreach programs.

Skills

Observational astronomy

Data analysis

Research planning

Education

Ph.D. in Astronomy or Astrophysics

Tools

IRAF

CASA

Python (Astropy)

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Astrophysicist specializing in Observational Astronomy to join an renowned institution in Upington. The role requires on-site presence to develop and utilize advanced astronomical facilities and to lead cutting-edge research using state-of-the-art telescopes.

The ideal candidate will hold a Ph.D., have extensive postdoctoral observational experience, and possess strong data-analysis skills with IRAF, CASA, and Python (Astropy).