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Astronomer Jobs in Springfield, VA (NOW HIRING)

Core4ce Careers

Operations Liaison

Springfield, VA

Bachelor's degree or higher in Astronomy, Astro-Biology, Astrophysics, Astronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, Aerodynamics, Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science ...

Core4ce

Operations Liaison

Springfield, VA · On-site

Bachelor's degree or higher in Astronomy, Astro-Biology, Astrophysics, Astronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, Aerodynamics, Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science ...

Core4ce

Operations Liaison

Springfield, VA · On-site

$145K - $166K/yr

Bachelor's degree or higher in Astronomy, Astro-Biology, Astrophysics, Astronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, Aerodynamics, Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science ...

Computational Physics, Inc.

OPS Analyst

Washington, DC

$105K - $125K/yr

Qualifications * BS from an ABET-accredited institution in physics, astronomy, geophysics, engineering, computer science, or a closely related physical science discipline. 3 years of relevant ...

Computational Physics, Inc.

OPS Analyst

Washington, DC · On-site

$105K - $125K/yr

QualificationsBS from an ABET-accredited institution in physics, astronomy, geophysics, engineering, computer science, or a closely related physical science discipline. 3 years of relevant technical ...

Computational Physics Inc

OPS Analyst

Washington, DC · On-site

$105 - $125/hr

Qualifications * BS from an ABET-accredited institution in physics, astronomy, geophysics, engineering, computer science, or a closely related physical science discipline. 3 years of relevant ...

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All JobsAstronomer JobsAstronomer Jobs in Springfield, VA

Astronomer information

What is an astronomer?

Astronomers are scientists who study celestial objects, such as stars, planets, galaxies, and the universe as a whole. They use telescopes and other instruments to observe and analyze phenomena beyond Earth's atmosphere. Their work helps us understand the origins, evolution, and properties of objects in space, as well as fundamental questions about the nature of the universe. Astronomers often work in research, education, or observatories, and may specialize in areas like astrophysics, cosmology, or planetary science.

What do astronomers do?

Astronomers study the universe, from the planets and stars in our solar system to the Milky Way and galaxy beyond. Their job is to discover how everything works together and research the origins and effects of heavenly anomalies, such as black holes, asteroids, and pulsars. What an astronomer does on a day-to-day basis will vary significantly based on their specialty. For instance, planetary astronomers study the rotation and life cycles of planets, moons, and asteroids. Stellar astronomers focus on the life cycle of stars, including the study of black holes, supernovas, nebulae, and star creation. An astronomer may also study the sun and its magnetic field and storms or focus solely on the Milky Way and galaxy. Astronomers wishing to focus on a broader, more all-encompassing view of the universe often choose to enter the field of cosmology which involves immersion into the history of the universe, as well as active research and hypothesis on current theories, such as dark matter, string theory, and multiverses.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an astronomer?

To thrive as an Astronomer, you need a strong background in physics, mathematics, and computer science, usually with a Ph.D. in astronomy or a related field. Expertise in data analysis software, telescope operation, and programming languages like Python or MATLAB is commonly required. Critical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are standout soft skills for interpreting data and sharing findings. These skills are essential for conducting rigorous research, collaborating with international teams, and advancing our understanding of the universe.

What are some common challenges astronomers face when working on research projects?

Astronomers often encounter challenges such as securing telescope time, managing large volumes of data, and adapting to rapidly advancing technologies. Collaboration with international teams is common, requiring effective communication across different time zones and cultures. Additionally, astronomers need to stay updated on the latest research, which can be demanding given the fast-paced nature of the field. Overcoming these hurdles is key to making significant scientific contributions.

What is the difference between Astronomer vs Astrophysicist?

AspectAstronomerAstrophysicist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Astronomy, Physics, or related field; often a Ph.D. for research rolesBachelor's or Master's in Physics, Astronomy, or related; Ph.D. common for research
Work EnvironmentObservatories, research institutions, universities, planetariumsResearch labs, universities, government agencies, space agencies
Industry UsageAcademic, research, public outreachResearch, academia, space exploration, theoretical modeling

Both astronomers and astrophysicists often share similar educational backgrounds and work environments. However, astronomers typically focus on observational data and public outreach, while astrophysicists tend to emphasize theoretical modeling and space research. The choice between the two depends on whether you prefer hands-on observation or theoretical work within the field of space sciences.

Is astronomer a high paying job?

Astronomers typically earn a median annual salary of around $100,000, but salaries can vary based on experience, education, and location. While some positions in academia or research institutions may offer lower pay, those in industry or with advanced degrees tend to earn higher salaries.

What jobs do astronomers get?

Astronomers typically work in research institutions, universities, government agencies, or observatories, focusing on studying celestial objects and phenomena. They often conduct data analysis, develop models, and publish scientific findings, using tools like telescopes and computer simulations. Many astronomers also work in education or science communication roles.
More about Astronomer jobs

What cities near Springfield, VA are hiring for Astronomer jobs?

Cities near Springfield, VA with the most Astronomer job openings:

Astronomer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Astronomer job openings in Springfield, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 55% Physical, 12% Hybrid, and 33% Remote job distribution.

