Adaptive Optics Group Lead

Eager to use your experience in Adaptive Optics to join a unique facility which provides tomorrow's resolution today? Tired of waiting for the ELTs to be on-sky? Ready to lead an AO team to excellence? 

The Large Binocular Telescope Observatory (LBTO) is seeking an AO senior scientist to lead the development, integration with compatible instruments, and operations of the LBT AO program and systems. With its two 8.4-m mirrors on the same mount, LBTO is the largest optical telescope in the world. With adaptive secondaries, a new generation of AO systems being commissioned, GLAO  capabilities with ARGOS, and a unique interferometer offering  the resolution of a 23m telescope, LBT is a forerunner of the ELTs. LBTO is heavily investing in AO for its future, with three new instruments in development for extreme AO in the visible and the near IR and AO-fed high resolution spectroscopy, and the potential for interferometry in the visible. 

The successful candidate will have a strong experience in AO operation on a large telescope or in developing AO equipment for deployment in the field as operational systems.

​A proven record in project leadership and/or management is essential and the candidate must be ready to embrace LBTO's culture of "semper ad optima" through a strong focus on the efficient and smooth operations of the complex AO infrastructure.

The successful candidate will lead the AO Group and participate in the many facets of the AO-related activities, from performance monitoring and optimization to active participation in new AO-based developments, including new observing strategies to improve the efficiency and scientific outcome of the many programs and experiments to be brought to the telescope by a very diverse group of users spanning the entire LBT collaboration.  

While most work will occur at the LBTO offices in Tucson, there will be significant amounts of work at the LBT site on Mt. Graham at an elevation of 10,470 feet. 

Minimum Requirements:
* Ph.D. level degree in Astronomy/Astrophysics or a related field.
* Five years of relevant experience in the development and/or use of adaptive optics for astronomical research, including activities related to AO operations.
* Proven record of successful project management and/or group leadership. 

LBTO is a Unit within the College of Science of the University of Arizona (UA). ​