Job description
Join the Aurora Institute for Space Science as a Senior Astronomy Data Scientist, where you will lead the design and execution of data analysis pipelines for multimodal telescope datasets.
We are seeking a passionate, collaborative expert who can translate complex astronomical questions into scalable software solutions, partner with observers and theoreticians, and help advance space science through rigorous data-driven insights.
With access to cutting-edge facilities and a vibrant scientific community in the greater Los Angeles area, you will influence research directions, mentor researchers, and contribute to high-impact publications and conferences.
Responsibility
- Lead end-to-end data analysis for imaging and spectroscopic datasets from ground- and space-based telescopes.
- Collaborate with astronomers to define scientific requirements and deliver actionable results.
- Develop and maintain scalable data processing pipelines using Python, AstroPy, SQL, and distributed computing.
- Design and deploy machine learning models for object detection, classification, and anomaly detection on large astronomical catalogs.
- Mentor junior researchers and contribute to peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
- Communicate results to interdisciplinary teams and external partners, translating technical findings into strategic insights.
Qualification
- PhD in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physics, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and industry experience.
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in astronomical data analysis and software development.
- Proficiency in Python (NumPy, SciPy, AstroPy) and SQL; strong software engineering practices.
- Experience with large-scale data processing on HPC clusters or cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or similar).
- Familiarity with astronomical data formats (FITS, HDF5) and data visualization tools.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills; ability to convey complex results to diverse audiences.
- Proven track record of publications, presentations, or successful project deliveries in astronomy.