Scientist IV

About the role

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That's our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers-literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission-your opportunity-is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you're driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you're ready for JPL. Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

Responsibilities

• Bridge the gap between raw measurement and theoretical insight, providing critical expertise in cosmological simulations, modeling, and interpretation of cosmological data.
• Join the vibrant JPL dark sector community contributing to the JPL-led OpenUniverse cosmological simulations project and the Euclid and Roman science teams.
• Beyond current missions, the successful candidate will join a collaborative team to shape the post-Roman landscape, developing mission concepts and strategies to influence the 2030 Decadal Survey.
• Integrate astrophysical, instrumental, and statistical systematics into robust models, which will aim to define the future of how we understand the dark universe.

Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Astrophysics or a related discipline with a minimum of 5 years' experience, or a Master's degree in a related discipline with a minimum of 7 years of related experience; or a Bachelor's degree in a related discipline with a minimum of 9 years of related experience.
• Deep technical foundation in some combination of cosmological simulations, modeling, and cosmological data interpretation.
• Proven expertise in weak lensing and/or galaxy clustering as primary probes for investigating dark matter and dark energy.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to thrive within a collaborative team environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a proactive commitment to fostering diverse ideas and backgrounds in the workplace, ensuring a dynamic and inclusive research culture as we tackle the most complex questions in modern cosmology.

Skills

• A Ph.D. in Astrophysics or a related discipline with a minimum of 5 years' experience.
• Demonstrated professional reputation as a productive researcher with a track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and/or international conferences.
• Demonstrated record of successfully proposing for research funds as Principal Investigator.

Benefits

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together.

Pay

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California. $171,704 - $215,072