Systems Scientist - Indefinite Appointment Available

Applications are invited for a systems scientist position at AustraliaÂ’s principal radio astronomical facility, the Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF), CSIRO. As systems scientist, take a leading role in the scientific aspects of the development and commissioning of new systems at the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) near Narrabri, 500 km north-west of Sydney, Australia. You will be expected to gain a deep understanding of the ArrayÂ’s operation and contribute to the development of new system concepts, help drive the scientific specification of these, and follow the projects through to commissioning and scientific use.

The Compact Array is the premier radio interferometer in the southern hemisphere and operates from 20 cm to 3 mm wavelength with a 7mm band having been installed earlier this year. An upgrade is scheduled for 2008 to expand its maximum observing bandwidth by a factor of 16.

The systems scientist will liaise with the broad ATNF community and act as an interface between the scientific and engineering groups. These duties will require video-conferencing and travel between the ATNF sites and elsewhere at times. In addition to these duties, 30 per cent of time will be available for personal astronomical or instrumental research.

Applicants must have a PhD degree in astronomy, astrophysics or related discipline, and have familiarity in both the observational and technical aspects of radio interferometry.

Applications close 3 Feb 2008. For more information and to apply go to www.csiro.au/careers under positions vacant and enter job reference 2007/1319.

Added by Alison Jones on 2007-11-22