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Astrophysics Researcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Pennsylvania State University

POSITION SPECIFICS The Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Penn State invites applicants for two Postdoctoral Researcher positions to work with Professor Jimmy DeLaunay and collaborators. The ...

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Astrophysics Researcher information

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$30K

$113.1K

$164.5K

How much do astrophysics researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for astrophysics researcher in the United States is $113,102.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,000.00 and $154,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an astrophysics researcher do?

An Astrophysics Researcher studies the physical properties and behaviors of celestial objects and phenomena, such as stars, galaxies, black holes, and cosmic radiation. They use theoretical models, computer simulations, and observational data from telescopes and satellites to advance our understanding of the universe. Their work often involves analyzing data, publishing findings in scientific journals, and collaborating with other scientists and institutions. Astrophysics Researchers may also contribute to the development of new instruments or techniques for observing space.

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

To thrive as an Astrophysics Researcher, you need a strong background in physics, mathematics, and astronomy, typically supported by a PhD in astrophysics or a related field. Familiarity with programming languages (such as Python or C++), data analysis tools, and experience with telescopes or simulation software is often required. Critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication skills help researchers analyze complex data, develop novel hypotheses, and collaborate with international teams. These skills are crucial for advancing scientific understanding, publishing impactful research, and contributing to large-scale projects in the field of astrophysics.

How do you become an astrophysics researcher?

To become an astrophysics researcher, typically a candidate needs a bachelor's degree in physics, astronomy, or a related field, followed by a master's or Ph.D. in astrophysics or a similar discipline. Developing strong analytical, programming, and observational skills, along with experience using telescopes and data analysis tools, is essential for conducting research in this field.

What is the difference between Astrophysics Researcher vs Astronomer?

AspectAstrophysics ResearcherAstronomer
Required CredentialsMaster's or Ph.D. in Physics, Astrophysics, or related fieldBachelor's or higher in Astronomy, Physics, or related field; advanced degrees preferred
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, observatories, space agenciesObservatories, research institutions, universities, planetariums
Industry UsagePrimarily in research and academia, space agencies, and private space companiesAcademic research, public outreach, observational studies

While both roles involve studying celestial phenomena, an Astrophysics Researcher focuses on theoretical and experimental research in astrophysics, often working on complex models and simulations. An Astronomer typically emphasizes observational studies, collecting data from telescopes and analyzing celestial objects. The two roles overlap in credentials and work environments but differ in their primary focus—research versus observation.

What are some of the typical challenges faced by astrophysics researchers when conducting observational studies?

Astrophysics Researchers often encounter challenges such as limited telescope time, weather-dependent observations, and the need to process large volumes of complex data. Collaborating with international teams and coordinating schedules across different observatories can also be demanding. Additionally, researchers must stay updated on the latest data analysis techniques and software tools to effectively interpret results and advance their projects.
More about Astrophysics Researcher jobs
What states have the most Astrophysics Researcher jobs? States with the most job openings for Astrophysics Researcher jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Astrophysics Researcher jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Astrophysics Researcher jobs are:
Astrophysics Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Astrophysics Researcher job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,102 per year, or $54.4 per hour.

