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Astrophysics Programming Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Solutions Architect - East Coast

Boston, NY ยท On-site +1

$190K - $250K/yr

... Astronomer's Professional Services team. You work directly with engineering leaders, architects, and executive stakeholders to design and deploy data orchestration platforms on Astro, define a clear ...

CA ยท On-site

... astrophysics; OR * Bachelor's in physics or astronomy AND Master's in engineering, mathematics, meteorology, or geophysics; OR * The equivalent * Demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the ...

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Astrophysics Programming information

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$81K

$110.8K

$130K

How much do astrophysics programming jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for astrophysics programming in the United States is $110,762.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,500.00 and $119,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as an Astrophysics Programmer, you need a solid background in astrophysics or physics, strong mathematical skills, and advanced proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C++, or Fortran. Experience with data analysis tools, simulation software, and familiarity with scientific computing platforms like MATLAB or Astropy is typically required. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for solving complex problems and collaborating with research teams. These abilities enable accurate modeling, efficient data processing, and robust scientific discoveries in the field of astrophysics.

What is astrophysics programming?

Astrophysics programming involves using computer programming and software development to analyze astronomical data, simulate cosmic phenomena, and solve complex problems in astrophysics. Professionals in this field write code to process telescope observations, model the behavior of stars and galaxies, and visualize large-scale structures in the universe. They often use languages like Python, C++, or Fortran, and work with specialized scientific libraries and tools. Astrophysics programmers collaborate closely with astronomers and physicists to interpret data and contribute to scientific research.

What is the difference between Astrophysics Programming vs Data Scientist?

AspectAstrophysics ProgrammingData Scientist
Required credentialsPhysics or astrophysics degree, programming skillsStatistics, computer science, or related degree, programming skills
Work environmentResearch institutions, observatories, academiaCorporate, tech companies, finance, healthcare
Industry usageScientific research, space agenciesBusiness analytics, machine learning, data analysis

Astrophysics Programming and Data Scientist roles both require strong programming skills and analytical thinking. However, astrophysics programming focuses on space research and scientific data, often within academic or research institutions, while data scientists work across various industries analyzing business or consumer data. The credentials overlap in programming and quantitative skills, but the application areas differ significantly.

What are some common challenges faced by programmers in astrophysics research teams?

Astrophysics programmers often work with large, complex datasets and must optimize code for high-performance computing environments. A common challenge is ensuring code accuracy and reproducibility, given the precision required in scientific simulations and data analysis. Collaboration with physicists and astronomers is frequent, so clear communication and an understanding of scientific objectives are essential. Additionally, staying current with evolving programming languages and software tools used in the astrophysics community is important for success in this role.
Infographic showing various Astrophysics Programming job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 40% Full Time, and 60% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $110,762 per year, or $53.3 per hour.
Software Engineer - Airflow Infrastructure

Software Engineer - Airflow Infrastructure

Astronomer

New York, NY โ€ข On-site

$150K - $165K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

Astronomer empowers data teams to bring mission-critical software, analytics, and AI to life and is the company behind Astro, the industry-leading unified DataOps platform powered by Apache Airflowยฎ. Astro accelerates building reliable data products that unlock insights, unleash AI value, and powers data-driven applications. Trusted by more than 800 of the world's leading enterprises, Astronomer lets businesses do more with their data. To learn more, visit www.astronomer.io.
About this role:
At Astronomer, we're redefining how companies run Apache Airflow at scale. Our R&D organization is home to some of the most innovative minds in cloud infrastructure and open-source software.
We're looking for a Software Engineer to join our Airflow Infra team, part of Astro, our flagship cloud platform. You'll be building the critical layer that connects the open-source Airflow ecosystem to enterprise-grade, massively scalable cloud infrastructure.
Your work will directly influence how global organizations orchestrate data pipelines at scale - making them faster, more reliable, and easier to manage.
If you're driven by impact, excited by scale, and ready to work on the kind of infrastructure challenges that push the boundaries of what's possible in cloud-native systems, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for.
This role is based in New York City with a hybrid work schedule.
What you get to do:
  • Engineer backend services with high quality, maintainable and well tested code.
  • Partner with other engineers, product, customer reliability support, and leadership to achieve business goals and define how our systems should evolve.
  • Regularly engage in code reviews and provide constructive feedback.
  • Optimize the performance, reliability and scalability of existing backend services.
  • Investigate, prototype and propose ideas to improve user experience.
  • Create and maintain technical documentation for systems and processes, ensuring clarity and accessibility.
  • Participate in on-call rotation, troubleshoot and debug to solve incidents.

What you bring to the role:
  • 3-5 years of experience in Python / Golang and Kubernetes.
  • Solid understanding of and experience with integrating with RESTful APIs and distributed systems.
  • Comfortable with testing frameworks, such as pytest.
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with experience in creating technical specifications.
  • A passion for reliability and operational excellence.
  • Ability to scope work and coordinate cross-functionally to address risks and ensure successful delivery.
  • Experience with software development best practices, such as code reviews, testing, CI/CD, version control, automation and debugging.
  • Ability to adjust to change and rapid pace of development.
  • Proactive approach to identifying and addressing issues, with a focus on ownership and accountability.

Bonus points if you have:
  • Experience with Apache Airflow
  • Experience working on a SaaS product

The estimated salary for this role ranges from $150,000 - $165,000 based on leveling and geography, along with an equity component and a comprehensive benefits package. This range is merely an estimate; actual compensation may deviate from this range based on skills, experience, and qualifications.
#LI-Fulltime
#LI-Hybrid
At Astronomer, we value diversity. We are an equal opportunity employer: we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.