Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation

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The opportunity

The SKA Observatory (SKAO) is a next-generation radio astronomy facility that will revolutionise our understanding of the Universe and the laws of fundamental physics. Enabled by cutting-edge technology, it promises to have a major impact on society, in science and beyond.

In Australia, the SKAO is collaborating with CSIRO to operate and support the construction of the low frequency telescope (SKA-Low) in remote Western Australia on Wajarri Yamaji Country.

The Traditional Owners and native title holders, the Wajarri Yamaji, have gifted CSIRO with the traditional name Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara for the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, home to the SKA-Low telescope. The traditional name means ‘sharing sky and stars’ in the Wajarri language.

The SKA-Low Data Analyst / Telescope operators will be fundamental to delivering the broad and ambitious science from one of the world’s largest telescopes. During the construction phase this role will be responsible for commissioning observations in collaboration with the Commissioning Team and the Assembly, Integration and Verification Team. Once construction is complete, they will be responsible for the day-to-day observing of the SKA-Low Telescope and provide analysis of the initial telescope data for quality assurance and science verification.

Your duties will include:

• Conduct, monitor and calibrate astronomical observations and use appropriate computing resources towards successful operation of the telescope array releases (when they become available and as required).

• Assist with system checks, maintenance handovers, array and correlator/beamformer configurations and setups.

• Undertake quality assurance of (continuum, spectral line imaging and/or time-domain) data obtained from early array releases and using existing low frequency data sets, such as from the Aperture Array Verification System 3.

• Contribute to the design and documentation of operating procedures for SKAO.

• Support communication between engineering and technical staff and scientific stakeholders.

Location:     Perth, Western Australia

Salary:         AU$93,267 - AU$105,517 plus 15.4% superannuation

Tenure:        Indefinite – Full-Time, Part-Time or Job-Share

Reference:  97219

To be considered you will need:

Essential

• Aptitude to control and operate a scientific research facility including familiarity with monitoring, controlling, and scheduling.

• Appreciation of steps required for the acquisition and processing of scientific data.

• Aptitude to contribute to the definition and development of operational procedures, monitoring dashboards and documentation.

• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• An awareness of equitable practices, including accessibility, to facilitate broad access to the Observatory.

Desirable

• An undergraduate degree or equivalent in astronomy, physics, engineering, computing or a related field

• Experience in radio astronomy observations and data reduction pipelines, especially at low frequencies.

• Familiarity with low frequency radio astronomy calibration techniques.

CSIRO is an Equal Opportunity employer working hard to recruit world-class talent that represents the diversity across our society. As part of our commitment to equitable employment outcomes for under-represented groups, preference will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who meet the role criteria. CSIRO conscious inclusion practices are intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity/affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).

For Full details about this role, please review the Position Description

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents or you must either hold, or be able to obtain, a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Flexible working arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. 

CSIRO and the SKA Observatory value and respect difference, and we are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance. We are open to discussing flexible working opportunities with this role being offered on a full-time, part-time or job share basis. Please raise your preference in your application.

Diversity and inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish. 

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to apply

To apply for this role, please apply on-line providing your CV, and a Cover Letter clearly addressing the essential criteria of this role and your motivation for applying. Under CSIRO policy, only those who are able to demonstrate how they can meet the essential criteria may be appointed

Applications close

13 SEPTEMBER 2024, 11:59pm AWST