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Astrophysicist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Four Sea Group

Senior Software Engineer DevOps

Aurora, CO · On-site

$152 - $262/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Founded by an aerospace industry veteran and PhD astrophysicist, we support complex defense, space, software, systems, and mission-focused programs for government and industry partners. What sets FSG ...

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Astrophysicist information

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$8

$26

$61

How much do astrophysicist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for astrophysicist in the United States is $26.34, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.14 and $30.77 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Does being an astrophysicist pay well?

Astrophysicists typically earn a competitive salary, with median annual wages around $120,000 in the United States, depending on experience, education, and employer. Salaries can vary widely based on whether they work in academia, government research, or private industry, and advanced degrees and specialized skills can lead to higher pay.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an astrophysicist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Astrophysicist, you need a strong background in physics, mathematics, and astronomy, typically supported by a Ph.D. in astrophysics or a related field. Familiarity with data analysis tools like Python, MATLAB, and specialized software (e.g., IRAF or CASA), as well as experience with telescope instrumentation and computational modeling, are commonly required. Critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating with research teams and conveying complex findings. These skills and qualifications are crucial for conducting rigorous research, publishing scientific results, and advancing knowledge in the field of astrophysics.

What jobs can an astrophysicist do?

An astrophysicist can work in research institutions, universities, government agencies, or private industry, focusing on studying celestial phenomena, developing models, or analyzing data from telescopes and space missions. They often work as researchers, data analysts, or science communicators, utilizing skills in programming, data analysis, and scientific instrumentation. Many astrophysicists also pursue roles in aerospace, education, or science policy.

What is the difference between Astrophysicist vs Astronomer?

AspectAstrophysicistAstronomer
Required CredentialsPh.D. in Physics, Astronomy, or related fieldPh.D. or Master's in Astronomy or related field
Work EnvironmentResearch institutions, universities, space agenciesObservatories, research centers, universities
Industry UsageFocus on theoretical models, simulations, and data analysisFocus on observation, data collection, and cataloging celestial objects

Astrophysicists and astronomers often share similar educational backgrounds and work environments. However, astrophysicists tend to focus more on the theoretical and physical aspects of celestial phenomena, while astronomers primarily concentrate on observation and data collection. Both roles are essential in advancing our understanding of the universe, but their daily tasks and research focus differ slightly.

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

Astrophysicists often collaborate with international teams, which can present challenges such as coordinating across different time zones, managing large datasets, and integrating diverse methodologies. Effective communication is essential, as projects may involve physicists, engineers, and data scientists with varying expertise. Additionally, securing access to limited telescope time and computational resources can add pressure to project timelines. Overcoming these challenges helps foster innovation and broadens the impact of their research.

What is an astrophysicist?

Astrophysicists work in the field of astrophysics, which deals with the laws of physics and chemistry to explain the birth, life, and death of planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and other objects in the universe. They analyze data taken from telescopes, run simulations, and write code to solve problems. They can work as instrumentalists on the engineering-side, designing new detectors and telescopes to see farther into space, or they may work on the theoretical side of the field, using numerical modeling and physics. Astrophysicists must be able to solve complex problems, sometimes using computers and basic programming skills, and work long hours.

More about Astrophysicist jobs

Who are the top companies hiring for Astrophysicist jobs?

The top employers for Astrophysicist jobs are:

What states have the most Astrophysicist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Astrophysicist jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Astrophysicist jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Astrophysicist jobs are:

Astrophysicist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Astrophysicist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $54,791 per year, or $26.3 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer- DevOps

Four Sea Group

Littleton, CO • On-site

$140 - $190/hr

Other

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Four Sea Group is a 100% employee-owned technical mission support company based in Denver, Colorado. Founded by an aerospace industry veteran and PhD astrophysicist, we support complex defense, space, software, systems, and mission-focused programs for government and industry partners. What sets FSG apart is the caliber of our people and the way we operate: we are a reputation-driven team of highly skilled engineers and technical experts who are brought in for their depth, judgment, and ability to solve difficult problems. As an employee-owned company, we have built our compensation, benefits, and culture around a simple idea: when the company succeeds, that value should go back to the people doing the work.

About the role

Four Sea Group is seeking a Senior Software Engineer specializing in DevOps to strengthen the secure, repeatable, and reliable delivery of software across customer program environments.

This role contributes directly to Four Sea Group's ability to deliver mission-critical software by improving how applications are built, tested, secured, deployed, monitored, and maintained. Working across development, infrastructure, integration, test, and cybersecurity teams, the DevOps Engineer will help reduce deployment risk, improve delivery consistency, and enable engineering teams to release software more efficiently.

The engineer will also contribute to Four Sea Group's broader technical capability by developing reusable automation, establishing dependable delivery practices within assigned scope, and helping programs adopt modern cloud, container, CI/CD, and DevSecOps approaches. The ideal candidate combines a software engineering foundation with strong automation, Linux, cloud, and container experience and can independently resolve complex issues that span applications and their supporting environments.

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • Typically six or more years of relevant software engineering, DevOps, platform engineering, cloud engineering, or software-delivery experience.
  • Active Top Secret clearance at the time of hire, with the ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI access with a CI Poly.
  • Experience developing, deploying, or supporting multi-tiered, distributed, or microservice-based applications.
  • Hands-on experience with at least one major cloud platform, such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
  • Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, or OpenShift.
  • Experience developing or maintaining continuous integration and continuous deployment pipelines using GitLab CI, Jenkins, or comparable tools.
  • Strong scripting and automation experience.
  • Experience working with and troubleshooting Linux-based software environments.
  • Understanding of the full software development lifecycle, including development, integration, testing, deployment, and operational support.
  • Working knowledge of networking, security, and firewall concepts relevant to software deployment and system connectivity.
  • Understanding of DevSecOps principles and the integration of security controls into automated software-delivery workflows.
  • Familiarity with identity and access management concepts in cloud, containerized, or enterprise application environments.
  • Experience building automated pipelines or processes that improve software deployment, testing, configuration, security, or operational reliability.
  • Experience developing applications with Angular or React. Experience developing or integrating with Java-based services is preferred.
  • Ability to independently troubleshoot complex issues across applications, pipelines, containers, cloud platforms, Linux environments, networking, and security controls.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
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