SKA-Mid Operations Scientist

The Role

The SKAO Operations group is seeking to employ a talented and motivated SKA-Mid Operations Scientist to join our team based in the SKAO Global Headquarters located at Jodrell Bank in the UK. While this role has a SKA-Mid focus and the successful candidate is expected to primarily work with the Mid telescope, they will join a very collaborative broader Science Operations team that is distributed across the three host countries. 

With the SKA now in construction, planning for the operations of the SKA has entered an exciting phase. In order to support our planning, we are looking for someone with 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 possess strong organisational, communication, and collaborative skill to excel in this role.

The appointees will be encouraged to carry out research up to 25% of employed hours. Appropriate support, including conference travel, will be provided.

SKAO is committed to providing an inclusive and flexible working environment, meeting the requests of our Colleagues whilst also fulfilling the needs and objectives of the Observatory. These roles may be offered on a full-time, part-time or job share basis. Please raise your preference in your application.

There may be occasions where this role requires the post holder to work across different time zones and, in line with SKAO policy, flexible working hours will be supported in agreement with the line manager.

Informal enquiries may be made to Shari Breen, Head of Science Operations ([email protected]).

Key Responsibilities

Under the direction of the SKAO Head of Science Operations, the post holder will:

• Support the development and continual refinement of the science operational model for the SKA telescopes, particularly SKA-Mid;

• Ensure consistency between the SKA System Level requirements with those needed for the successful future operation of SKA-Mid;

• Contribute to commissioning and science verification of SKA-Mid, including the development of plans, requirements for early array releases and test procedures;

• Support the development of software needed to operate the SKA telescopes or necessary for the SKA user community;  

• Effectively collaborate with SKA staff across the three sites (i.e. some travel to the SKAO telescope sites in Australia and/or South Africa will be necessary);

• Undertake other duties as directed by the Head of Science Operations.