Senior Instrument Calibration Scientist

You will join the instrument team as a key contributor focused on calibrating infrared remote sensing instruments. You'll establish scalable calibration hardware infrastructure and processes to ensure delivery of science-grade radiometric and geometric calibration artifacts to the data team. You'll work hands-on with precision optical equipment, lead calibration campaigns, and collaborate closely with instrument and spacecraft systems engineers, data scientists, mission operations engineers, and program managers. You'll also participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation approximately one week per month to support on-orbit anomaly resolution.

Responsibilities

• Own radiometric and geometric calibration standards across multiple instrument programs, developing best practices and ensuring adherence to defined processes
• Lead the design and development of scalable calibration test hardware infrastructure
• Lead the planning and execution of pre-launch radiometric and geometric calibration campaigns to establish baseline sensor performance models
• Support definition and tracking of metrics to monitor the performance of instruments from ground to orbit
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with instrument and spacecraft systems engineers, data scientists, mission operations engineers, and program managers
• Participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation to support on-orbit anomaly resolution approximately one week per month

Requirements

• Ph.D. and 3+ years of experience developing imaging systems and infrared remote sensing instruments within a multi-disciplinary environment; or M.S. and 6+ years industry experience; or B.S. and 8+ years industry experience
• Software skills in one or more languages (e.g. Python, Julia, C++)
• Experience working hands-on with precision optical equipment for instrument characterization and calibration
• Experience with root cause analysis efforts including data analysis and testing
• Experience performing data analysis, post-processing, and test report generation
• Excellent communication, presentation, and organization skills
• Excited to work in a fast-paced environment with new challenges each week
• Experience supporting business development including technical contributions to proposals
• Experience translating mission and science requirements into technical requirements
• Experience developing instrument concept of operations (ConOps)
• Experience working in cleanroom environments
• Experience supporting environmental testing (thermal stress screening, TVAC, random vibration), integrated spacecraft testing, and launch campaigns

Benefits

• Equity compensation
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401k retirement plan
• Short term disability insurance
• Long term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Three weeks paid vacation for new employees
• 12 paid holidays
• Unlimited sick time
• Paid parental leave