Post-Baccalaureate Researcher

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Job Summary

Caltech''s Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy (PMA) is seeking a full-time, nine-month term Post-Baccalaureate Researcher to support research in experimental astrophysics and advanced millimeter-wave (mm-wave) instrumentation. The position will involve a range of testing and design work related to a terrestrial mm-wave imaging system that is currently in operation.

The imager consists of a 1.5-meter primary mirror that is steerable with an altitude-azimuth mount and a large-format focal plane array of superconducting detectors operating within a sub-Kelvin cryogenic system. While already deployed, efforts are underway to further characterize and optimize the performance of the existing system while pursuing several major upgrades.

The overall goal of the research program is to advance new mm-wave technologies that enable imaging of objects through optical obscurants in the atmosphere. The position will involve work across multiple aspects of the imaging system, offering a broad range of hands-on research experience with state-of-the-art technology.

This is an opportunity to join a small, collaborative research team advancing next-generation mm-wave imaging technologies.

Essential Job Duties

The successful candidate will perform the following duties:

• Conduct detailed characterization of the imager''s point-spread function.
• Design and integrate new hardware to create synthesized images from a distributed-aperture optical system.
• Design and fabricate new optical components to improve laboratory-based testing of individual system components.
• Screen and assess the performance of new detector arrays.
• Operate the imaging system to collect and analyze new data.
• Develop optical and mechanical designs for new components and oversee their fabrication and installation.
• Operate cryogenic systems and use Python-based tools to collect and analyze detector data.
• Perform additional research and technical tasks as needed to support the team''s ongoing activities.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor''s degree or equivalent in a technical field such as Astronomy, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Sciences, or a related field, completed by the start date of the appointment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Python, optical design tools such as Zemax and FEKO, and mechanical design tools such as SolidWorks.
• Experience with fabrication and rapid prototyping techniques.
• Experience with millimeter-wave (mm-wave) imaging systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with cryogenic systems, superconducting detectors, or experimental instrumentation in a laboratory or research setting.

Required Documents

• Resume.