Project Based Nasa Planetary Defense Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Job Summary
IPAC at Caltech invites applications for the position of Calibration Scientist for the NEO Surveyor Survey Data System (NSDS). IPAC is building and will operate the NSDS for NASA's NEO Surveyor (NEOS) mission. The NSDS ingests imaging and engineering data from the flight system, processes these data into calibrated image and source detection products, performs automated searches for moving Solar System objects, assesses the quality of the survey data, and distributes data products to NASA archives and the user community, including sending moving object tracklets to the Minor Planet Center. NEO Surveyor has well-established requirements on astrometric and photometric calibration performance, which the Calibration Scientist will work on achieving.
IPAC is part of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy Division at Caltech. We are a dedicated team of scientists, engineers, and administrative personnel who provide science operations, user support, data and archive services, and scientific vision to maximize discovery with observatories both in space and on the ground. NEO Surveyor is a NASA Planetary Defense mission, scheduled to launch in late 2027, that is optimized to detect, track, and characterize Solar System small bodies that pose a potential risk to the Earth. NEO Surveyor consists of a passively cooled 50 cm telescope located at Sun-Earth L1 equipped with a wide-field camera that will image the sky simultaneously in two mid-infrared bands. NEO Surveyor will detect approximately 100,000 Main Belt asteroids, NEOs, and comets each day against a background of tens of millions of distant stars and galaxies.
Essential Job Duties
As part of the NEO Surveyor team at IPAC, your job duties as NSDS Calibration Scientist will include:

• Maintaining and updating the NEO Surveyor Science Data Calibration Plan
• Maintenance of the astrometric and photometric uncertainty budgets
• Working with the Project Scientist and Instrument teams to ensure needed calibration measurements are collected during ground testing, including travel to partner test facilites
• Working with the IPAC NEO Surveyor team in producing the necessary calibration products for the NSDS from ground and flight data
• Planning and analyzing special calibrations during the Survey Verification phase of the mission
• Planning and analyzing the standard photometric calibration observations during the survey
• Assisting with producing the public-facing documentation for the realized calibration process and reporting on its overall performance
• Participation in NEO Surveyor mission meetings and workshops

You would be expected to maintain an independent research program, ideally making use of NEO Surveyor data, and participate in the broader IPAC scientific community
Basic Qualifications
If you have the following in your background, then we want to hear about your interest in joining our team:

• PhD in Planetary Science, Astronomy, or a related field, and at least 2 years of post-PhD experience
• Experience analyzing telescope images and extracted data for astronomical and/or planetary science research
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills

Preferred Qualifications
Besides these basic qualifications, below are a set of skills that will enhance your contributions to this role. The following might give you a head start, but even if these don't describe you or your experience, we would still like to hear from you.

• Experience working with large astronomical survey data sets
• Experience working with infrared astronomical data
• Experience with astrometric and photometric calibration of space-based data sets
• Experience working with NASA projects especially dealing with distributed teams of scientists and engineers

Required Documents

• Cover letter
• Full resume or CV
• Names and Contact information of 3 professional references
• Applications are due by July 1, 2026

Hiring Range
$79,700 - $105,000 per year
The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.
As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our benefits and staff perks.
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
To read more Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) go to eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf.
Disability Accommodations
Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.
If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu.
Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu.