Senior System Scientist, CSIRO Parkes Observatory

CSIRO Space and Astronomy (S&A) operates the Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF), which includes the Parkes 64-m telescope, the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), the Long Baseline Array (LBA) and the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP). S&A is also heavily engaged in the design and development of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). It is expected that the successful candidate will be involved in the development, planning and execution of future projects as we navigate the transition to the SKA era.

As Senior System Scientist, you will take a leading role in maximising the scientific productivity of the Parkes 64-m radio telescope, Murriyang. You will lead a small team of Science Operations staff at the Observatory responsible for oversight of operations of the Parkes 64-m telescope; liaising with astronomers, clients, the Parkes Site Leader and other S&A staff to ensure a detailed schedule of observing time is produced in a timely fashion and executed smoothly; and those telescope maintenance periods are scheduled as required. You will also play a lead role in commissioning major new instruments and upgrades, including a state-of-the-art cryogenically-cooled Phased Array Feed (PAF) receiver, to be installed in 2023.

Your duties will include:

• Incorporate novel approaches to scientific investigations by adapting and/or developing original concepts and ideas for new, existing and further research. 
• Contribute at a high level to the scientific requirements and commissioning of new instruments for the Parkes telescope. 
• Devise test observations for new systems, aid in detecting and diagnosing faults, and compare the results with expected performance. 
• Contribute to the smooth operation of the observing systems and services needed to carry out world class radio astronomy observations. 
• Liaise with the Head of ATNF Science and other staff as needed for Observatory operations and developments. 
• Provide documentation and reports as required.
• Maintain a scientific involvement with the ATNF telescopes, and so gain an appreciation of them from an observer’s perspective. 
• Contribute at a high level to outreach and community engagement activity at Parkes.