Operations Scientist

An ideal role for a talented and motivated radio astronomer with Observatory experience who will contribute to the operational planning and commissioning of the world's largest radio telescope.

The Role

The Operations Scientist will support the planning for the operations of the SKAO and will bring broad operational and scientific experience within the full range of activities required to run a successful radio observatory. This includes knowledge of the telescope systems, data processing and analysis, as well as experience serving a diverse and distributed user community.

The successful candidate will draw on their experience, expertise within their established networks and the broader astronomical community to inform the detailed SKAO operational plan and policies. They will also be required to support the planning and execution of scientific commissioning and verification for the SKA Observatory.

The successful candidate will have good organisational, communication and collaborative skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting the development and continual refinement of the science operational model for the SKA telescopes
• Ensuring consistency between the SKA System Level requirements with those needed for the successful future operation of the SKA telescopes
• Contributing to commissioning and science verification, including the development of plans, requirements for early array releases and test procedures
• Supporting the development of software needed to operate the SKA telescopes or necessary for the SKAO user community
• Effectively collaborating with SKAO staff across the three sites (with possible occasional travel to the SKA telescope sites in Australia and/or South Africa)
• Optionally undertaking a programme of personal research up to 25% of employed hours
• Undertaking other duties as directed by the Head of Science Operations