Operational Support Scientists (Radio Astronomy) - 2 posts

Operational Support Scientists (Radio Astronomy) – 2 posts

JODRELL BANK CENTRE FOR ASTROPHYSICS (JBCA)

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

£31,076 – £38,183 p.a

Fixed Term - 3 years

Two enthusiastic Operational Support Scientists are required to join JBCA to further develop and support the work of our world leading facilities at Jodrell Bank Observatory and across the eMerlin/VLBI National Facility.

With responsibility for designing, developing and maintaining software systems for the control and monitoring of all the radio telescopes operated by JBCA and the development of astronomical data analysis software together with interfacing to hardware.

Facilitating and developing the operations of the telescopes, whilst also supporting their scientific use, will be the focus of your daily work. This will involve taking part in daily operations, including: scheduling user observations; quality control of scientific observations; executing and analysing test observations for performance assessment and providing support to facility users.

With an understanding of radio telescopes, observational and data processing techniques in astronomy, you will have experience and/or an interest in operational aspects of radio astronomy facilities. You will need to respond to failures outside normal working hours to ensure safety, protect valuable equipment and minimise loss of observations. You will have good diagnostic skills, excellent communications skills and  be able to work independently and as part of a team.

Job Reference : S&E-09971    Closing Date: 31st May 2017