Vacant Position – Operations Astronomer

SARAO; Krugersdorp; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

SARAO, located in Krugersdorp, South Africa, seeks an Operations Astronomer to join the VLBI team. The role involves operating the single dish and VLBI activities, conducting research, and supervising junior researchers.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in Physics or Astronomy, post-doctoral experience, and a track record of publications. Responsibilities include scheduling, calibration, instrumentation work, and mentoring students.

Qualifications

• PhD in Physics, Astronomy or related field.
• 3 years post-doctoral experience in observations in astronomy.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Proven record of publications in refereed journals.
• Experience in reducing VLBI / single-dish data.
• Able to program in C / Python.

Responsibilities

• Scheduling daily VLBI and single-dish operations.
• Maintain calibration activities for the single dish.
• Test and integrate new instrumentation for VLBI systems.
• Supervise and mentor postgraduate students and researchers.
• Conduct scientific research and foster collaborations.
• Publish peer-reviewed articles and present in conferences.

Skills

Publications in refereed journals

Excellent communication

Fluent in English

Education

PhD in Physics, Astronomy or related field

Tools

VLBI data reduction

C/Python programming

Driver's license

Job description

The National Research Foundation (NRF) is established by an Act of Parliament and mandated to contribute to national development by supporting, promoting and advancing research and human capacity development, through funding and the provision of the necessary research infrastructure, in order to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of science and technology, including humanities, social sciences and indigenous knowledge; and supporting and promoting public awareness of, and engagement with, science.

The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), a facility of the National Research Foundation, is responsible for managing all radio astronomy initiatives and facilities in South Africa, including the MeerKAT Radio Telescope in the Karoo, and the Geodesy and VLBI activities at the HartRAO facility. SARAO also coordinates the African Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network (AVN) for the eight SKA partner countries in Africa, as well as South Africans contribution to the infrastructure and engineering planning for the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope. To maximise the return on South Africa s investment in radio astronomy, SARAO is managing programmes to create capacity in radio astronomy science and engineering research, and the technical capacity required to support site operations.

SARAO is seeking to appoint Operations Astronomer to join the VLBI team. The main purpose of this job is operate the single dish and VLBI operations, conduct research and supervise junior researchers.

Key Responsibilities

• Scheduling daily single dish operation and maintaining calibration activities.
• Single dish instrumentation and techniques by testing and integrating a replacement spectral-line correlator and pulsar timer.
• VLBI operations by assisting with both Astronomical (primarily) and Geodetic (secondarily) VLBI Operations.
• Supervision and training post-graduate Astronomy Students and post-doctoral researchers.
• Conduct Scientific research and foster scientific collaboration.
• Publish peer-reviewed articles and publish and present in a non-peer reviewed environment

Key Requirements

Qualification

• PhD in Physics, Astronomy or related field
• 3 years post-doctoral experience in observations in astronomy.
• Valid Driver’s License
• Proven record of publications in refereed journals.
• Experience in reducing VLBI / single-disk data.
• Able to program in C / Python.

Experience

• Radio telescope operations experience.
• Lecturing experience.
• Astronomy software development experience.
• Good verbal and written communication skills

Knowledge

• Astronomy publication record.
• Good communication skills
• Fluent in English
• IT Skills

Additional Notes

• Attention to detail
• Planning and organising
• Scientific writing

Information: The website www.nrf.ac.za provides more details on the NRF initiatives and activities.

Closing Date: 30 October 2026

The NRF offers a challenging career and competitive remuneration package which is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The NRF is committed to employment equity and redress and the appointment to the position will be made in line with the NRF Employment Equity Plan.

The NRF reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Correspondence will be sent to short-listed candidates only