Scientist

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) seeks a Scientist to advance cutting-edge research in radio astronomy and astrophysics. In this role, you will design and execute observational programs using world-class NRAO telescopes, analyze large and complex data sets, and develop data processing tools in a Linux-based environment. You will collaborate with international teams of scientists, engineers, and software developers, contribute to proposals and publications, and mentor junior researchers. NRAO offers a collaborative, mission-driven culture, access to advanced technology, and strong support for professional development.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct radio astronomy research projects using NRAO facilities
• Analyze large, complex data sets from radio telescopes using advanced software and programming
• Develop and refine data processing pipelines and scientific algorithms
• Collaborate with international scientists, engineers, and software teams on multi-disciplinary projects
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at scientific conferences
• Contribute to proposal writing, telescope time requests, and grant applications
• Support observatory operations by defining scientific requirements and data quality standards
• Mentor students, postdocs, and early-career researchers
• Document methods, results, and software to ensure reproducibility
• Participate in cross-functional meetings to align science goals with engineering and computing solutions

Required Skills

• Radio astronomy techniques and observational methods
• Python or similar scientific programming language (e.g., C/C++, Julia, R)
• Data analysis and statistical modeling for large scientific data sets
• Signal processing and interferometric imaging
• Use of radio astronomy software (e.g., CASA)
• High-performance and/or distributed computing
• Scientific writing and publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Experiment and observation design
• Version control (e.g., Git) and collaborative software workflows
• Proposal development and scientific presentation skills