Astrophysics Center Program Scientist [Radio Astronomy]
On-siteArlington, Virginia, United States or New York, United States
Job Summary
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 ensure facilities achieve their objectives. Review survey strategy, operational planning, calibration approaches, data products, and software plans, providing independent scientific assessment. 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, monitoring progress and identifying opportunities to maximize impact. Represent the Center in technical reviews, scientific meetings, workshops, and interactions with the broader radio astronomy community. Advise leadership on scientific priorities and strategic decisions, including contributing to the exploration of future radio astronomy facilities and concepts.
Required 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
- Based at one of the Schmidt Sciences offices (Maryland, New York, or Virginia)
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required
Desired Qualifications
- Experience with the commissioning or early scientific operation of facility-class radio observatories
- Experience participating in scientific advisory committees, technical review panels, or governance activities for major astronomical facilities
- Experience working with external collaborators, partner institutions, or multi-institutional scientific teams
- Expertise in one or more areas enabled by modern radio astronomy, such as transient astronomy, pulsars, cosmology, exoplanets, or multi-messenger astrophysics
- Familiarity with large-scale radio astronomy software, calibration pipelines, or survey data products
- Broad scientific interests spanning multiple areas of radio astronomy and an interest in future observatory concepts
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