Astronomer (Optical Engineer)

Job Overview

This job announcement will be accepting candidate submissions until 15 May 2026.

The AMOS Novel Technologies and Advanced Research Program is looking for one DR-02 or DR-03 position to serve as an astronomer, preferably with astronomical instrumentation/optical design and data science/computational skills.

Duties for the Astronomer (Optical Engineer) position include, but are not limited to:

• Serves as an Astronomer for the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing (AMOS) site.
• Leads as the 15th Space Surveillance Squadron’s astronomy instrumentation subject-matter expert for the AMOS Novel Technologies and Advanced Research Program and liaison to numerous U.S. Space Force and external partners.
• Provides technical oversight and analysis in the realm of optical design and astronomy instrumentation for new/ongoing Space Domain Awareness (SDA) research leveraging a vast array of telescopes, sensors, and computer systems.
• Applies expert knowledge and develops new methods to support validation, improvements, and application of optical hardware for space surveillance and space object acquisition.
  Conducts reduction and analysis of data collected from telescopes and instrumentation and leverages data science techniques and computational resources to validate system performance and capabilities.
• Uses expertise and ingenuity to perform modeling and simulation in assessing novel technologies and capabilities for mission performance aligned with warfighter needs.
  Collects day and/or night observations from ground-based telescopes.
• Performs astronomical instrumentation development and optical design to improve SDA capabilities.
  Leverages expertise to research novel techniques in the astronomical community; develops, implements, installs, and/or tests new optical sensors, cameras, and other telescope instruments.
• Implements decisions on investments of research funding toward developing novel SDA technology.
• Evaluates contractor, in-house/outside laboratory programs, ensuring technical accuracy of proposed solutions.
• Provides insight into development of annual execution & programmatic requirements, while maintaining far-sighted vision of future site capability needs.
• Delivers inputs into programmatic metrics such as cost, schedule, performance, risk-opportunity management.
• Develops briefing materials to inform leadership, contractor partners and stakeholders of relevant program status and details.

Telework

Yes, this position is eligible for situational telework; as determined by agency policy

Remote Work (CONUS)

No, this position is not approved for remote work.

Eligible for a Referral Bonus?

No

Required Qualifications

• United States Citizenship.
• Must possess a professional science or engineering (S&E) degree from an accredited academic institution.
• Must have at least 3 years of specialized experience at the DR-02/GS-13 or equivalent grade level. Specialized experience is experience providing the capacity and skills for working independently, leading collaborative events, working in teams and using these approaches to find and solve complex problems. Such experience may also include training personnel, collaborative process facilitation, innovation design practice, writing background, editing job roles, continuous process improvement credentials, multi-agency liaison work, published work in refereed technical journals, and/or briefings to large groups.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Special Sensitive security clearance.
  

Desired Qualifications

• A MS or PhD (preferred) in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physics (with a focus on Astronomy), Optical Engineering, Computer Science, or similar engineering discipline.
• At least mid-level (5+ years) experience in astronomical instrumentation, optical design, ground-based telescope observations, imaging sciences, data science, and/or computational modeling and simulation is highly desired.

Requisition Number 02290

Series

1330