Job Details

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.

Do you excel in an environment that values exploration and discovery? We have a universe of opportunities waiting for you!

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is NASA’s lead center for robotic exploration of the solar system. Our core competency is the end-to-end implementation of unprecedented robotic space missions to study Earth, the Solar System, and the Universe.

The Instrument Software and Science Data Systems (Org. 398) Section within JPL consist of multidisciplinary teams of engineers and technologists who provide expertise across the domains of instrument operations and science data systems.

We are responsible for:

Safely controlling JPL remote sensing instruments.
Transforming data collected by these instruments into scientific measurements and preserving them for future analyses.
Providing context and understanding to the measurements.
Making the measurements and related information accessible to a broad and global user community: scientists, operations, decision makers and society at large.

Our engineering teams build and operate high performance data processing, management and analysis systems capable of handling petabyte scale datasets in support of science discovery, research, operations and applications. They support JPL and NASA missions, as well as other science-based projects. Our research and technology development teams create new onboard and ground based technologies for data processing, analysis, modeling, reasoning, visualization, management, access and analytics that are infused into our data systems.

JPL, located in Pasadena, California, has a casual, 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.

We are proud to be part of NASA and Caltech, as we explore the universe and make history through new discoveries.

We aim to do things never done before and to go places few can go. We dare mighty things…do you?

The Instrument Software and Science Data Systems Section is seeking a senior research data scientist to join the Machine Learning & instrument Autonomy Group (MLIA) to employ rigorous, explainable machine learning methods to support scientific data investigation on the ground, inform spacecraft operations teams in a time-critical setting, infuse new capabilities into JPL’s space missions, and extend the reach of scientists beyond Earth by creating autonomous “smart” instruments that can recognize and prioritize discoveries. The researcher will also

act as ambassador to physical science and engineering areas not yet familiar with data-driven approaches by teaching, explaining, and offering assistance to those ready to receive it in the complex and often risk/change-averse arena of space exploration.

Job Responsibilities:

Conduct R&D of ML and related technologies for application to science and engineering challenges
Win strategic proposals at the ROSES level (ACCESS, MDAP, PDAP, ARROW, etc.)
Lead delivery-minded mid-sized (3-6 members) research teams on self-won and received tasks
Develop and lead algorithm and data processing methods for airborne and satellite remote sensing platforms, planetary surface missions, and novel instrument designs
Collaborate with domain experts from a variety of natural science and space-related engineering fields
Publicize work through peer-reviewed conference, workshop, and journal papers
Facilitate the infusion of high quality, data-driven technologies throughout JPL and NASA
Advance the state-of-practice in all aspects of data science at JPL: ML project management, institutional policies and resources, key partnerships, best practices, quality assurance, and hype reduction.
Duties may be performed remotely with occasional in-person visits (~5%) to support strategic meetings.

Required Skills:

Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Physical Science, or related technical discipline with a minimum of 4 years of related experience; or PhD in similar disciplines with a minimum of 2 years related experience
Demonstrated Principal Investigator leadership of independent, novel research capabilities
Demonstrated success in competitive proposal calls in space-related areas
Broad knowledge of traditional and deep ML
ML publication record in respected, peer reviewed venues
Demonstrated examples of software that are written to be maintainable and reusable
Experience with software engineering best practices including unit and regression testing
Demonstrated experience with rigorous validation and explainability
Strong written and oral communication skills including data visualization, presentation, and explanation of results
Team-building mentality, can-do attitude, and relentless commitment to project success
Experience with Python including NumPy / scikit-learn

Desired Skills:

Optimizing and delivering algorithms to onboard, large-scale computing, or real-time critical systems
Working knowledge of Earth Science / Atmospheric Science / Planetary Science / Physics / Astronomy / Geology
A love of space, exploration, and science

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

EEO is the Law.

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Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.

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