Solutions Architect, Scientific GPU Compute

Schmidt Entities

Washington, DC • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

Schmidt Sciences is a nonprofit organization founded in 2024 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt that works to accelerate scientific knowledge and breakthroughs with the most promising, advanced tools to support a thriving planet. The organization prioritizes research in areas poised for impact including AI and advanced computing, astrophysics, biosciences, climate, and space-as well as supporting researchers in a variety of disciplines through its science systems program.
About the AI & Advanced Computing Center ("AI Center")
The AI Center is a grantmaking and research group that views AI as a transformative force for scientific discovery and societal progress. Over the next decade, we aim to support key researchers who are working to make AI systems competent, trustworthy, reliable, and able to effectively partner with human scientists on the next generation of discovery. We will also make distinctive investments in beneficial AI areas where philanthropy has a unique advantage. By supporting enabling infrastructure, foundational research, and targeted programs in science disciplines, the AI Center will create the conditions for AI-enabled discovery to achieve its promise.
The AI Center currently has three focus areas:
  1. AI for Science - using AI to improve how scientists generate hypotheses, conduct experiments, analyze data, and produce new knowledge - and do this in a way that specifically accelerates the discovery process.
  2. Science of AI - understanding and controlling AI systems to mitigate and manage potential risks from advanced AI. Improve AI reliability and performance in areas of limited commercial interest.
  3. Beneficial AI - providing scientific foundations and datasets for understanding the larger human impacts of AI.

These programs support and draw on related Schmidt Sciences engagements, such as the Virtual Institute for Scientific Software (VISS), which seeks to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery through the support and development of high-quality, community-oriented scientific software. These philanthropic efforts support experienced engineers who are tasked with building open-source infrastructure and applications for multi-disciplinary, high-performance, at-scale scientific discovery.
The Role
We are seeking a technical advisor to bridge the gap between cutting-edge scientific research and high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure. In this role, you will serve as the primary strategic liaison for Schmidt Sciences-funded researchers globally, working across all scientific disciplines-including climate, synthetic biology, astrophysics, AI & advanced computing-to accelerate discovery through advanced compute resources. You will be responsible for evaluating the complex GPU and AI/ML needs of world-class researchers, and leading the technical onboarding process to ensure their initiatives are successfully deployed on a wide range of compute platforms. This role reports to the director of the AI Institute at Schmidt Sciences. Over time, this role may have direct reports.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Grantee Strategic Advisory: Serve as a technical and strategic advisor to Schmidt leadership and principal investigators across a diverse portfolio of scientific disciplines.
  • Compute Needs Assessment: Conduct deep-dive technical consultations with academic labs and other research organizations to translate scientific goals into specific GPU, AI/ML, and HPC and cloud requirements.
  • Technical Onboarding & Enablement: Lead the end-to-end onboarding of research teams and grantee institutions onto the Schmidt Sciences compute infrastructure, and provide comprehensive training to boost cloud and compute proficiency of our users.
  • Resource Advocacy: Act as a "Proposal Concierge," helping grantees align their research proposals and research activities with the available compute resources to maximize scientific impact.
  • Feedback Loop: Deliver critical field insights from researchers to internal product and engineering teams to drive the continuous improvement of compute services and research tools.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Advanced Scientific Background: A post-graduate degree in a technical field such as computer science, biology, climate, astrophysics, or a related computational science
  • Computing Expertise: 8+ years of combined experience spanning AI/ML infrastructure and research-facing technical advisory; experience building networks across academic, nonprofit, or government research is strongly preferred
  • Cross-Disciplinary Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate complex technical and scientific concepts to both high-impact research scientists and executive leadership.
  • Hands-on experience with cluster workload management using Slurm and Kubernetes.
  • Successful track record of accelerating time from grant approval to first result for computationally intensive projects.
  • History of collaborative impact in high-intensity, team-based environments.
  • Sense of controlled urgency in driving work to completion.
  • The highest integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality.
  • Be able to travel within the U.S. on a regular basis as needed.
  • Understanding of the tech stack needed to design, train, deploy, and maintain state-of-the-art AI models at a production scale.
  • Experience producing technical writing for expert and general audiences.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • PhD in a technical field such as computer science, biology, climate, astrophysics, or a related computational science
  • Grant & Funding Acumen: Proven track record of supporting large-scale, federally funded, or private scientific grant proposals.
  • In-depth knowledge of data center storage and networking technologies and solutions.
  • Proficiency with modern machine-learning hosting software frameworks, such as NVIDIA Dynamo, TensorFlow Serving, Ray, etc.
  • Prior leadership of data center infrastructure initiatives and projects, such as evaluating hardware scalability, securing data, or executing large-scale upgrades.
  • Expertise in relevant technical focus areas, e.g., AI model performance monitoring or network and storage optimization, etc.
  • Expert-level experience and industry credentials in the software and hardware frameworks that drive modern AI, and competence in at least one, and preferably multiple, fields of science impacted by modern AI.
  • Ability to work with and effectively translate technical concepts across multiple scientific disciplines.
  • Ability to critically evaluate scientific and technical publications and emerging methods in related disciplines.
  • Experience working with science-focused institutions such as philanthropic organizations or academic/government research institutions.

$180,000 - $250,000 a year
This is an exempt position.
Schmidt Sciences, is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that proudly pursues and hires a
diverse workforce. We do not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color,
religion or religious belief, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender-identity, sexual
orientation, disability, age, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable local,
state, or federal laws or prohibited by Company policy. We strive for a healthy and safe workplace and
strictly prohibit harassment of any kind.

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