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POSITION DESCRIPTION


Quality Assurance Scientist
Job Category Fulltime Regular
ExemptOvertimeEligible Exempt
Benefits Eligible Benefit Based
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Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some
of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental
scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who
are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech
community.

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Job Summary

IPAC at the California Institute of Technology invites applications for one or
more Quality Assurance Scientists to work on the Near-Earth Object Surveyor
(NEOS) program. NEOS is a NASA Planetary Defense mission, scheduled for launch
in late 2027, that will detect, track, and characterize solar system small
bodies that pose a hazard to the Earth. The NEOS observatory consists of a
passively cooled 50 cm telescope located near Sun-Earth L1 equipped with a
wide-field camera that will image the sky simultaneously in two mid-infrared
bands. NEOS will detect approximately 200,000 Main Belt Asteroids, NEOs, and
comets each day against a background of hundreds of millions of distant stars
and galaxies.

IPAC is developing and will operate the NEOS Survey Data System (NSDS) that
ingests raw data from the flight system, processes those data into calibrated
images and source detections, 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. The NSDS QA Scientists will be
part of the Team who are the final arbiters for the daily NEOS data processing,
and who vet the NEOS data products prior to their release to the user
community. 

Essential Job Duties

As a Quality Assurance Scientist, you will report to the NSDS Lead Scientist and
Lead Quality Assurance Scientist. Your duties will include:

 * Prior to the launch of NEOS, you will assist with development and testing of
   the NSDS systems that produce automated quality reports from data processing
   and longer-term trending, and support performance testing of elements of the
   NSDS such as photometry, astrometry, automated detection classification, and
   moving object tracklet generation.
 * During NEOS survey operations, you will review the automated NSDS data
   quality summaries that track data through each stage of the processing,
   review the list of automatically detected moving solar system object
   tracklets prior to their delivery to the IAU Minor Planet Center, and monitor
   long-term trending checks of data quality metrics. 
 * In preparation for the release of NEOS data products to the user community,
   you will assist with characterizing and documenting products for the NEOS
   data user guide.
 * You will also contribute specialized analysis tools for off-line checks, such
   as those to be done during NEO Surveyor's Science Verification phase just
   after launch.

The Quality Assurance Scientists are expected to be active participants in the
general activities of the IPAC Staff, and to conduct a research program that
ideally makes use of data from the NEO Surveyor mission.

Basic Qualifications

 * PhD or an equivalent degree in Planetary Science, Astronomy, or a related
   technical field.
 * 3 years of experience in the analysis and interpretation of astronomical
   imaging data.
 * Knowledge of scientific programming and scripting for analyzing astronomical
   data sets.
 * Good communication skills, which will be needed to liaise with other members
   of the NEOS science data quality assurance team.
 * The ability to write and maintain documents that describe the results of
   analyses of data attributes and quality.

Preferred Qualifications

Besides these basic qualifications, there are a set of skills and experience
that will enhance your contributions as the NEOS Quality Assurance Scientist.
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 analyzing data from modern infrared array detectors, preferably
   from space-based telescopes.
 * Experience conducting statistical analyses of large astronomical data sets.
 * Plans for an active research program that ideally makes use of data from the
   NEOS mission.

Required Documents

 * Cover Letter
 * Curriculum Vitae
 * Names and Contact information of 3 references
 * Applications deadline: January 6, 2025.

IPAC, part of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy Division at Caltech
(www.caltech.edu), partners with NASA, NSF, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL,
operated for NASA by Caltech), and the world-wide research community to advance
exploration of our universe. IPAC provides science operations, user support,
data and archive services, and scientific vision to maximize discovery with
observatories both in space and on the ground. Scientists at IPAC have access to
Palomar Observatory and other research facilities. 


HIRING RANGE

$71,000 - $105,500 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

If you would like to request an accommodation in completing this application,
interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process,
please direct your inquiries to Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu. 

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