Senior Research Scientist

Position Title: Senior Research Scientist

FLSA Status: Exempt, Full time

Salary Range: $100,000 - $150,000

Location: Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory

Palo Alto, CA

Position Description

The SETI Institute is looking for highly skilled and talented researchers to serve as a Senior Research Scientist on the IRIS (Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph) and/or MUSE Project Teams, at SETI Institute (Mountain View) and to also collaborate with the Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory (LMSAL), located in Palo Alto, CA.

IRIS is a NASA Small Explorer Mission to observe how solar material moves, gathers energy, and heats up as it travels through a little-understood region in the sun's lower atmosphere. MUSE is a NASA Medium Class Explorer Mission to study how the sun's corona is heated to millions of degrees and space weather events are triggered.

Responsibilities:

• Senior Research Scientist on the IRIS and MUSE Project Teams will make use of observations from the high-resolution (extreme)ultraviolet spectrographs and imagers and advanced numerical modeling to investigate which types of non-thermal energy dominate in the chromosphere and corona, how the chromosphere regulates the mass and energy supplied to the outer solar atmosphere, and how magnetic flux rises through the solar atmosphere, and how flares and CMEs are triggered.
• The Senior Research Scientist will also support the science operations of the IRIS Mission, e.g., through planning of science observations, and supporting calibration of the spectrographic and imaging observations.
• In addition to the above, the Senior Research Scientist will assist with planning for the MUSE science operations, data calibration and pipeline work.

Qualifications:

• PhD in Physics, Astrophysics, or a related field, and minimum of 10 years of experience in solar physics.
• Knowledge of data analysis, inversions or numerical modeling of the solar atmosphere in areas such as solar physics.
• Ability to independently perform cutting edge scientific research in solar physics.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• No or very limited physical effort is required.
• Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks, which require following basic safety precautions. LMSAL provides all training required by OSHA to ensure employee safety.

Salary/Benefits: The SETI Institute provides competitive salary and benefits including health/dental/vision insurance, a flexible spending account for medical and dependent care, vacation, and sick leave. The Institute sponsors a retirement plan option upon fulfillment of eligibility.

Diversity and Equity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

• The SETI Institute is an Affirmative Action Employer and members of underrepresented communities and demographics are particularly encouraged to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ and people with disabilities.
• EO/AA/Disability/Veteran Employer

Note: The Institute will not sponsor applicants for work visas