Research Associate in Data Processing Pipelines for the SKA Radio Telescopes (Fixed Term)

Research Associate in Data Processing Pipelines for the SKA Radio Telescopes (Fixed Term)

Department/location: Department of Physics

Salary: £34,610-£35,608 £37,694-£46,049

Reference: KA47709

Category: Research

Closing date: 4 December 2025

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 30 November 2027 in the first instance.

A position exists for a Research Associate in Data Processing Pipelines for the SKA radio telescopes in the Cavendish Astrophysics Group, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge.

The position is funded by the STFC Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Construction Project, an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescopes. The SKA will provide unprecedented sensitivity and survey speed, transforming our understanding of the Universe from the formation of the first stars and galaxies to the search for life beyond Earth. The successful candidate will join the Cambridge SKA team working on data processing, software development, and system integration for the SKA Science Data Processor (SDP).

The role involves contributing to the development and implementation of data processing pipelines that transform raw telescope data into science-ready products. This includes developing and testing software for data ingestion, calibration, imaging, and quality control. The post holder will also help support the integration of these pipelines into the wider SKA software ecosystem, collaborating closely with international partners and industry as part of the SAFe Agile Release Train (ART) framework.

Applicants should hold (or be close to completing) a PhD in astrophysics, radio astronomy, physics, computer science, or a related field. A strong background in scientific programming (Python, C/C++) and experience with software development for data-intensive systems are essential. Familiarity with radio astronomy, aperture synthesis, or high-performance computing will be considered advantageous.

The role would particularly suit candidates interested in Big Data and Exascale computing and in gaining experience at the interface of scientific research and large-scale software engineering. The post holder will work within a collaborative team environment, contributing to software delivery milestones and participating in regular agile development cycles. Up to 20% of the post holder’s time may be dedicated to independent research, ideally related to SKA Key Science Projects such as 21-cm cosmology.

The successful candidate will be based at the Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0US, under the supervision of Professor Eloy de Lera Acedo.

Salary Ranges: Research Associate: £37,694 - £46,049 (Grade 7), Research Assistant (if PhD not yet awarded): £34,610 (Grade 5)

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter in the upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.

If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Eloy de Lera Acedo ([email protected]). If you have any questions about the application process, please contact [email protected].

Please quote reference KA47709 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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