Software Engineer (MESA), Center for Computational Astrophysics

Flatiron Institute

Manhattan, NY • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago

Job description

Description
The Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA) at the Flatiron Institute, a division of the Simons Foundation, is seeking a full-time research software engineer to develop, maintain, and contribute to the community-oriented software instrument tool MESA (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics), and contribute to projects that align with the research directions of the CCA. More information about the CCA can be found on the CCA website. We expect the position to adapt over time to the needs of the broader astronomical community and CCA research community.
Research in astronomy and astrophysics depends critically on open source and other scientific software projects that are largely community driven (i.e. not developed or maintained by specific institutions). The primary role of this position (approximately 60% of effort) is to help support the community-oriented software instrument tool MESA.
The other major role of this position is to support and contribute to projects that align with the current research directions of the CCA, and provide leadership in supporting the larger software community within CCA.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The CCA seeks a full-time research software engineer to support the MESA (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics) software instrument tool, and to help build, improve, and support software efforts within the center.
MESA is a suite of open-source libraries extensively used in computational stellar astrophysics. It uses adaptive mesh refinement and sophisticated timestep controls, and supports shared memory parallelism based on OpenMP. Its wide-ranging capabilities allow the simulation of diverse stellar evolution scenarios, from low-mass to massive stars, including advanced evolutionary stages and binary interactions. See https://docs.mesastar.org/en/latest/ for more information about MESA.
Within the MESA Project, the successful candidate will be responsible for:
  1. Technical Management and Enhancement: Adapting MESA to new technologies and evolving requirements such as compiler updates, library evolutions, operating systems progression, and hardware advances (e.g. GPU-porting).
  2. Code Maintenance and Enhancement: Providing daily care and enhancement of the MESA source code, in collaboration with the MESA-developers team and the MESA user community.
  3. Testing: Participating in the daily MESA testing framework in partnership with the MESA-developer team.
  4. Product Release: Overseeing and collaborating on the public releases of the source code to the MESA community.
  5. Community Support: Responding agilely to the software needs of the MESA user community.
  6. Team Partnership: Becoming a key partner of the mesa-developer team, with a focus on horizontal collaboration rather than hierarchical reporting.

Within the CCA, the successful candidate will be expected to:
  1. Help support various software development efforts of CCA scientists.
  2. Mentor and train junior scientists, including the Flatiron Software Research Fellows
  3. Organize community efforts around software education within CCA and potentially Flatiron

There will also be opportunities for on-going skill development in software development and scientific computing, including mentoring by senior research scientists, discussions and tutorials with the CCA software community and the SCC (Scientific Computing Core), and support for attending external tutorials and conferences. The research software engineer will be part of a growing community of Flatiron scientists and software engineers working on astronomical software, including Flatiron Software Research Fellows (postdocs), CCA-affiliated SCC scientists, and other research software engineers in CCA. Members of this community will be encouraged to collaborate as well as to create and seek opportunities for skill development.
The research software engineer will report to a research scientist (equivalent of faculty) at CCA and will join a growing team of research software engineers across the Flatiron Institute. The position will be based in person at the Simons Foundation office in New York City.
Visit the Simons Foundation career page at simonsfoundation.org/careers to learn more.
Qualifications
Education
  • M.S. or Ph.D. in astronomy, physics, computer science, mathematics, statistics, or a related technical discipline

Essential Qualifications
At least 3 years of experience with software development in a research context, including:
  • Experience developing software in a research environment (including academic contexts like graduate school and postdoctoral appointments, or research-oriented industry).
  • Proficiency with software development in at least one compiled language (e.g., Fortran 95, C, C++ etc.)
  • Proficiency with collaborative version control systems (especially Git & GitHub).
  • Experience with parallel programming (e.g. OpenMP, MPI).
  • Experience working with collaborative software engineering practices, including coding standards and code review.
  • Experience writing documentation and an interest in supporting user communities.
  • Experience with project management and developing multiple concurrent projects.
  • Technical and scientific curiosity with a collaborative attitude.

Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with the MESA software instrument.
  • Experience with commonly-used high-level languages (Python, Julia, MATLAB, etc.).
  • Experience with HPC, GPU, and/or code profiling and optimization.
  • Experience with ML/AI tools (PyTorch, JAX, TensorFlow)
  • Working knowledge of applied mathematical concepts and numerical methods.
  • Working knowledge of astronomy and physics core concepts.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
  • The full-time starting annual compensation range for this position is:
    • (3-6 years of experience) $150K-$185K
    • (6-8+ years of experience) $190K-$215K
  • In addition to competitive salaries, the Simons Foundation provides employees with an outstanding benefits package.

Application Instructions
Required Application Materials
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Cover Letter

Deadline to Apply
  • Applications received by April 10, 2026 will receive full consideration. Late applications may be considered at the discretion of the selection committee.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Our Commitment to Expanding Pathways to Science & Opportunities for All:
Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds, and experiences. The Simons Foundation is committed to advancing basic science and mathematics to benefit humankind and expand our collective understanding of our world. As part of our mission, we support partners, programs, and initiatives that seek to broaden the scientific community and open pathways to science and mathematics careers.
The Simons Foundation provides equal opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category under federal, state, and local law

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