SKA-Low Commissioning Scientists

Join the SKA-Low Science Commissioning team and use your creativity, flexibility, and expertise to help unlock the scientific potential of the telescope during its construction phase.

As part of the construction of the SKA-Low Telescope, a growing team of commissioning scientists is presently planning, executing and analysing a suite of test observations on the array. This recruitment aims to expand the established team to facilitate comprehensive science commissioning activities as construction continues to ramp up.

We aim to fill three posts, who will take responsibility for specific technical areas, working under the direction of the Lead Commissioning Scientist, who will act as their functional and line manager.

The appointees will be encouraged to carry out research in astronomy or astronomical instrumentation at a level commensurate with the requirements of the post and in particular to exploit early opportunities with the SKA. Appropriate support, including conference travel, will be provided.

These roles are based in Perth, Western Australia, and occasional international and domestic travel will be required, to the SKAO Headquarters in the UK, to the SKAO Engineering Operations Centre in Geraldton, WA, and to the telescope site.

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. We are open to discussing flexible working opportunities with these roles being offered on a full-time, part-time 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.

These are fixed-term positions with a duration of 4 years.

Key Responsibilities

The SKAO is seeking to appoint experienced and motivated radio astronomers to plan and execute the scientific commissioning of the SKA-Low Telescope array. The postholders will join a small established group of commissioning astronomers based in Perth, WA. The primary tasks of the group are:

• Take responsibility for science commissioning, i.e. planning, execution and analysis of test observations on the array. The group works closely with the System Science Group based at GHQ (UK), which has oversight of commissioning of the SKA-Low Telescope.
• Close collaboration with engineering (hardware and software) groups involved in construction to verify aspects of the system and to identify and correct faults. There will be a particularly close interaction with the Assembly, Integration and Verification (AIV) Group based in Perth and Geraldton, WA.
• Support the AIV Group to verify the top-level engineering requirements of the array.
• Maintain a close interaction with the Science Operations Group, in particular to support Science Verification