The University of Texas at Austin
HET Resident Astronomer, McDonald Observatory
The University of Texas at Austin, Mc Donald, Pennsylvania, United States, 15057
Overview
HET Resident Astronomer, McDonald Observatory – 40 hours per week, Exempt. 24/7 operation with on-call duties; residence within the Observatory's residential community may be required. Job Details
General Notes: The Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) is one of the world's largest optical telescopes, optimized for spectroscopy. It is a joint project of UT Austin, Penn State, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen. See the McDonald Observatory research facilities page for more information. Location: McDonald Observatory, Ft. Davis, Texas. Earliest Start Date: Immediately. Position Duration: Expected to Continue. End-user eligibility: You must be eligible to work in the U.S. full-time and permanently for any employer without requiring sponsorship. Responsibilities
Science Operations: Lead nightly science operations from sunset to sunrise, selecting and executing observations of targets from the queue using facility instruments. Evaluate scientific quality, communicate with HET partner scientists, verify data integrity, and optimize scientific productivity. Night Operations: Communicate with the telescope operator about scientific, facility, and weather constraints; maintain night reports and problem logs; foster a productive working environment. Engineering Operations: Conduct projects to characterize/improve night operations; support and document instrument performance; coordinate with visiting/remote staff to achieve observing goals; monitor instrument condition; document operations status online. Day Operations: Prepare the facility for science operations, including testing/calibration and coordinating with the on-night duty RA. Research Environment: Conduct personal research using observatory instruments, prepare/present papers, and participate in outreach activities (public talks, tours, colloquia). Administrative Operations: Maintain a fully staffed nightly schedule, attend staff meetings, manage time sheets and required trainings, and perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications
Master’s degree in astronomy or physics, or equivalent. Two years of instrumentation, observations, or data reduction experience with 1m+ class telescopes collecting science-grade data. Strong commitment to service astronomy; research experience in any area of astronomy. At least two years of experience with a scientific programming language. Ability to organize/work to deadlines; self-driven with technical aptitude; detail-oriented; collaborative; strong communication skills. Proficient computer skills; ability to work independently and as part of a project team; good judgment; strong problem-solving and interpersonal skills. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate. Preferred Qualifications
PhD in astronomy or physics, or equivalent. Two years of instrumentation/observations/data reduction on 3m+ class telescopes in optical/near-IR spectroscopy. Postdoctoral research experience with a strong publication record. Experience overseeing software development related to data acquisition, reduction, and analysis. Proficiency with Linux; Python or C++ programming. Ability to conduct personal research projects with HET or other McDonald telescopes. Strong commitment to service astronomy. Salary
$68,000 + depending on qualifications and experience Working Conditions
Location at Hobby-Eberly Telescope, McDonald Observatory, Ft. Davis, Texas; relocation may be required. May work in all weather conditions and extreme temperatures; high altitude environment; safety considerations for extreme conditions. Office-like duties plus climbing stairs/ladders and handling equipment; may lift up to 35 pounds. 24/7 operation; may require hours outside standard work periods, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Residential staff may serve as essential employees and participate in Emergency Response Team activities. Required Materials
Resume/CV 3 work references with contact information (at least one supervisor) Letter of interest Important Applicant Instructions
For non-university applicants: you will be prompted to upload your resume and additional materials in the Application Questions section. For current university employees: apply in Workday and ensure your Professional Profile is updated before applying. Compliance and Eligibility
Employment eligibility, E-Verify information, and equal opportunity statements are provided in the posting. Criminal background checks may be required for finalists. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with applicable laws and policies. Pay transparency and I-9/E-Verify requirements are noted in the posting.
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HET Resident Astronomer, McDonald Observatory – 40 hours per week, Exempt. 24/7 operation with on-call duties; residence within the Observatory's residential community may be required. Job Details
General Notes: The Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) is one of the world's largest optical telescopes, optimized for spectroscopy. It is a joint project of UT Austin, Penn State, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen. See the McDonald Observatory research facilities page for more information. Location: McDonald Observatory, Ft. Davis, Texas. Earliest Start Date: Immediately. Position Duration: Expected to Continue. End-user eligibility: You must be eligible to work in the U.S. full-time and permanently for any employer without requiring sponsorship. Responsibilities
Science Operations: Lead nightly science operations from sunset to sunrise, selecting and executing observations of targets from the queue using facility instruments. Evaluate scientific quality, communicate with HET partner scientists, verify data integrity, and optimize scientific productivity. Night Operations: Communicate with the telescope operator about scientific, facility, and weather constraints; maintain night reports and problem logs; foster a productive working environment. Engineering Operations: Conduct projects to characterize/improve night operations; support and document instrument performance; coordinate with visiting/remote staff to achieve observing goals; monitor instrument condition; document operations status online. Day Operations: Prepare the facility for science operations, including testing/calibration and coordinating with the on-night duty RA. Research Environment: Conduct personal research using observatory instruments, prepare/present papers, and participate in outreach activities (public talks, tours, colloquia). Administrative Operations: Maintain a fully staffed nightly schedule, attend staff meetings, manage time sheets and required trainings, and perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications
Master’s degree in astronomy or physics, or equivalent. Two years of instrumentation, observations, or data reduction experience with 1m+ class telescopes collecting science-grade data. Strong commitment to service astronomy; research experience in any area of astronomy. At least two years of experience with a scientific programming language. Ability to organize/work to deadlines; self-driven with technical aptitude; detail-oriented; collaborative; strong communication skills. Proficient computer skills; ability to work independently and as part of a project team; good judgment; strong problem-solving and interpersonal skills. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate. Preferred Qualifications
PhD in astronomy or physics, or equivalent. Two years of instrumentation/observations/data reduction on 3m+ class telescopes in optical/near-IR spectroscopy. Postdoctoral research experience with a strong publication record. Experience overseeing software development related to data acquisition, reduction, and analysis. Proficiency with Linux; Python or C++ programming. Ability to conduct personal research projects with HET or other McDonald telescopes. Strong commitment to service astronomy. Salary
$68,000 + depending on qualifications and experience Working Conditions
Location at Hobby-Eberly Telescope, McDonald Observatory, Ft. Davis, Texas; relocation may be required. May work in all weather conditions and extreme temperatures; high altitude environment; safety considerations for extreme conditions. Office-like duties plus climbing stairs/ladders and handling equipment; may lift up to 35 pounds. 24/7 operation; may require hours outside standard work periods, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Residential staff may serve as essential employees and participate in Emergency Response Team activities. Required Materials
Resume/CV 3 work references with contact information (at least one supervisor) Letter of interest Important Applicant Instructions
For non-university applicants: you will be prompted to upload your resume and additional materials in the Application Questions section. For current university employees: apply in Workday and ensure your Professional Profile is updated before applying. Compliance and Eligibility
Employment eligibility, E-Verify information, and equal opportunity statements are provided in the posting. Criminal background checks may be required for finalists. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with applicable laws and policies. Pay transparency and I-9/E-Verify requirements are noted in the posting.
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