About this role
Job title: Schmidt Observatory System Postdoctoral Fellow
About the Role Schmidt Observatory System Postdoctoral Fellows will be the inaugural cohort embedded in the development of the Schmidt Observatory System. The two-year, fixed-term fellowship aims to advance system design, calibration, and science-enabled operations across a network of ground- and space-based observatories. Fellows work in a small, high-impact team, translating scientific goals into technical requirements and delivering publishable results.
What You'll Do
- Contribute to and, where appropriate, lead system-level analyses that improve observatory performance, calibration, and readiness
- Develop simulations, models, and tools that inform instrument design, observational strategy, and predicted scientific yield for key science cases
- Translate technical system behavior into quantified scientific impact
- Contribute to design reviews and cross-observatory integration efforts
- Produce technical reports, performance forecasts, and peer-reviewed publications
- Build software tools or analysis frameworks that support observatory capabilities and scientific use
- Collaborate across instrumentation, operations, and data systems teams
- Participate in science definition discussions that shape observatory priorities and observing strategy
- Present work at internal meetings and external conferences, contributing to the broader scientific community
- Contribute to commissioning planning and on-sky verification of instrument and system performance
What We're Looking For
- PhD (or equivalent) in astronomy, physics, engineering, or a closely related field with demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and publish results
- Strong background in system design, instrumentation, data analysis, simulations or modeling, and calibration techniques
- Experience working across multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, and operations staff
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable requirements
- Willingness to travel for conferences, collaboration meetings, and field campaigns
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, taking ownership of defined problem areas
Compensation & Benefits
- Support will be available for travel, conference attendance, publications, computing, and access to advanced AI and data resources